Worship leader and Christian songwriter Joel Houston launched a social media debate this week then he defended evolution and said the Big Bang was God’s design.
Houston, who sings with Hillsong UNITED and is lead pastor of Hillsong NYC, was answering a Twitter question from a fan about the song “So Will I,” which references evolution in the line, “A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath; evolving in pursuit of what You said.”
“Evolution is undeniable—created by God as a reflective means of displaying nature’s pattern of renewal in pursuance of God’s Word—an ode to the nature of the creative God it reflects—and only ever in part—not the SOURCE!” he wrote on Twitter Monday. “Science and faith aren’t at odds. God created the Big-Bang.”
After pushback, he added additional thoughts.
“Context—things evolve, they change and adapt, I DON’T believe in evolution as a theory of SOURCE, I believe it’s merely a pattern of nature—created by God, reflecting Nature’s desire for renewal, survival, new life—from, through and ultimately to—God,” Houston wrote. “Let me also add—God is WAY bigger than we think. We can try box Him any way we like, with science, theology, a tweet or a song—HE IS UNDIMINISHED by our limitations.”
Later he added, “If God’s creative process was an easy working week, or finely crafted over six-ages of millennia, does it make Him any more or less God? Or, us any more or less created in His image? Either way, It was an unfathomably wonderful six-day process. however you think to see it.”
Some Christians criticized his position.
“Words like undeniable steal your credibility,” wrote Eric McMahon, a Philadelphia church planter. “There is very compelling evidence on the side of creation. Even if you believe in evolution it’s foolish to call it undeniable -- you just haven’t researched enough quality work from those who have an opposing stance.”
One person, Brian A. Peterson, asked Houston if he believed that “man evolved from an ape.”
“Thanks for your question... i believe God created humanity out of the dust.. and breathed his breath/Spirit into us,” Houston answered.
Hillsong United’s songs are sung in churches every Sunday. One of the its most popular songs is the 2013 tune “Oceans.”
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Joel Houston
Publication date: June 28, 2018
