Creation Science Rebuttals

Answers in Genesis Daily Feature

A Young Earth ... It Is the Issue! (January Newsletter)

31 January 1998

First Published February 2006

For years, young earth creation science ministry Answers in Genesis has been proclaiming that they are upholding Biblical authority. It is the byline underneath their graphic on their website, and Ken Ham argues for it in articles on the website.¹

This is an attempt to distinguish themselves from the rest of us believers who do not uphold Biblical authority. However, is this really the issue? Ham states that "Believing in a relatively 'young earth' is a consequence of accepting the authority of the Word of God."

I contend that this is not about Biblical authority. For example, I believe in an inerrant, infallible Word of God, just like Ken Ham, yet I believe the earth is billions of years old.² Theologically, I am no different than Ham when it comes to Biblical authority.

Second, look at Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe. As a progressive creationist like myself, he fully believes in an inerrant, infallible Word of God, just like Ken Ham does.³ He does not differ theologically from Ham when it comes to Biblical authority.

Third, look at the progressive creationists, who number in the millions. They believe just as myself and Dr. Ross do.

Clearly, Biblical authority is NOT the main issue within young earth creation science circles. Although they may believe this to be the case, many Christians who accept the earth as old also believe in Biblical authority (including many Theistic Evolutionists).

What then is the issue? Since we both accept Biblical authority, the issue is not Biblical authority itself, but the interpretation of the Bible. We both look at the same Scripture, and interpret it differently. At the root of this difference is modern science.

Old earth creationists accept many of the discoveries of science, and young earth creationists do not, choosing instead to create their own branch of pseudo-science. However, according to Romans 1:20, God is clearly seen in His creation. In order for young earth scientists to "see God," they must twist and re-interpret the scientific data to make it fit their young earth creation science model. Old earth creationists do not have to do this...thanks to Romans 1:20, we can accept the observations of modern science and the Bible.

In summary, Ham and Answers in Genesis is falsely claiming that it is about Biblical authority, when in fact Biblical authority has nothing to do with it. It's all about how we interpret the Bible in the light of modern science. Ham would like his followers to believe they have a corner on the market in Biblical authority, but nothing could be further from the truth (which describes most of young earth creationism).

¹ A Young Earth--It's Not the Issue, by Ken Ham, on the Answers in Genesis website (answersingenesis.org/docs/1866.asp)

² Statement of Belief, Old Earth Ministries

³ Statement of Faith, Reasons to Believe

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.

Answers In Genesis 1998 Daily Features

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To learn more about old earth creationism, see Old Earth Belief, or check out the article Can You Be A Christian and Believe in an Old Earth?

Feel free to check out more of this website. Our goal is to provide rebuttals to the bad science behind young earth creationism, and honor God by properly presenting His creation.