One can hardly disagree with David Whyte’s main premise (NZ Baptist March), which takes issue with equating salvation with life insurance.

Unfortunately he lost me early with a detour pitting creationism against evolutionary theories. His statement: “Ultimately it becomes contradictory for a Christian to believe in evolution” is quite alienating to Christians who choose to believe in evolution. I’d go a step further and say that it is outright divisive!

Personally, I prefer to be agnostic when it comes to the timing and manner in which our God created the universe and mankind. Why? For the very reason David appears to both propose and oppose simultaneously. It’s a question about foundations. Our foundation is in Christ, not creationism and not evolutionary theories.

Romans 14 exhorts Christians not to be divisive about “disputable matters.” Whether it be foods or days or creationism vs evolution, the principle here is the same: the Kingdom of God is not (these things) but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The true foundation is mentioned in vs 7-9, and it’s all about Christ. Therefore, “let us then pursue what makes for peace and mutual up-building. Do not, for the sake of [opinion] destroy the work of God” (vs 19-20).

The Holy Spirit unifies, it does not alienate. So make your point about salvation without offending people or causing them to stumble. I exhort David not to be side-tracked by his position on creation in a way that will weaken true faith. If you build on anything other than Christ, you are on shaky ground.

– Tony Gallagher
Auckland