Creation and evolution...

[seekingpurity047]

Hey guys! Allow me to just inform you as to why I began this thread.

My sunday school classes over the passed few weeks have been on the subject of creation and evolution. Basically, we learned all of the christian perspectives (as for atheistic evolution, I am sorry...), notably theistic evolution, old earth creation, the gap theory, and young earth creation.

So, I was just wondering what your views were on the subject. Now, not only do I want you guys to tell me "Indeed, I believe in old earth creation" or something, but I want to understand why it is that you believe so. Now, since we are all calvinists, clearly we believe in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, so, if you guys can give background on the basis of scripture, it would be much appreciated.

Another reason as to why I'm doing this is because I, personally, am super confused. I used to be in the young earth creation field, but now I'm not so sure. However, I'm not really into the other theories either. I just desire to better understand the truth of the power of God and the truth that is in His word.

Thanks guys! This is much appreciated, and I am sure we will all learn something phenomenal from this discussion.

To the glory of God,

Randy

 

[Imblessed]

My honest answer? I have no idea!!! I don't know where I stand. I guess I lean towards young earth simply because that's the basic understanding when I read the bible. But maybe that's too simplistic. My husband is definately old earth creationism, because he thinks that science has proven it sufficiently.

I just don't know. I'm hopeless when it comes to anything scientific, so I don't think I'll ever know. I skipped out of as many science classes as possible in school, and took the absolute easiest ones when I HAD to take them.

I guess I'm just no help at all huh?? LOL

 

[seekingpurity047]

I guess I'm just no help at all huh?? LOL

Thank you Imblessed. Indeed, it is a difficult thing to grasp when you don't exactly know much about science. Frankly, I'm in the same boat as you are, but after the sunday school thing, I dunno anymore. However, the deacon that was teaching was bias toward old earth, i don't know why though. I am yet to be totally convinced on either side.

I know one thing though, Theistic evolution holds no water, and the gap theory is just nonsense.

Thank you for the reply though, I really appreciate it.

Randy

 

[Beoga]

I think the guys that wrote this summed it up better than I could:
Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter 4:
Of Creation
4:1 It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Gen_1:2; Job_26:13; Job_33:4; Joh_1:2, Joh_1:3; Heb_1:2), for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness (Psa_33:5, Psa_33:6; Psa_104:24; Jer_10:12; Rom_1:20), in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days; and all very good (Gen 1:1-50:26; Act_17:24; Col_1:16; Heb_11:3).
4:2 After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female (Gen_1:27), with reasonable and immortal souls (Gen_2:7; Ecc_12:7; Mat_10:28; Luk_23:43), endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image (Gen_1:26; Eph_4:24; Col_3:10); having the law of God written in their hearts (Rom_2:14, Rom_2:15), and power to fulfil it (Ecc_7:29); and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change (Gen_3:6; Ecc_7:29). Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God (Gen_2:17; Gen_3:8-11, Gen_3:23), and had dominion over the creatures (Gen_1:26, Gen_1:28).
Westminster Larger Catechism
Question 15: What is the work of creation?
Answer: The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.
Genesis 1 (entire). Hebrews 11:3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Proverbs 16:4. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

 

[reformedfan]

the genesis flood by morris & whitcomb is dandy on the subject.

 

[heymikey80]

Hey guys! Allow me to just inform you as to why I began this thread.

My sunday school classes over the passed few weeks have been on the subject of creation and evolution. Basically, we learned all of the christian perspectives (as for atheistic evolution, I am sorry...), notably theistic evolution, old earth creation, the gap theory, and young earth creation.

So, I was just wondering what your views were on the subject. Now, not only do I want you guys to tell me "Indeed, I believe in old earth creation" or something, but I want to understand why it is that you believe so. Now, since we are all calvinists, clearly we believe in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, so, if you guys can give background on the basis of scripture, it would be much appreciated.

Another reason as to why I'm doing this is because I, personally, am super confused. I used to be in the young earth creation field, but now I'm not so sure. However, I'm not really into the other theories either. I just desire to better understand the truth of the power of God and the truth that is in His word.

Thanks guys! This is much appreciated, and I am sure we will all learn something phenomenal from this discussion.

To the glory of God,

Randy

Welcome to my world, Randy. I feel right in there with you.

Genesis doesn't go into immense detail. The words don't demand a particular view, though it weakens some and strengthens others.

I hold to 6-day creation, but I can't see it as 24-hour days any more. I don't know what the days are. The First Day extends into eternal darkness in the past. I think God does something creationally important in each day, and I'm not sure what else there is to say about the days.

I don't know about Kline's 2-register view of Genesis, but I'm inclined to think it resolves some of the issues around Genesis. I do find it a little ... too easy, though.

I don't think Genesis is intended to be easy. You'll find yourself a little bit alone when you take it seriously. And maybe that's God's whole intent. He was there. We weren't. Yet we chide one another over different understandings of what God meant. It now deters me from chiding any longer. I find I need to learn from the Scriptures what they say. Ask about what views are strengthened and what views are weakened by the Scriptures. Don't take input from God's Creation lightly either, but don't take our understanding of His Creation too seriously. It still changes.

And maybe I don't have an answer. Billions of people before me lived out their lives with nothing near a good answer of Earth's origins. I'm not going to feel like God owes me this one. My mind may not be able to wrap around it. No matter. God created it all in six days.

 

[Defcon]

I hold to young earth creation myself. I think there is adequate biblical evidence that 'yom' must be interpreted in respect to actual 24 hour days. There is also major differences in the order of appearance of things (such as the sun) in creation vs. theistic evolution, etc. that complicate the matter much more than "Oh, it just took longer than what it says."

I was kind of a science geek in junior high and high school. I went to a secular college and had evolution beat into my head unmercifully. What gave me confidence in the literal 6 days involved reading a few works from Christian geologists and scientists. There are quite a few articles on this site and they also publish quite a few books on YEC:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/
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I have used quite a bit of information from this site discussing the proofs for a young earth (6,000-10,000 years old) with those who believe it is millions of years old. Inevitably, they call the facts I present "slanted" since they are coming from a Creationist standpoint. I argue the same could be said of the "slanted" anti-God motives. There are general articles that are top-level for easy reading as well as extremely detailed studies that make your head hurt (i.e. the carbon-dating issues, flood evidence, etc.) but I enjoy it - especially the flood evidence. That evidence makes a compelling case as to why some things seem 'old.'

From my reading, beliefs such as theistic evolution and gap theory are nothing more than Christians trying to fit in with the mainstream, human understanding. These ideas sprung up when "popular science" made evolution/old earth mainstream. Some early Christians struggled to believe that God would take as LONG as 6 days; and argued that it was all done instantly. This site also covers those issues as well.......


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[seekingpurity047]

Well, I believe that I have already mentioned this before, I'm stuck in between both old and young earth creation. Like, I see good things and faults in both schools of thought, and it makes me wonder. I'm not scientific buff here, I mean, I'm studyhing political science, not molecular biology... So, someone tells me scientific theories, it's way over my head.

I used to be young earth creation, now I'm not so sure, but I'm also not so sure about old earth creation either.... so yah... the research continues...

To the glory of God,

Randy

 

[heymikey80]

Well, I believe that I have already mentioned this before, I'm stuck in between both old and young earth creation. Like, I see good things and faults in both schools of thought, and it makes me wonder. I'm not scientific buff here, I mean, I'm studyhing political science, not molecular biology... So, someone tells me scientific theories, it's way over my head.

I used to be young earth creation, now I'm not so sure, but I'm also not so sure about old earth creation either.... so yah... the research continues...

To the glory of God,

Randy

Yeah, the rabbit hole goes deep, too. I started out in science (astronomy) & degreed in engineering, but it's no different. There's physical phenomena; our interpretation of it; God's word; our interpretation of it.

One place whith will probably make your brain hurt with all the information it has: http://www.asa3.org/ . This is scientists, techies talking techie. If you want research in depth from the scientific side that seems to be a fairly balanced place to research.

 

[UMP]

Hey guys! Allow me to just inform you as to why I began this thread.

My sunday school classes over the passed few weeks have been on the subject of creation and evolution. Basically, we learned all of the christian perspectives (as for atheistic evolution, I am sorry...), notably theistic evolution, old earth creation, the gap theory, and young earth creation.

So, I was just wondering what your views were on the subject. Now, not only do I want you guys to tell me "Indeed, I believe in old earth creation" or something, but I want to understand why it is that you believe so. Now, since we are all calvinists, clearly we believe in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, so, if you guys can give background on the basis of scripture, it would be much appreciated.

Another reason as to why I'm doing this is because I, personally, am super confused. I used to be in the young earth creation field, but now I'm not so sure. However, I'm not really into the other theories either. I just desire to better understand the truth of the power of God and the truth that is in His word.

Thanks guys! This is much appreciated, and I am sure we will all learn something phenomenal from this discussion.

To the glory of God,

Randy

This may seem like a very simplistic answer and might even seem like I'm being sarcastic, but I am not.
This is enough for me :

Genesis 1:
[1] In the beginning God......

I don't even have to finish the first verse. That says it all for me. God is first cause, period. That's plenty for me to rest in.
Regarding how long it took, when God says 6 days, I tend to think He meant 6 days, as in 24 hour days.
We have a BIG God !

 

[rmwilliamsll]

see:
http://www.christianforums.com/f143-origins-theology.html
http://www.christianforums.com/f70-creation-evolution.html

lots of good information. perhaps the best CED forums online. although if you have a favorite place, i'd love to visit it....

CED is my major interest and has been for many years.

 

[aisling7]

What is gap theory?

Jackie