Did God just help evolution along?

Dr. James Limberg, a liberal Lutheran theologian, authored a Bible study for adults on the basics of Christianity. When he discusses creation and evolution, he suggests that "the biblical creation accounts can be harmonized with an evolutionary theory of the origin of the human species" (Search, unit 3, p. 34). Limberg opts for theistic evolution.

Theistic evolution is the belief that God used the process of evolution to create the universe. At first, theistic evolution seems to be the answer to the contradiction between the Bible's account of the beginning of the universe and evolution's theory. But can we agree with Dr. Limberg?

The answer hinges on the word "day" in Genesis 1. Does it mean "a long period of time," like an epoch or age? Or does it describe a normal 24-hour day?

1. No one can argue that there are times the Bible uses the word "day" where it obviously does not mean a period of 24 hours. Here are three examples.
   1. Isaiah 2:12, "The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)."
   2. Isaiah 22:5 refers to the time when Israel would be destroyed by the Babylonians. "The Lord, the LORD Almighty, has a day of tumult and trampling and terror in the Valley of Vision, a day of battering down walls and of crying out to the mountains."
   3. Zechariah 13:1 describes the time after Jesus' death and resurrection, "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity."
2. Genesis 1 compels us to understand the six days of creation as six regular days.
   1. If you tell your friend you will see her in a day, when would she expect to visit with you again? Obviously, tomorrow. In the context of your conversation, a roughly 24 hour day would be the only thing to make sense. If, however, the two of you were about to graduate and were dreaming about the careers you'll have, then "day" would mean something different if you said, "That'll be a great day."
      So how does Genesis 1 use the word "day"?
   2. Exodus 20:11 insists, "In six days the LORD the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them." There's no reason to think those six days are anything different than regular Sunday through Friday days.
   3. Each of the six days of creation are described as being an exact length. They each began at evening and lasted through the next day. For example, Genesis 1:5 says, "God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day."
3. Quotes for Comment
   1. We quoted Dr. James Limberg earlier. He wrote, "The biblical creation accounts can be harmonized with an evolutionary theory of the origin of the human species."
      1. Since Genesis 1 and other Scripture passages insist that the days of creation were normal days, is he right? Can we be faithful to what the Bible tells us and agree with Dr. Limberg? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.
   2. Mark Ellingsen is an ELCA pastor and assistant professor of theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta. He writes, "The big-bang theory, which holds that the universe exploded into existence 15 billion years ago, is consistent with the Christian idea of creation out of nothing" (link).
      1. How could 15 billion years of evolution and God's account of six days of creation be "consistent"? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.
   3. As we've seen, some Christians choose to explain away the Bible's account of creation because it seems unreasonable in light of scientific theory. What other biblical truths might we want to reject or change if we want everything the Bible teaches to be reasonable? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.

Next week: Many knowledgeable people accept evolution as accurate. Is it as logical as they imagine?

This article is based on material from a Bible study booklet by Joel C. Gerlach called The Word is Now. It was published by Northwestern Publishing House. This study is reproduced by permission. Copyright restrictions do not allow this article to be copied.