Do Old Earth Creation Views Compromise
Scripture and Destroy the Gospel Message?

While both Young Earth Creationists (YECs) and Old Earth Creationists (OECs) believe God created the universe, they disagree on whenGod’s creative works took place and how long God took to complete creation.  YECs adamantly contend a plain reading of Genesis requires the view that God created the universe approximately 6,000 years ago in six consecutive 24-hour days (more>>).  Old Earth Creationists (OECs) confidently maintain that the ancient Hebrew language Genesis was originally written in does not require such a view and they resolutely assert an old earth is consistent with the teachings of Scripture.

YECs offer several theological reasons for opposing old earth creationism (more>>).  One of the primary reasons is because all old earth views presume God permitted death to occur before sin entered the world.  Since YECs believe Scripture teaches all death is a consequence of man’s sin, they insist no death (even the death of animals) could have occurred before the Fall.  From their perspective, any view of creation which permits death to have occurred before Adam and Eve sinned compromises the clear teaching of Scripture and, ultimately, destroys the gospel message.  This article summarizes the Scriptural bases YEC’s rely on in asserting these positions as well as the responses of OECs.

ONE MINUTE BRIEF

Issue: Do Old Earth Creation (OEC) views compromise the truth revealed in Scripture and, ultimately, destroy the gospelmessage by teaching God allowed animals to die before sin entered the world?

Young Earth Creationist (YEC) View: Yes. Scripture teaches all death is the consequence of man’s sin and is the reason Christ had to die on the cross. OEC views compromise Scripture and, ultimately, destroy the gospel message by teaching animals died before sin entered the world at the time of the Fall.

Old Earth Creationist (OEC) View: No. Man’s sin caused man’s separation from God resulting in man’s spiritual death. While all men sin, animals have no moral standards and are neither innocent nor guilty of sin. Scripture clearly teaches Christ died on the cross to make a way of salvation for man but nothing in Scripture indicates animals died because of their sin or that Christ died for the salvation of animals. Therefore, the death of animals before the Fall in no way diminishes Christ’s work of atonement for man’s sin on the cross.

[For further explanation and reference links, see Summary Discussion below.]

___________________________________

SUMMARY DISCUSSION

Young Earth Creationist (YEC) View

Young Earth Creationists (YECs) such as Ken Ham (www.answersingensis.org) and John Morris (www.icr.org) offer several theological reasons for opposing old earth creationism (more>>). One of the primary reasons YECs give is that all old earth views presume God permitted death of animals to occur before sin entered the world. Based on the Genesis’ narration of the Fall (see, Gen. 2:15-17; 3:1-24) and the following passages in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15, YECs steadfastly maintain man’s sin was the sole cause of all death in the world;therefore, no death (even the death of animals) could have occurred before the Fall:

Romans 5:12 (ESV): “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NIV): “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

Not only do YECs believe old earth views are inconsistent with the above passages in Scripture, YECs also contend all OEC views destroy the gospel message by teaching God permitted death to occur before sin entered the world:

The basis of the Gospel message is that God brought in death and bloodshed because of sin” and “[i]f death and bloodshed of animals (or man) existed before Adam sinned, then the whole basis of atonement — the basis of redemption — is destroyed.” — Ken Ham

Because YECs fervently believe OEC views are clearly inconsistent with Scripture, many YECs accuse those who promote old earth views (e.g., the Day-Age View more>>, the Intermittent-Day View more>>, the Literary Framework View more>>) of choosing to reinterpret the plain and literal meaning of Scripture to accommodate secular science and, particularly, evolutionary theory.  In doing so, YECs allege OECs have elevated the science of fallible human beings over the infallible and inerrant word of God.

Old Earth Creationist (OEC) View

OEC Views Do Not Compromise Scripture

In the view of many OECs, such as Hugh Ross (www.reasons.org) who holds a Day-Age View more>> and Robert Newman(www.newmanlib.ibri.org) who holds to the Intermittent-Day View more>>, since all truth is God’s truth, when accurately interpreted and translated, the truth revealed in the God’s record of Scripture will always agree with the truth revealed in God’s record of nature. However, even though the record of Scripture and the record of nature both reveal God’s perfect truth, both records are subject to misinterpretation and misapplication by fallible human beings.

Hugh Ross also charges it is unfair to accuse OECs of reinterpreting Scripture to accommodate modern science because even before the theory of evolution originated, at least some early church leaders and Jewish scholars had already raised the question of whether the Genesis creation account required the interpretation that God created the universe in six consecutive 24-hour days. Christian philosopher, William Lane Craig, makes the further point that there is a clear difference between:

1. Choosing to reinterpret Scripture for the purpose of accommodating modern science, and;
2. Seeking to correctly understand Scripture by considering what scientists have learned from God’s record of nature.

Go to Full Briefing>>

OEC Views Do Not Destroy the Gospel Message

The simple gospel message is that man’s sin separated man from God and God sent His son to be an atoning sacrifice for man’s sin to provide a way for men to live in relationship with Him in eternity. That simple message is not destroyed by God choosing to create the universe over a long period of time or permitting animals to die before the Fall. OECs also raise the following additional points:

• Satan was the first creature to sin when he rebelled against God in heaven (Isaiah 14:13-14). Thereafter, Satan infected the human race with sin by persuading Adam and Eve to rebel against God in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-13).
• Romans 5:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 are referring to the spiritual death of men (who are sinners), not animals who are neither “innocent” nor “guilty” of sin because they are not spiritual moral beings made in God’s image. Nothing in Scripture indicates animals are capable of sinning or that Christ died for the salvation of animals.
• 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 only teaches that just as Adam brought death to men, Christ brings life to men.
• Although the Bible teaches there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood (e.g., Hebrews 9:22), it does not necessarily follow that all shed blood is for the remission of sin.

Go to Full Briefing >>

Conclusion

Without question, the YEC vs. OEC debate has been, and will continue to be, a passionately contested issue within the Christian community. People on both sides of the issue steadfastly believe they have solid scriptural and scientific grounds for their beliefs. That fact is unlikely to change and we will continue to wrestle with and argue over the theological and scientific issues involved in the age of the earth debate.

However, regardless of the different positions we may hold, it will serve our Lord well to make sure that as we interact with each other and represent Christ to the world, we do so in a way that brings honor and glory to God:

1 Peter 3:15-16: 15 …. but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Galatians 5:22-26: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephesians 4:1-31: “…[W]alk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…. [S]peaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, …. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christforgave you.

1 Peter 4:8-11: 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sin,…. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all thingsGod may be praised through Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:15: 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

“Now, may the God of peace, …, equip you with all that is good to do
His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ.
Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen.“ — Hebrews 13:20-21

___________________________________

For further discussion on issues related to this article, see the following:

• “Young Earth or Old Earth? — An Impartial Overview of the Creation Debate – Introduction & Summary” (here)
• “Young Earth Creation View aka 24-Hour Day View” (here) [A detailed summary of the YEC view with rebuttal points of OECs]
• “Does the Big Bang Eliminate the Need of a Creator or Is it Evidence of a Transcendent Creator?” (here)
• “Evidence from a Beginning — God’s Existence is the Best Explanation for the Universe Coming into Existence” (here)

KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE and WHY YOU BELIEVE IT!

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE? DO YOU BELIEVE IN A YOUNG EARTH OR AN OLD EARTH? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE? Browse through the articles on the FactsandFaith.com website and consider some of the REASONS Christian philosophers and theologians give for contending that belief in the biblical Creator is a very rational belief; if not the most rational belief possible, and why YECs and OECs hold different views regarding when God created and how long God created.

Visit Facts & Faith on Facebook and “Like” and “Share” this ONE MINUTE BRIEF with others so they may consider the reasons Christians have for believing in the God of the Bible.

Have a good and prosperous day. Let your light shine before men so they notice your moral excellence as well as your good and noble deeds and, thereby, recognize and glorify your Father in heaven! 

(See, Matt. 5:16, Amplified Bible)

© 2014 by Andrina G. Hanson

Published: January 5, 2014

__________________________________

QUICK LINKS TO SOURCES REFERENCED OR RELIED ON IN THIS ARTICLE

Combined Resources

1. Ligon DuncanIII (author), David W. Hall(author), Hugh Ross (author), Gleason L. Archer (author), Lee Irons (author), Meredith G. Kline (author), David G. Hagopian (editor), The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation (Crux Press, 2000)

J.P. Moreland, John Mark Reynolds, John J. Davis, Howard J. Van Till, Paul Nelson and Robert C. Newman, Three Views on Creation and Evolution (Zondervan, 1999)

Old Earth Views

Krista Kay Bontrager, The Bigger Picture on Creation: A Bible Study Guide for Individuals and Small Groups (Reasons to Believe, 2008) www.reasons.org

Alan Haywood, Creation and Evolution: Rethinking the Evidence from Science and the Bible (Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2004)

Robert C. Newman and Perry G. Phillips, Genesis One and the Origin of Earth, 2nd Ed. (2007) free download available at: www.newmanlib.ibri.org/NewmanPhillips_Gen1OrigEar/GN1OE-pics-071109-small.pdf

Hugh Ross, A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy(NavPress Publishing Group; 1st edition, 2004) www.reasons.org

Hugh Ross, Creation and Time: A Biblical and Scientific Perspective on the Creation-Date Controversy(Navpress, 1994) www.reasons.org

David Snoke, Biblical Case for an Old Earth, A (Baker Books, 2006) www.christianscientific.org

Don Stoner, A New Look at an Old Earth; Resolving the Conflict Between the Bible and Science (Harvest House, 1997)

1. J. Young, Studies in Genesis One(P & R Publishing, 1999)

Young Earth Views

Ken Ham, The New Answers Book 1 (Answers Book Series) (Master’s Books, 2007) www.answersingenesis.org

Henry M. Morris, Biblical Cosmology and Modern Science (Craig Press, 1978) www.icr.org

John D. Morris, The Young Earth: The Real History of the Earth – Past, Present, and Future (Master Books, 2007) www.icr.org

Jonathan Sarfati, Refuting Compromise: A Biblical and Scientific Refutation of “Progressive Creationism” (Billions of Years) As Popularized by Astronomer Hugh Ross (Creation Book Publishers, 2011)  www.creation.com

Mark A. Van Bebber and Paul S. Taylor, Creation and time: A report on the progressive creationist book by Hugh Ross (Eden Communications, 1996)

John C. Whitcomb, The Early Earth-An Introduction to Biblical Creationism, 3rd Ed. (BMH Books, 2011) www.answersingenesis.org

IMAGE CREDITS & LICENSING

Slideshow Photo: This image of Planet Earth was downloaded from Wikimedia.org which states the image is in the public domain because it was solely created by NASA.

Tags: 1 Cor. 15:21, 1 Corinthians 15:21, Adam and Eve, all truth is God’s truth, answersingensis, Bible, Christian, christianscientific.org, Day Age View, death, death before sin, evolution, Gen. 1, Gen. 1:27, Genesis, Genesis 1, Genesis 1:27, God, icr.org, image of God, Intermittent day view, Ken Ham, Literary Framework View, Old Earth, Old Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationists, reasons.org, record of nature, record of scripture, Rom. 5:8, Romans 5:12; Rom. 5:12, Romans 5:8, Satan, the Devil, the Fall, Tree of Life, young earth, Young Earth Creationism, Young Earth Creationists