I've been old earth for a good deal of my life but it has been as recently as December of 2006 that I was convined that common descent was a reality. I now find the subject one of the most fascinating topics there is. I am currently part of a church plant for a non-denominational Bible Church. The church statement of faith makes it clear it believes in instant creation and no evolutionary process (though it also inserts random and I don't think any natural act is "random" beyond God's control, but I digress). The church is actually careful not to mention the age of the earth and it has been revealed to me it has some Old earthers, but the majority are YEC and YEC speakers have been brought to the church to discuss it (indeed, it was one such lecture that interested me to explore it myself which culminated in me accepting common descent as a reality 
I have been pretty open with it with our church plant pastor, especially since I am part of the leadership. He has been cool with it for now and I even prompted him to look into it himself to investigate the theological side of it, though I suspect he will ultimatly reject it. But that is not even what I am here to discuss. It is just the atmosphere of everyone else. In a membership seminar I recently attended we were contrasting the world views of Christianity and the secular world and evolution was in sharp focus. The guy behind me declared if evolution is true then it is all pointless, and oh, if you really look into it evolution doesn't hold any water in the first place
Likewise, many a conversation will revert into the problem of death and pain and our usual theological answer is given, red ants are from the fall
I have resolved not to make it a big issue, but I find these solutions are not fitting with reality and I am increasing finding myself at a loss to answer within this community. Frankly, I find common descent an obvious and exciting reality, and it is hard to keep it bottled up among an enormous majority (the membership of my church that is, and probably all of them but me) who don't know the first thing about what common descent actually is or what would support or falsify it. And on top of that, leaving in the suddle fear that it will be made more widely known that I know it is true, and to be looked down upon for having less faith in the Bible, or comprimising, or whatever makes them sleep better at night.
And yet, I believe in Jesus, and believe he is at work in this community of believers and wish to continue to fellowship with them. And even more so, and I will try not to offend my more liberal brothers here, but I find churches that are accepting of the reality of evolution are more liberal in other ways I do not yet accept, about the innerancy of the Bible, or the historical reality of Jesus, or maybe Abraham(?), etc. As recently as a few months ago I declared I would never leave a church over this issue, especially since I am taking the more liberal stance (not trying to use liberal derogatory here, I mean more like progressive, I like to err on the side of caution). And yet, I feel more and more bottled up about it all the time. Six months ago I didn't think I would tell anyone. Five months ago I told my wife, and that was going to be it! Three months ago I am telling my pastor!!! I am not doing a very good job remaining in the closet, as I had planned.
Indeed, look, I am typing on this forum as we speak.
Can anyone relate? Does anyone fellowship in a YEC atmosphere today? Has anyone left a church or felt oppressed in such an atmosphere?
I have been pretty open with it with our church plant pastor, especially since I am part of the leadership. He has been cool with it for now and I even prompted him to look into it himself to investigate the theological side of it, though I suspect he will ultimatly reject it. But that is not even what I am here to discuss. It is just the atmosphere of everyone else. In a membership seminar I recently attended we were contrasting the world views of Christianity and the secular world and evolution was in sharp focus. The guy behind me declared if evolution is true then it is all pointless, and oh, if you really look into it evolution doesn't hold any water in the first place
And yet, I believe in Jesus, and believe he is at work in this community of believers and wish to continue to fellowship with them. And even more so, and I will try not to offend my more liberal brothers here, but I find churches that are accepting of the reality of evolution are more liberal in other ways I do not yet accept, about the innerancy of the Bible, or the historical reality of Jesus, or maybe Abraham(?), etc. As recently as a few months ago I declared I would never leave a church over this issue, especially since I am taking the more liberal stance (not trying to use liberal derogatory here, I mean more like progressive, I like to err on the side of caution). And yet, I feel more and more bottled up about it all the time. Six months ago I didn't think I would tell anyone. Five months ago I told my wife, and that was going to be it! Three months ago I am telling my pastor!!! I am not doing a very good job remaining in the closet, as I had planned.
Indeed, look, I am typing on this forum as we speak.
Can anyone relate? Does anyone fellowship in a YEC atmosphere today? Has anyone left a church or felt oppressed in such an atmosphere?