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What is Theistic Evolution?  Theistic evolution is a system of thought that attempts to compromise the teaching of the Bible that God is the creator of all things with the materialistic worldview of organic evolution.  There are many variations of thought among theistic evolutionists. Consequently, there is little agreement among them regarding the actual events involved in the origin of the universe and the development of life.  When faced with the questions of when these things happened and how they happened the answers are often contradictory and full of speculation.
The Danger of Theistic Evolution.
John Otis in his book, Theistic Evolution, remarks, “One of the greatest dangers that the visible church faces today is the growing threat of theistic evolution.  Theistic Evolution is a “Pandora’s Theological Box” (Otis, Theistic Evolution, p. 287).  Why would Otis make a statement like this? Consider the following answers to this question.
First, Theistic Evolution is false because it adopts a faulty hermeneutic.  The infallible rule of interpretation is Scripture itself.  We often say, “Let Scripture interpret Scripture.”  A rule of hermeneutics is: “The words of the scripture text should be understood literally, unless there is some compelling reason to interpret figuratively.”  In regards to Genesis 1, we are faced with the decision to interpret literally and so historically or figuratively and metaphorically.  Dr. Don DeYoung has written a book titled, Thousands…Not Billions, that addresses the question of the age of the earth.  This book is a thorough review of the dating methods commonly used to date the age of the rocks and consequently of the earth.  The book reviews and summarizes the work of a team of seven scientists and one theologian all with earned doctorate degrees that make up a group called RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of the Earth). Dr. Steven Boyd is the Biblical Hebrew scholar that did an analysis of Genesis 1 to determine if it belonged to narrative literature or poetical literature.  The analysis involved the use of finite verbs.  The distribution of finite verbs in Hebrew narrative writing differs from that used in poetry.  Dr. Boyd made the following conclusions regarding Genesis 1:  (1)  Genesis 1:1-2:3 is determined to be narrative with a probability of one (an extraordinary level of confidence); (2) It is not statistically defensible to interpret Gen. 1:1-2:3 as poetry or metaphor; (3) since Gen. 1:1-2:3 is clearly narrative, it should be read as other Hebrew narratives are intended to be read.  That is, the creation account describes actual events which carry an unmistakable theological message; (4) when Gen. 1:1-2:3 is read as narrative, there is only one tenable view: God created everything during six literal days (p. 168-169). Most theistic evolutionists believe that Genesis 1 is figurative language and that the days of creation are not 24 hour periods of time (solar days), but may be interpreted as encompassing vast eons of time (billions of years).  Consequently, theistic evolutionists must violate the basic rule of hermeneutics stated above in order to reach the conclusions that they affirm.  In addition to this argument, there are other passages that are clearly historical that support a historical understanding of Genesis 1.  Let Scripture interpret Scripture!  Consider Exodus 20:11, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Another argument that must be considered is the Lord Jesus Christ’s own remarks regarding the beginning and placing the creation of the first man and woman at the beginning of time which cannot be harmonized with the evolutionary scheme regarding the age of the earth and the beginning of human life on the earth.  Jesus said, “…Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female.”  Jesus is referencing Gen. 2:24.  He places the creation of man at the beginning of time.  The veracity of the Lord is at stake and consequently His deity with regard to the age of the earth and the creation account given in Genesis 1.
Second, Theistic Evolution assaults the dignity and uniqueness of man.  Gen. 1:27.  Evolutionists teach that man evolved from lower life forms.  The Bible teaches that man was created by God “in his image” (Gen. 1:27).  Both cannot be true!  Paul declares, “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds” (I Cor. 15:39).  Man is not an animal.  Man possesses a soul that will never die.  Man is the crowning jewel of God’s creation.  The dignity and uniqueness of man has a connection to the humanity of Jesus Christ (Psa. 8:4-6; Heb. 2:6-11).  Evolutionary thought is an assault on the dignity of man and the dignity of the Lord who was made in likeness of men.
Third, Theistic Evolution undermines the Bible’s credibility.  Bible chronology cannot allow for billions of years for the age of the universe (14 billion years) and the age of the earth (4-5 billion years).  Bible chronology allows for an earth that is about 6,000 years old.  The genealogical records given in Matt. 1 and Luke 3 may be compared with the genealogical accounts given in the Old Testament.  These genealogies are important because they relate to the identification of the Messiah (Jesus Christ).  If they are not historically accurate, then a significant proof for the Messiahship of Jesus is lost.  Luke traces the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam.  Jesus places the first male and female at the time of the beginning of all things (Matt. 19:4).  Some Theistic Evolutionists deny that Adam was a real person.  Some deny that Adam could have been 930 years old or that Methuselah could have been 969 years old.  They do this in order to compromise with evolutionary models of the age of the earth.  Scientism is used to interpret the Bible rather than the Bible being used to interpret the facts of science.  Scientism is a materialistic worldview that uses organic evolution to interpret origins and the age of the earth.  This view is false because it contradicts the Bible.
Theistic Evolution must be rejected because it introduces a “Pandora’s Theological Box.”  To deny the historical narrative of Genesis 1 is to deny the veracity of the Bible and the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.