Herev, I believe that was uncalled for. He was stating what he does, as you I am sure have done likewise. I don't really see the need to take his statement and try to make it sound as if it is used against you. If you are to give him the benefit of the doubt, as we Christians ought to, then you will notice how he said here is my approach. No offense friend, I think you have been attack so much that you tend to see anyone different then you to be attacking you. I don't think this is the case for Yahwehlove, but that is just how I read what he says. Remember many non-Christians are reading our words and judging God based on what we say to each other and how we treat each other.
IN the OP, the verse cited, is not about origins, it is about our faith in God, in Jesus Christ. Unless the OP is claiming that believing one way or another is a faith issue, I don't see how it apply's here.
Something I would like to take a moment to talk about, and I apologize to the OP poster if he is offended that i state this here. All sides state here what they believe, which is really wonderful that we can come and share what we believe. I think in our own ignorance of not wanting to understand the other, we quickly dismiss any other points of views. After spending some time not posting and rather reading, I believe this to be the case. I think many are quite happy and positioned strongly where they are at in their view point. I think that is all fine and dandy.
As one who thinks yec so far has the best view point, I do have to agree with some te's here about their view point. I do not think it is wise of any person, no matter what their view point, to strongly assert one must believe one way or another, when immature Christians, or potential Christians are concerned. Origins is a meat issue, not a milk issue. From my view point it takes great faith to stand against the majority of the world and Christians who say evolution is the truth. As many te's have pointed out yec is a minority, and in such it takes alot of something to stand against majority. Now don't try and turn this around and say I have said the other side has no faith or less. I have only stated one side of the equation.
When young Christians or new believers are concerned, neither of the sides should ever be focusing on the meat, but rather on the milk. The milk is the Gospels. We, as Christians, need to help fill the young with milk until they are strong enough to handle the meat. Some may never be able to handle the meat, thus always need milk. Some may only be saved by the skin of their teeth, but they will still be saved. When one preaches the Gospels, rather than Genesis or Revelations, Christ is told. When Christ is told, the Holy Spirit will then begin His work in the individual who opens his/her ears to hear.
Paul specifically says we are to feed the young milk till they are ready for the meat. He doesn't say feed milk and when you want, feed meat. He says when they are ready for the meat feed them it. We must discern when an individual is ready for the meat, while feeding them the milk.
Yec speaks from a strictly Biblical stand point. It claims that the Bible is clear in its teachings and does not hide in ambiguous and non understandable language. Te's claim that Genesis does hide in a somewaht ambiguous language, calling it allegorical or myth. Many te's will claim Genesis doesn't need to be true and can be believed as having errors and/or contradictions. This encourages an allegorical reading. Others say it is only a poem, or written poetically, thus must be read allegorically. Many say it isn't a salvation issue, so one doesn't need to concern himself/herself over it.
Where my problem lies is with the individual (whether they be te, yec, gap, etc) that says parts of the Bible aren't a salvation issue, or are not essential doctrine. Herev correctly said that God is the one who decides what is a salvation issue and what is essential doctrine. It is not man who decides this. God who have the authors written so much more about what HE has done. John himself says that if he were to write everything that Jesus did, the world could not contain the amount that would be written. There is indeed much, much more that could be written about what God has done for all mankind. The Bible is really a very tiny amount of what God has done, said, and will do in the future. This being said, with such little being written about God, I believe nothing is not essential doctrine, and not a salvation issue. The Bible is the road map to Jesus Christ, not just the Gospels, but the Bible in whole.
I believe fault lies in all who decide upon themselves to tell others parts, pieces, sections, need not worry about. That Genesis 1-11 is non essential, that Jesus wasn't fully God here on earth (Karl), that parts of the Bible can be believed while others need not be. Who are we to tell others this? Have we received word from God telling us this Bible He gave us isn't completely important in all aspects? That we can throw out parts or whole sections of the Bible? Claim parts aren't true?
I honestly don't mind te's saying evolution is a possible way for God to create. It could be. I don't see Biblical support for it, but it doesn't mean God couldn't. God could have done it in six days, and still not be a liar. I would suggest to te's that they don't pursue to tell people that parts (any parts no matter how large or how small) need not be true, or believed, when concerning the Bible. One has no right to say such a thing. I think your message would be much better conveyed if you just sayed you can believe what you believe and still believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Getting into saying what could be tossed out, or not completely believed, or isn't important, (concerning the Bible) is not what God wants His people to tell others. Every word is important and should be taken very seriously, because the secret to eternal life lies inside the Bible.
If one needs to believe in evolution to believe Jesus Christ is God, then fine feed them the milk so they may be strong enough for the meat. Then when they are strong enough for the meat allow them to read the account and discern for themselves through pray and the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I would also like to add in response to Vance about te's and yec's both believing two different origin theories and still being lead by the Holy Spirit. I strongly disagree with what you have stated that the Holy Spirit doesn't care about these matters, thus allowing many beliefs. It is my personal opinion that some just aren't ready for the meat, so the Holy Spirit doesn't lead them to it, but rather continues to help feed them with milk. It can very well be me that is the one is still on the milk while you are on the meat. I believe many te's think this, since I saw a thread related to what Paul said on this forum. It basically was saying yec's are still weak in faith and have to keep themselves from the world to keep their faith, while te's can intermix with the world and still keep their faith. I don't agree with this thinking, but who cares what I think. It is more important what God says on this and everything else.
Lastly, I think many fall into danger when they consider the universe equal to the Bible. The universe is left for complete translation, while the Bible is written Word. The translation of the world is largely done in a way that never mentions God. It is only the Christian who inserts God because of faith in HIm. Paul said we are not to be toss to and thro, and science is just that, always changing. I agree it is great science can change to get better and more accurate, but the problem lies with when is it accurate? Does it still need to keep changing? And if it keeps changing and we base some, little, or all of our Biblical interpretation on science then we admit Paul is wrong that we should be tossed to and fro in our understanding of God's Word.
In short maybe this forum can move away from trying to say the Bible is contradictive, wrong, in error, or such and move towards what we understand from our learning of the Bible. There is no benefit for anyone to prove the Bible is in error in anyway. It only will bring more to question if the Bible is God's Word, or just a made up book by man.
