Denis Alexander has expressed his concern that the evolution debate could turn into a significant distraction. In his book Creation or Evolution he writes, "Christian campaigns against evolution represent a giant 'red herring', distracting believers from far more important pursuits. We are faced with a huge challenge of reaching a lost world with the message of the gospel. Why not take all that money, energy and human gifting and abilities, and use them for evangelism?" Alexander's point about the gospel's pre-eminence is well made.

However, as one who has committed my life to the proclamation of the gospel and who has travelled to many nations of the world to pursue that I find it a little hard to reconcile Alexander's concern with his current 'campaign'. I have never campaigned against evolution until now. The incessant onslaught by Alexander, Spencer, Theos and the Faraday Institute to persuade me to concur with their convictions has caused me to question the "evidence" for evolution and the theology Alexander invites me to embrace. If I adopt Alexander's suggested theology, then the fall has made little material difference to the world, sin (whatever that is) is not the cause of death, death is apparently God's chosen means of developing life, I have no idea then why Christ had to die and I am not exactly sure in what way he is my Saviour. Under this theology evangelism loses clarity and purpose.

What about the energy, human gifting and abilities and the significant amount of money that has been put into commissioning a play, two major independent research studies, writing etc. that make up the Rescuing Darwin project. Why didn't Alexander direct all this into evangelism and world poverty? Instead he started a campaign and then criticised those of a different view with the following words, "Christians who make it their mission to attack evolution...are embarrassing and bring the gospel into disrepute." At least he and Nick Spencer have stated their desire that the debate would be carried out in a spirit of courtesy and mutual respect! (see Rescuing Darwin p10).