1957 Geloof en Wetenschap : Orgaan van de Christelijke vereeniging van natuur- en geneeskundigen in Nederland - pagina 212

REVELATION AND EVOLUTION

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In the fifth place, we realize fully well, that, if what we call theistic evolution were accepted as true, a tremendous change would take place in our thinking; compared with which the change to the Copernican point of view would be a mere bagatelle. For example, if man did descend from some primate physically, can we attribute all imperfection and all of what we call physical evil tot man's Fall? Is it not an oversimplification anyway? Many of our books would have to be rewritten. But, if necessary for the sake of truth, why not? In the field of medicine we are use to that. A book hardly lasts five years. Would we not be obeying the whole revelation of God instead of just part of it? What we have written may appear one-sided, optimistic and as though we do not realize the tremendous problems. We do all that. We have not given much of the Scriptural side because that has been done so well by a host of authors more competent that I am. We also see the great difficulties which the evolutionists themselves have, particularly in tracing the origin of the invertebrate phyla. Dr. J. Lever has pointed this out so well in his „Creatie en Evolutie". Let us continue to be intellestually honest. We realize the great difficulties with which it all confronts the theologian. But in that direction may lie progress. Take the example of the medical field. Not so very long ago is was believed that all disease was caused by just one thing. It was all attacked with the same blunderbus preparation. But is was discovered that there are various specific causes for various diseases. Specific remedies were found and medicine began to progress tremendously. Our faith in scripture is unshaken as the way to salvation and as a guide upon our path. Scripture has such an over-abundance of material along these lines that we do not have to be afraid. We believe that the views expressed will place the whole of revelation in better perspective. In Scripture itself there are many problems that we cannot solve; such as, the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man, predestination and that God is not the cause of evil, and the like. We accept both. So there may be problems in general revelation that do not seem to harmonize with our interpretation of Scripture. Do not let us be too hasty in rejecting what God teaches us in the one or in the other. We may have to go through the humiliating experience of having to retrace our steps. We are thinking of our forebears of long ago. On the one hand they pondered upon the Holy Bible; but, on the other hand, some read the

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