The Doctrine of Creation: Mediated Action and Science Robert C. Bishop Wheaton College

1. The Doctrine of Creation: Mediated Action and ScienceRobert C. BishopWheaton College

2. God Is Distinct from the Created Order • Creator/creature distinction implies all of creation valued • “God saw all that he had made and it was very good” (Gen 1:31). • Functioning and fulfilling purposes as intended • Includes galaxies, asteroids, molecules,… • Jesus’ incarnation affirms the goodness of material order

3. God Is Distinct from the Created Order • Creation’s being distinct from God implies it’s to be itself • What God intended it to be “He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in” (Is 40:22b).

4. God’s Action in Creation Is Mediated

5. God’s Action in Creation Is Mediated • Action takes place/shaped through something else • One form: His word/command • “And God said…” (Gen. 1)

6. God’s Action in Creation Is Mediated • Another form: God’s “two hands” engaged in creation (Irenaeus) • Jesus • “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…” (Col. 1:16a) • “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (Jn. 1:3) • Holy Spirit • “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen. 1:1-2) • “When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the Earth” (Ps 104: 30) • Water/rivers symbolic of the Spirit’s renewing/healing, e.g. Ez. 47:1-12

7. God’s Action in Creation Is Mediated • Third form: God’s action in creation is ministerial • Some parts of God’s creation empowered to serve as mediators/ministers to other parts of creation • God intends for creation to bring about some elements of creation • “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth…’” (Gen. 1:11, 24)

8. God’s Action in Creation Is Mediated • God’s action in creation pictured three ways in Bible • As personal word/command • As personal involvement through Jesus & Holy Spirit • God’s action in creation is Trinitarian • As personal superintendent of creation empowered to bring about creation • Relates to functional integrity of creation

9. God Acts Patiently in Creation

10. God Acts Patiently in Creation • God intends creation to become itself • God gives creation patience & grace to be what it is • God’s activity in creation being “ministerial” • God is active in creation so it can become itself • Creation is active bringing about creation (under superintendence of Christ and the Spirit)

11. Doctrine of Creation & Evolution • God intends creation to become itself • Creation should have capacities for development & growth • Evolutionary mechanisms are consistent w/ this biblical expectation

12. Doctrine of Creation & Evolution • One form of God’s activity in creation is mediated by creation • General stability of environments & cycles • Some organisms sacrifice themselves so others may live • Genetic variations minister to populations • Key components of evolution look much like creation ministering to creation

13. Doctrine of Creation & Evolution • Biblically, the Spirit is often pictured biblically as involved in life & enabling things to reach their consummation in Christ • From quarks to galaxies & beyond! • Evolutionary mechanisms & biomolecules, genomes, cells, organisms, populations, ecological niches, environments • The Spirit enables all these elements of creation to become what they’re called to be in Christ & fulfill their ministerial functions

14. Doctrine of Creation & Evolution • Biblically, the Spirit often involved in variety, creativity & beauty • Evolution would represent a means through which the Spirit produces variety, creativity & beauty • All reflecting the glory & wisdom of God • Including random genetic variations

15. Doctrine of Creation & Evolution • Random/unguided mutations • Beneficial mutations don’t occur because they would be good for organisms

16. Doctrine of Creation & Evolution • God acts patiently in creation, salvation, sanctification • Evolution would represent God working in & through creation towards its perfection in Christ • Consummation “in the fullness of time”

17. Doctrine of Creation & Cosmology “He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in” (Is 40:22b).

18. Doctrine of Creation & Cosmology • One form of God’s activity in creation is mediated by creation

19. Doctrine of Creation & Science • False dilemma prevalent since 18th century • Events in nature are either: • The result of God’s immediate intervention • The result of natural processes w/ no divine involvement

20. Doctrine of Creation & Science • Genesis 1:24-25 • And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of each kind, cattle and crawling things and wild beasts of each kind.” And it was so. God made wild beasts of each kind and cattle of every kind and all crawling things on the ground of each kind, and God saw that it was good. • Psalm 104, Job 38-42, John 1:1-3,Col 1:15-17, etc.