In fact, I am sure that many peoples' first impression of this article is that I would argue for Young Earth Creationism. This is not so. However, before I go any further, let me be clear at the onset that this issue is not one to break fellowship with people over or start fights over. It is something that I want us to dialogue and talk about with love and respect, for I myself used to believe in Young Earth Creationism. With that being said, whatever you believe about this subject and whatever you choose to teach your children is between you and the Lord. I am simply sharing the reasons why I teach my children what I do about this subject, since I am asked about it on a regular basis. My hope is that if you do hold to Young Earth Creationism, you will read what I have to say with an open mind and teachable spirit. Again, these articles will be my own personal reflections on this subject, and you are free to agree or disagree, but whatever the case, I pray that you look into it diligently and deeply. Finally, though my heart is to do this in love, I will speak what I understand the truth to be candidly, and fulfill my calling as laid out by Paul in Ephesians 4:11-15, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Therefore, it is with grace and humility that I offer my reasons.
To begin, I know that immediately after reading what i just wrote about disagreeing with Young Earth Creationism, some will be relieved, and others will be outraged. On one extreme, my atheist friends would say, "I am so glad he is not brainwashing his children with that pseudo-science”, while some of my fellow Christians are thinking, “how can you blatantly go against what scripture teaches?" And therein lies the problem: American Christians have been cleverly duped into thinking that scripture requires them to hold to Young Earth Creationism, when in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. However, with the militant surge of ministries like Answers in Genesis (from now on AiG) propagating their cause and pronouncing “anathemas” upon anyone who disagrees with them, it is no wonder that Christians are swayed towards this position. Young Earth Creationists such as Ken Ham exalt their view as the only one which is faithful to the truthfulness, inspiration, and inerrancy of scripture. Now, before you think I am just picking on Ken Ham, the reason I mention him is because he and AiG are the leading proponents of Young Earth Creationism and the ones who are the most vocal in their cause and condemnation of others who disagree with them. Before we proceed, for the sake of those who aren't quite tracking with me, I want to define exactly what Young Earth Creationism teaches (from now on YEC).
Here are the basic tenants of their belief:
1) Genesis 1-3 is meant to be interpreted literalistically, and is a factual presentation of actual events. Thus, it provides a reliable framework for scientific questions.
2) The days of Genesis 1 are literally 24 hour days in which God created everything.
3) The science of the bible provides a reliable account of how God did things and how the universe works.
4) The “kinds” mentioned in Genesis is the same biological category that we use today. God made man and the rest of creation “according to its kind,” thus there is only limited biological change.
5) Dinosaurs lived with humans and are mentioned in the creation account of Genesis 1.
6) The Noahic flood was an actual, global event that is responsible for all the fossils we see.
7) Based on the genealogies of Genesis, the earth is only around 6,000 years old.
8) The fall was a cosmic fall, thus there was not plant or animal death before the fall of men.
9) Upon the fall of man, the animals became carnivorous.
10) No perceived evidence in any field such as history, chronology, science, etc., can be valid if it contradicts the biblical record.
11) Modern science and its dating methods cannot be trusted.
12) The big bang is false.
13) Evolution is a lie.
14) The universe is not 14.5 billion years old.
You can read more about YEC here
http://www.answersingenesis.org/about/faith
and here
http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers
In this series, I will show why I reject this system of thought and why I will not teach it to my children. I reject YEC based on three accounts: The Bible; The history of YEC; and the science of YEC. I will be discussing each of these in a somewhat detailed manner, but will obviously not be addressing every single issue. If you have more questions, concerns, comments, etc., please either comment on these blog post or send me an email through the Contact Us page.
If I consider this an open handed issue, why is this so important to discuss? Glad you asked. It is important for several reasons. Though it is an open handed issue for me, I see many dangers in it. First, YEC creates a dichotomy and false dilemma that can be avoided; namely that of either believing the bible or committing intellectual suicide. Second, it is a grave mishandling of scripture and uses the bible in a way God never intended. Finally, YEC is one of the greatest hindrances to the gospel in American society because it is willful, blatant ignorance at its finest, which discredits the Christian message and the intellectual integrity of Christianity.
In the next post, I will address the biblical reasons as to why I reject YEC.