Theology Today - Vol 48, No.1 - April 1991 - BOOK REVIEW - Portraits of Creation: Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on the World's Form

80 - Portraits of Creation: Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on the World's Form

Portraits of Creation: Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on the World's Formation

By Howard J. Van Till, Robert E. Snow, John H. Stek, and Davis A. Young

Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1990. 285 Pp. $14.95.

Conceived as a judicious analysis of contemporary Christian thinking about the doctrine of creation, this volume is arguably the best single treatment of the subject since Langdon Gilkey's Maker of Heaven and Earth (1959). The authors (all fellows of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan) write from the point of view of reverent commitment to the Reformed tradition of Christian inquiry that seeks to take account of the best historical, scientific, scriptural, and theological scholarship. They have produced a remarkably clear and fair account that should make the "must" reading list of all teachers and preachers who deal with the knotty issues surrounding the Christian understanding of God's creative activities and recent relevant scientific findings. Scientists with theological concerns will also benefit from the volume.

Although each of the eight chapters is worthy of careful study, I believe that the chapter entitled "A Critique of the Creation Science Movement" should be required reading for the great majority of seminarians, pastors, and lay leaders who have (according to recent polls) facilely accepted "creationism" or "creation science" as a legitimate science that should be taught in public schools and promulgated in the churches. While not lambasting "creation scientists," John Snow carefully dissects the theological assumptions and scientific procedures of its practitioners (especially Henry Morris) and raises grave doubts about its validity as science and its value for a Christian doctrine of creation. Although not ruling out a viable future for "creation science," Snow severely questions its legitimacy as a science. Labelling it an immature science, he concludes that creation science actually offers "comfort and reassurance to believers" rather than making scientific contributions to understanding the world.

Another notable chapter includes a lengthy exposition of the biblical texts about creation, especially Genesis 1:1-2:3 (the Priestly rendering of the creation story). With precision the chapter attends to the textual, comparative, historical, literary, and source-critical issues. John H. Stek convincingly shows that the traditional notion of creation ex nihilo can be inferred from the Genesis texts. He also avers that the same texts support the notion of God's ongoing creative activity: "God's creating decrees originate, preserve, and govern what he created." He thus questions the traditional separation of the discussion of the doctrines of creation and providence in the Reformed theologies of Louis Berkhof, Herman Bavinck, G. C. Berkouwer, and

82 - Portraits of Creation: Biblical and Scientific Perspectives on the World's Form

others. In another line of argument, he also hammers home, against those traditionalists who become immersed in understanding the process by which God created, that "the point of the biblical authors is the sovereignty and effectiveness of God's creative word and directive rule over the creaturely realm, with no reflection on the time or the mediating agents and/or processes involved."

Several chapters summarize recent advances in astronomy, geology, and theories of cosmic origin with a view toward showing what scientists actually claim (in opposition to what creation scientists often assert they claim). Howard J. van Till is particularly good in showing that evolutionary perspectives are not necessarily in opposition to classic Reformed theology.

One of the book's great attributes is that it is apologetic (that is, it defends classic Christianity) without being defensive. Indeed, the authors welcome modern thought and engage it fearlessly. In the closing chapter, Van Till laments the "warfare" metaphor that has gained popular attention as a way of engaging natural science and Christian thought and encourages rather a dialogue that allows Christians to encounter modernity. Invoking the motto: "To be Reformed is always to be reforming," he encourages Christians to be open "to assess critically our understanding both of Scripture and the created world-not to doubt or disbelieve God's revelation in either but to question our understanding of it."

With this advice, the authors of this volume have moved away from the "two worlds" view, where science and faith are understood as two separate worldviews or languages, to a position of dialogue and interaction. When one abandons the safe haven of an impenetrable thought world to rethink the doctrines of God, creation, providence, and miracles in the light of modern science, however, one may face a revolution in theology and not just a reformation.

DONALD W. MUSSER

Stetson University
DeLand, Florida