Can Christians Believe in Evolution?
Many of us live with the assumption that science and faith cannot coexist. Often, this is reinforced by youth groups that either completely avoid conversations about creation and evolution or discuss it in a way that dismisses scientific claims as an atheistic agenda. But that’s not the way it has to be. Consider the glory of creation and the complexity of understanding how God created it, while holding some convictions about science:
This article is an excerpt from Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith by Mike McGarry (New Growth Press, 2023) and is shared with permission from the publisher.
First, science is good. Sadly, the stereotype of religious folk is that we are unscientific or even anti-science. And yet, most of Western history’s greatest scientists were faithful Christians who practiced science as a way to explore God’s good creation—consider Johannes Kepler, Galileo, Francis Bacon, and Isaac Newton, to name only a few. Today, however, many people have replaced faith in God with naturalism, which says, “If I can’t physically and scientifically prove it, then it isn’t real.” A naturalistic worldview has no place among those who profess to worship Jesus, but Christians are not opposed to science. Instead, Christians view scientific studies as an exploration of the incredible world God created.
Second, research leads to multiple interpretations. There isn’t always one clear and obvious conclusion to scientific inquiries, and scientists often draw different interpretations from the same information. The popular voice isn’t always correct. Without room to debate interpretations, the voice that affirms what people want to believe will often win the public opinion. Scientific research and debate are good on every level, and it is good for Christians to participate in genuine scientific inquiry.
Third, science is limited to exploring fields of research within its own boundaries. This means science cannot fully know something beyond the natural world. This is a built-in limitation naturalism needs to acknowledge. Expecting science to reveal something beyond the limits of science is irrational.
Fourth, even the most literal creationist agrees there is some adaptation within species.
Adaptation and evolution within species make clear scientific sense. For example, dogs with thick fur will endure colder climates better than short haired breeds.1 The evolution debate revolves around whether or not one species can evolve into a whole new species, not whether or
not one species can adapt and evolve at all. With these guiding convictions in mind, let’s consider some of the most common views of creation.
Summary of Popular Views about Creation
Young-earth creation: God created the earth in six 24-hour days. Genesis 1 and 2 use the word “day” to mean a 24-hour day and should be taken at face value. The earth is thousands (not millions or billions) of years old. Adam and Eve were historical people whom God specially made in his image, and who sinned and were then sent out of the garden.
Old-earth creation: God created the earth, but not in 24-hour days. Genesis 1 and 2 describe what God did but not precisely how he did it, so there’s some room for science to fill in the details God left out of the biblical account. The earth is probably very old, but Adam and Eve were historical people whom God specially made in his image, and who sinned and were then sent out of the garden.
Framework hypothesis: Genesis 1 is not an account intending to tell how God created the world (in what order or how long he took), but a poetic way to teach why. This view highlights that the Bible’s creation account is laid out to teach us that a Creator King built a kingdom, populated it, and placed men and women to rule over it.2 With this interpretation there is much room for scientific explanations of how God did this. Most framework proponents view Genesis 2 as historical, meaning Adam and Eve were historical people who were specially and distinctly created by God in his image, and who sinned and were then sent out of the garden.
Theistic evolution: God initiated and used evolution to create humanity. Theistic evolution can encompass a wide range of views, all generally holding to some form of old-earth creation, with some going so far as to claim God didn’t personally oversee the evolutionary process but merely set it up to happen naturally. According to this view, Adam and Eve are not viewed as historic people. Instead, they are symbolic figures who describe humanity’s sinful condition and rebellion against God. (Theistic evolution is a broad camp, so these descriptions may not apply to all its adherents).
What Christians Must Affirm about Creation
In all these discussions about creation and evolution, it’s tempting to be overwhelmed and shout with exasperation, “Why does this matter? I give up!” It’s frustratingly common to hear people talk as if there’s only one true Christian view of creation. That’s not true, but there are a few foundational truths the Bible teaches that serve as the foundations of a biblical view of creation.
God created. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). However creation happened, it is because God caused it. The creation of the world took place by the personal will and love of God. Because God created the world, he is worthy of worship. We worship Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word who spoke creation into existence (John 1:1–14). Our Savior is also the giver of life.
God created man and woman in his image. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Humanity is not a happy accident. We are special among all creation because God specifically set us apart to reflect his glory on the earth. Because we are formed in the image of God, we represent him. We are not here for our own glory, to create monuments to ourselves, or to take advantage of others and the earth God created. Instead, we are placed here to reflect his divine nature and to represent him in all creation. This includes cultivating, caring for, and building on the earth for God’s glory and the good of all. God is the Creator, and so we create. God is the giver of life, and so we promote life. God is the Savior of creation, and so we forgive and restore what has been broken. When we feel worthless and like utter failures, we can remember in whose image we were created. Additionally, understanding the ways God’s image has been broken within us because of sin will empower us to repent of sin and believe that the gospel restores the image of Christ in us (Ephesians 4:17–24).
Adam and Eve are historic people. The account of Adam and Eve is never mentioned in Scripture as anything other than historical and reliable. Even when some symbolism is referenced, it is anchored in Adam and Eve’s historic sin and its effects upon all creation. Adam is a symbolic figurehead for all humanity (Romans 5:12–18; 1 Corinthians 15:45–48). His historicity (and that of the first sin) is crucial to salvation history—otherwise God’s wrath toward his fallen creation becomes a metaphor rather than a real problem in need of a real Savior. The story of humanity flows from Adam and Eve being real, historical people whose sin and promised salvation continue to impact our lives today.
Digging Deeper
Use these questions for your own personal reflection and journaling, or for discussion with others.
Why do you think Christianity has a reputation for being anti-science?
Which of the Christian viewpoints on creation seems most convincing to you? Why?
Why is it important for Christians to affirm that God actually created Adam and Eve,
rather than allowing for evolution as the process that eventually led to our first ancestors?
How do the essentials of Christian creationism help you know what to emphasize in
conversations with others?
Note: This article is an excerpt from Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith by Mike McGarry and is shared with permission from the publisher, New Growth Press.
