What are the beliefs and goals of BioLogos?

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TL;DR:

BioLogos is fundamentally Christian in their views on Christ and salvation; they openly express a belief in God-controlled evolution which some Christians find controversial.

from the old testament

  • God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1-31).
  • God created both animals (Genesis 1:20-25), and man according to His will (Genesis 2:7).
  • God’s sovereign control over Creation is unfathomable (Job 37-41).
  • God refers to Adam’s rebellion through the prophet Hosea (Hosea 6:7).

from the new testament

  • Christ spoke of Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4-5).
  • Paul refers to Adam explicitly when speaking of the curse of sin (Romans 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:22).
  • Paul declared that the diversity of life is God’s doing (1 Corinthians 15:38-39).

implications for today

BioLogos, in our view, does a service to Christians and non-believers in finding bridges to conversation. Their theological viewpoint lines up with most orthodox Christian theology. BioLogos does not present views fundamentally incompatible with the gospel. However, we disagree with their views on evolution and God's role in creation.

When disagreeing with others, God calls us to respond and interact with love, respect, and humility. Scripture teaches us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Even in areas of significant disagreement, we are instructed to maintain unity in Christ (Ephesians 4:3) and to treat others as we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). This doesn't mean compromising our beliefs but rather engaging in thoughtful, compassionate dialogue that honors God and values the inherent worth of those with whom we disagree.

understand

  • Scripture presents Creation in a way subject to various interpretations.
  • The Bible seems to portray Adam and Eve as literal historical individuals, and certainly not as imaginary or symbolic figures.

reflect

  • How do I balance standing firm in my beliefs about creation with showing love and respect to those who hold different views?
  • In what ways might my approach to discussing controversial topics like evolution and creation need to change to better reflect Christ's love?
  • How can I deepen my understanding of the biblical account of creation to be better prepared for thoughtful discussions on this topic?

engage

  • "Science and faith in harmony" is the slogan of the BioLogos organization. We believe science and faith are in harmony; however, science is fallible where God is not. We must be careful not to prefer scientific trends—or our own traditional views—above what God is teaching in the Bible.
  • What are the potential benefits organizations like BioLogos that seek to bridge science and faith? What risks come with these efforts?
  • In what ways does our interpretation of Genesis 1-2 impact our overall understanding of Scripture and our approach to evangelism?