Tony Gallagher (NZ Baptist, May) in response to David Whyte’s article in the February issue, believes Romans 14:1-6 also applies when there are differences of viewpoint over the biblical account of Creation versus Evolution.

But that is not what these verses are about. The matters addressed here are differences over what we eat and what days we observe to honour the Lord.

Biblical Creation versus Evolution (and their respective geological counterparts – the great flood of Noah’s time versus Uniformitarianism) are not in the same category. They are far more serious matters because the very integrity of God’s Word, namely Genesis 1-11, is at stake.

Tony Gallagher says the true foundation in Romans 14:7-9 is all about Christ. Genesis 1-11 is foundational to our faith in Christ. David Whyte in his article has already mentioned the real problems believers have with the origins of sin and death unless Genesis is taken literally. Christ himself quoted Genesis 2 as being authoritative when dealing with a question about marriage, and compared his coming again to the cataclysm of the worldwide flood of Noah’s time.

Biological, chemical and geological evidence has far more agreement with a literal treatment and understanding of Genesis 1-11 than with the ideas of Evolution and Uniformitarianism, and we can thank God for several decades of ongoing work and courage by Creation Science researchers for this happy state of affairs.

– Jim McLachlan
Lyall Bay, Wellington