Many news organizations and bloggers have published articles this past week concerning the evolution vs. creationism debate and, more specifically, the idea of a ‘young earth’ – or one that is only around 6,000 years old as based on a very exacting interpretation of the Genesis account. The debate is being carried, not only in some relatively obscure arenas – on both sides of the issue – but in a few easily recognizable ones too: like The Washington Post, and Dallas Morning News.
As one who takes his Christianity very seriously, it always troubles me to see these references to young earth creationism. While I firmly believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God, I do not believe that it is to be used as an excuse for ‘checking ones brain’ at the door. To box in God’s amazing ability as the Creator of all things, with such a narrow vision, is simply an injustice to the thinking ability of God’s most cherished creation (that’s you and me).
For instance; those ‘ultra-literal’ interpreter’s might well be inclined to take that part of Isaiah 40:31, which says “They will soar on wings like eagles,” to mean that they should climb up on the roof and jump off while flapping their arms … (because after all- they are going to sprout feathers are start flying … you know…like eagles … right?).
That, of course, is simply ridiculous, which is precisely my point. And sure, I believe that God created all things in 6 days, resting on the 7th. It’s just that I also believe Him to be, much larger, and much more capable, beyond the 24 hour unit of measure that ultra interpretive young earth creationists would constrict Him to. God is big, and His ways are not our ways. He doesn’t expect believer’s to be able to explain it (nor necessarily even to be able to understand). He just asks us to take Him at His word. We call it ‘faith.’
Anton Cleav, http://www.speedcreed.com/
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