Reading: Dr. Feddes Reflects on Dr. Clouser's view of creation

Dr. Roy Clouser says that a “fundamentalist” approach to Scripture is based on “the encyclopedic assumption,” the notion that Scripture “contains inspired and thus infallibly true statements about virtually every conceivable subject matter.” Rejecting this approach, Dr. Clouser suggests that “the biblical writings are first, foremost, and always about religion.” In his view, Genesis focuses on God’s covenant and does not provide scientific information or answer our scientific curiosity.

Dr. Clouser is right that the Bible should not be viewed as an encyclopedia that provides “specific truths on virtually every subject matter.” The Bible is not an encyclopedia, nor a science textbook, nor a political charter, nor a psychology manual. God does not intend the Bible to answer all our questions on every conceivable subject.

Still, although the Bible is not an encyclopedia, it does make statements about events, and those statements are true. While Scripture reveals God’s covenantal purposes, it also describes events that really happened. Genesis 1 gives a brief, majestic account of the Creator’s work in the beginning and says that God made everything in six days. Exodus 20:11 declares, "In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them." Dr. Clouser views the six days of creation as a literary framework, not a literal sequence of events. This view is held by some contemporary Christians, but it has not been held by most Christians throughout history. Belief in six actual creation days has been held, and continues to be held, by many people who are not “fundamentalists” and do not hold “the encyclopedic assumption.”

As Provost of Christian Leaders College and Institute, I am pleased that our students can study with a brilliant Christian philosopher such as Dr. Clouser. I trust that he will stimulate hard thinking on many important subjects. At the same time, his views of Genesis and creation are his own and differ from mine and from other faculty and administration. Studying his views will help to understand the way some Christians think but should not be regarded as the stance of Christian Leaders Ministries.