Creation Science Rebuttals

Creation Magazine

Genesis is not a Science Textbook?

Volume 26, Issue 4, September 2004

First Published 7 April 2006

Young earth creation science ministry Creation Ministries International ran an article in the September 2004 issue of Creation Magazine, in which Jonathan Sarfati talks about Genesis not being a scientific textbook (the article was the featured article on the Creation Ministries International website on 5 April 2006).¹

Sarfati gives a whitty short answer to this question, saying that science textbooks have mistakes, and the Bible has no errors. I agree with him completely. However, while the Word of God is without error, our interpretations are human, and do contain errors. Therefore, the young earth interpretation, as we know from the facts of science, is full of errors, just as I am sure that old earth creationists have errors also. It would be foolish to declare our interpretations of the Word as error-free.

History vs. Science

Sarfati is right, Genesis is more about history than science. My favorite quote which says this is on our homepage, by Billy Graham. Sarfati alludes to another article, which will be the subject of another review.

Genesis and Science

Sarfati explains that science blossomed in Christianized Europe, and that the Bible explains about man being in the image of God, and creation is ordered and not confused, and God gave man dominion over it, and God commanded honesty. I agree, however, then Sarfati claims "But if evolution were true, there would be no logical basis for any of this." He does not distinguish between atheistic evolution and theistic evolution. Theistic evolutionists can agree with Sarfati's words. Sarfati then pitches Creation Magazine, saying it is full of articles from Bible-believing scientists. Of course, there are many old earth Bible-believing scientists, that do not contribute to Creation Magazine.

Just About Faith and Morals?

I agree with Sarfati that the Bible is not just about faith and morals. He says that the meaning of Jesus' death and Resurrection is dependent upon the real history of Genesis 3. I agree. Sarfati talks generally, and fails to mention the issue of death before sin, a point which he and old earth creationists disagree about.

About marriage, he says "Jesus said that the first human couple was there ‘from the beginning of creation’, not billions of years afterwards. This is a major problem for Christians who have reinterpreted the Bible to fit into the big bang." As an old earth creationist, I don't have a "major problem" here, and neither do any other old earth creationists. It is only in the minds of young earth believers that they think this is a problem. If Jesus truly meant the "beginning of creation" that would mean man would have to be created on Day 1. The easy explanation is from the beginning of the creation of man.

He then goes into a discussion of the work week, from Exodus 20:9-11. This presents no problems either. Click here to read about this passage of Scripture from an old earth perspective.

Sarfati then uses a quote from John 3:12, which presents no issues for the age of the earth, as both old and young earth creationists accept this.

What It's All About: Authority

Sarfati makes the claim that this issue is all about accepting the Bible as the authority over science. As an old earth creationist, I fully accept the authority of the Bible over science, therefore this IS NOT about authority. It IS ABOUT our interpretations of the Bible. I do not accept the young earth interpretation of the Bible. I accept that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. But man's interpretations are fallible, and prone to error. I'm sure that both young and old earth creationists are incorrect in some issues. What is important is that we know Jesus, and have our relationship with Him. The creation is a side issue to salvation, and a minor one at that. Believing in young earth creation science (or old earth creation science) will not save you...only Jesus can do that.

¹ Creation Magazine, Volume 26, Issue 4. Published on the the Creation Ministries International website at https://creation.com/but-genesis-is-not-a-science-textbook

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.

Creation Magazine 2004

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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?

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