Is Focusing On Young Earth Creation A Distraction?

Often, scientists with leading Creation Research groups participate in debates with other Christians, or secular scientists; each doing their best to prove their position is the most reasonable and the other’s is not only wrong, but damaging to Jesus’ kingdom.

What topic is so important believers are willing to hold a formal debate to see who can convince more people?

Did God create the world by speaking it into existence in less than a week not too long ago? Or did He use Evolution over millions of years to bring us to where we are today?

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One of the things we are likely to hear from the Evolutionist is that focusing on Creationism, especially Young Earth Creationism, turns unbelievers away from Jesus. Christians who believe God used Evolution tell us that:

•No one will take us seriously if we ignore science like we do.
•We make ourselves look unnecessarily foolish.
•We close people’s hearts to the gospel by focusing on such an unscientific interpretation of Genesis chapter one.

Let’s see how well these ideas hold water when we look at them carefully.

Do Young Earth Creationists ignore science?

We don’t ignore science, we just refuse to interpret it the way the world wants us to.

The second point seems reasonable and serious. Who would put on a silly hat before heading out to witness? But, are we doing something unnecessary that could be avoided?

Here’s what God told us about how the world looks at everything He says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” I Corinthians 1:18

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The only way to avoid looking foolish to unbelievers is to never tell them about Jesus’ cross or anything else God considers important. The reality that Jesus is powerful enough to use words to create everything (John 1:1-4 and Genesis 1) is awfully important. If He made it, He owns it. If He didn’t, He doesn’t.

Sure, people will think we’re foolish, but they thought Jesus was crazy, too (John 10:20). What’s more, although people who reinterpret the days of Genesis to mean long ages or evolution can’t, the rest of us see what they’re doing. To believe both millions of years and the Bible you have to be really good at mental gymnastics, or give up.

The last point is the most serious of all. How horrifying it would be to have someone’s eternal soul at risk because I wouldn’t drop some picky detail! But is this the reality we face?

The other week I heard a testimony at church. This person was at their wits’ end and knew something in their life had to give. Here’s what they said, “It was either atheism, or Jesus. Evolution was stupid, so Jesus won.”

For several years now, this person has been following God more and more closely because they first acknowledged Him as Creator.

A few days later, I caught the trailer for Creation Today’s new movie on Genesis. They’re bringing us into the process by raising funds to add 3-D technology to make this a top notch movie experience. Turns out the director found Jesus when he realized there really was a Creator God.

Then, watching the Galapagos Islands movie, I heard a bit of the producer’s testimony. He found Christ by reading Henry Morris and George Whitcomb’s classic the Genesis Flood.

All three of these people directly tied their choice to follow Jesus to the Creation/Evolution debate.

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The truth is, the closer we stick to God’s Word, the more His power can flow through us. A God strong enough to speak the universe into existence in a matter of hours is powerful enough to transform me.

For more, check out these articles:

Answers in Genesis: Feedback: Are We Wasting Our Time?

Wake Up Shepherds!

Seven reasons why we should not accept millions of years

Creation Ministries International: Hebrew scholar affirms Genesis (how Theistic Evolutionists have to turn their brains into pretzels)

Dr. Gurney: a testimony of following God both as an Old Earth and then Young Earth Creationist