Theology

Adam, Where Are You?

It’s time for a difficult, grace-filled family meeting.

Between evangelicals’ passion for adoption and other changing family dynamics, we probably all know someone who has been part of a particular difficult conversation: the man known for years as Dad is not, in fact, the biological father.

Those conversations are often full of grace and love and can end in greater intimacy. But they’re also usually fraught with pain and difficult questions: What does this mean? Where do I come from? Who am I?

The recent reshaping of the creation-evolution debate is causing similar discomfort for those of us who emphasize the authority and infallibility of Scripture. Scientists in genomic demography and other fields—as well as their Christian popularizers in groups like the BioLogos Foundation—are essentially sitting us down to have “the talk”: Adam, the man you’ve called your father all these years, isn’t who you think he is, they explain.

Few debates in our world have been as impassioned and emotional as those over creation. But now we’re not just talking about dating rocks and interpreting fossils. We’re talking about family. Nor is the discussion between those who think the Bible’s account of creation, fall, and redemption is important and those who find it irrelevant. This is a family meeting.

That is one of the reasons we’re covering the discussion multiple times in this issue. First, we wanted our cover story to be the most straightforward, non-partisan report on the de-bate possible. Richard Ostling was our immediate pick. Christianity Today‘s news editor in the 1960s, Ostling went on to spend nearly three decades with Time magazine and another with the Associated Press. He is universally acclaimed as one of the top religion journalists of our age. We were thrilled when he said yes.

We are a magazine that prides itself on such trustworthy, balanced reporting (for another example that is also somewhat uncomfortable, see “Fleecing the Faithful—Again,” which will be posted online at a future date). But we also know our readers want to know where we stand as a magazine. For that, read our editorial on page 61.

As you’ll see in the editorial, we find the discussion about the historicity of Adam difficult and, yes, a little painful. But we are also glad to see it happening: We welcome the opportunity to once again ask with wonder, “Where do I come from? Who am I?”—perhaps chiefly because it reminds us of the answer: We have been adopted by a loving Father.

Next month: Focus on the Family’s big shift after Dobson, Tim Stafford’s account of revival in India, John Witte’s take on democracy through Christ the King, and New York City’s Christian gardening movement.

Copyright © 2011 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

See our cover story on “The Search for the Historical Adam.” Check back for more articles from the June issue.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The Search for the Historical Adam

My Top 5 Books On Technology

Ayn Rand Led Me to Christ

Contemporary Music: The Cultural Medium and the Christian Message

Civility Under Fire: Chuck Colson & Timothy George Revive MLK's Legacy

A Variety of Religious Composition

Wilson's Bookmarks

Review

The Heart Has Reasons

News

Go Figure

Excerpt

A Meal with Jesus

The Joyful Environmentalists: Eugene Peterson and Peter Harris

Review

Working on Eternity

News

Super Natural: Josh Hamilton's Comeback

Should Christians Smoke Medical Marijuana?

Hardworking Sloths: Disguising Spiritual Laziness

The New Pro-Life Surge

News

Fleecing the Faithful—Again: Former YWAM Leader Defrauds Many

News

Jerry Dykstra Resigns, Susan Billington Harper Appointed Westmont Provost, & More

Readers Write

Prison Partnership: Byron R. Johnson on Christian Criminal Justice

Alternative Capitalist: How a Coffee Business Brews Reconciliation

Editorial

No Adam, No Eve, No Gospel

News

Quotation Marks

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States' License to Pill Increases Conflicts

News

Shouwang Church Members Keep Meeting, Court to Hear Seminary Tenure Dispute, and More News

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Public Enemy: Iran's Persecution Backfires

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Should the China Ambassador Worship at a House Church?

Martyrs Trilogy: One Too Many

A Sensory Revelation

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Standing on Shaky Ground: Pastor Tax Break Threat Lessens

The Theology of Osama bin Laden's Death

Who Gets Left Behind?

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