An Indefensible Position

Evolution from a Biblical worldview perspective is a morally indefensible position. Put aside the evidence for or against it for the moment. Put aside a desire to elevate man to a higher position in order to criticize the work of God. Put aside even Genesis chapters one and two for the moment -they say what they say. I want to focus on something a little more problematic for the Christian - an attack that seems to have blindsided everyone and something I have not seen or heard expressed by anyone.

The Bible is clear about the origins of sin and its consequences. God told Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden that if they eat of the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil then they will die. This death was meant literally and as a separation from God.

This idea is repeated in Romans 5:12 - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

So then, if this is true it would imply that there was no death before the fall of man. If there had indeed been death before sin, then what was the consequence of sin? Why would God threaten Adam and Eve with something that would happen to them anyway? I understand part of this death was the separation of God and man, but it had a double edged meaning and also meant a literal death.

Evolutionary theory, on the other hand, thrives on death. Struggle, death, adaptation...these are all hallmarks of evolutionary thought. The idea of evolution without these things could not happen. But that is exactly what the Bible proposes. No death before sin. No struggle before sin (because God had not yet cursed the ground). No adaptation necessary until God's punishment for that first sin was laid to bear. Everything changed after Eden.

So for a Christian who is entertaining the idea of evolution there are several VERY important questions that must be addressed. When did sin enter the world? When did death enter the world? When did struggle enter the world? And most importantly! If these things have always been, and one of the consequences of sin was not indeed death, then what was the consequence of sin? And if sin had no consequence, why did Jesus come?

It's a logical progression of thought that must be considered for a Christian looking to embrace evolution. Somehow it seems, evolution has managed to take out the foundation of the entire Bible. Somehow, Genesis one and two seem a little more important because they set up the context for the entire book! Jesus came to restore fellowship between God and man and to give us eternal life. Why? Because death is a consequence of sin!

Evolution from a Biblical worldview cannot be accepted unless the person believes they can chuck the Bible - more than just a "reinterpretation" of Genesis one and two. As a Christian it is simply a morally indefensible position.