Creation Science Rebuttals
Answers Magazine
Genesis and Justice
Volume 1, Issue 1 (June 2006)
Review by Greg Neyman
© Old Earth Ministries
This is the first article released from the new Answers Magazine, and it was released on the web prior to the publication of the magazine. It was featured as the Answers in Genesis daily feature on 23 May 2006.
Overall, this article has no impact upon the age of the earth. The author, Jeffery Ventrella, summarizes the fact that many of God's principles for daily life are seen in the opening chapters of Genesis. Items such as God creating from nothing, God creating living plants and animals, God creating man in His image, are listed as key doctrines of Genesis, and most old earth creationists agree with these. He goes on to list that man was created in two distinct genders, with different roles to play, and God established marriage as the union between one man and one woman. These also are issues that most old earth creationists will agree with.
There are old earth creationists, however, who are liberal in their approach to Genesis, and do not strictly hold to these foundational doctrines. These creationists should read this article, as they would benefit from accepting a more conservative approach to Genesis. It should be noted that one can believe in an inerrant Genesis, which is scientifically accurate, and believe in an old earth, with or without evolution. There is no basis or need for a liberal interpretation of Genesis.
The author notes that these foundational teachings from Genesis are the subject of much litigation in the United States and other nations. The Bible is being attacked everywhere you look, and I agree with the author, that we need to defend these foundational truths. There are dire consequences to giving in to these liberal ideas to compromise God's values. Ventrella is correct that wherever this discussion is taking place, whether it be in a court, in a classroom, or in a church...these locations are battlegrounds where we are fighting for the morality of our nation, and even for the human race.
He briefly touches on Intelligent Design, and the court battles surrounding this issue. Young earth creationism has a love-hate relationship with this movement. On the one hand, they see it as a way to possibly get religion back into the classroom, but on the other hand, most ID advocates are old earth believers. Because of this conflict, some young earth creationists have wholeheartedly fought for ID, while others take an attitude of indifference.
As the author notes, there is a massive assault today upon God's design for marriage. This is one issue that we cannot sit idly by and let the courts decide. Be active and let your elected officials know how you feel. He goes on to mention a recent movement that seeks to give fundamental rights that humans enjoy to other animals, such as monkeys, dogs, and others. I agree with the author that this movement is based upon a rejection of man being made in the image of God, and it should be resisted. Personally, I don't feel that this movement has much of a chance of success, but they will make noise. The author goes on to bring up other issues, such as cloning and gender identity, and I fully support the words of Ventrella and the position of Answers in Genesis in these matters.
Importance of Defending Genesis
Genesis is much more than a poetic story...it is a historical account of God's creation, and details His design for our lives. I agree completely with the author, that if these truths are ignored, distorted, or rejected, there will be negative consequences upon society. Old earth creationists can stand hand-in-hand with young earth creationists in defending these Biblical truths.
If you want to be involved in voicing your opinions to your elected officials, I highly recommend that you sign up for email alerts from the American Family Association. Their alerts will notify you of important legislation, and provide you with an easy method of contacting your congressmen and senators on these issues.
This article is on the web at https://answersingenesis.org/genesis/genesis-and-justice/
If you are not a Christian, and you have been holding out on making a decision for Christ because the Church always preached a message that was contrary to what you saw in the scientific world, then rest assured that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and you can believe in Christ and receive salvation, while still believing in an old earth. Click here for more.
Are you a Christian who believes in young earth creationism? Now that we have shown the many difficulties of the young earth creation science model in this and many other articles, how does this impact your Christian life? If you are a young earth creationism believer, click here.
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