Charles Spurgeon and the Age of the Earth

    Answers in Genesis even notes this, in his sermon number 30, titled "The Power of the Holy Ghost."  In this sermon, Spurgeon says

 "But if you will look in the first chapter of Genesis, you will see there more particularly set forth that peculiar operation of power upon the universe which was put forth by the Holy Spirit; you will then discover what was his special work. In Ge 1:2, we read, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” We do not know how remote the period of the creation of this globe may be—certainly many millions of years before the time of Adam. Our planet has passed through various stages of existence, and different kinds of creatures have lived on its surface, all of which have been fashioned by God.

   The great preacher had no problems believing that God took millions of years to create our world.  He obviosly believed that this had no impact upon any other doctrines of the Bible!  For this section, Answers in Genesis added a footnote:

Bracketed text indicates that as brilliant as Spurgeon was, even he did not understand the age of the earth issue.

    Really?  What this really shows is this...it doesn't matter what you believe about the age of the earth.  Spurgeon didn't care if you believed it was millions of years old.  The great preacher realized that this is not a key doctrine of the Bible. 

     However, Answers in Genesis labels anyone not holding to their belief of creation in six 24-hour days as a 'compromiser,' who seriously undermines the cross of Christ.  Furthermore, at the bottom of every sermon on AiG's website, the following footnote appears:

These sermons from Charles Spurgeon are a series that is for reference and not necessarily a position of Answers in Genesis. Spurgeon did not entirely agree with six days of creation and dives into subjects that are beyond the AiG focus (e.g., Calvinism vs. Arminianism, modes of baptism, etc.)

     Answers in Genesis obviously believes Spurgeon to be a great preacher.  By their own definition, though, Spurgeon was also a 'compromiser.'  It seems odd that the only preacher to have sermons posted on Answers in Genesis is a compromiser!

     Spurgeon also mentioned other topics related to creation (I will post additional ones here as I discover them).  For example, in sermons 41-42, he says,

Years ago we thought the beginning of this world was when Adam came upon it; but we have discovered that thousands of years before that God was preparing chaotic matter to make it a fit abode for man, putting races of creatures upon it, who might die and leave behind the marks of his handiwork and marvellous skill, before he tried his hand on man.

     From this sermon statement it is clear that Spurgeon had no problems with a creation lasting longer than six 24-hour days.  It is also interesting to note that Spurgeon says that creatures died before God created Adam.  This is in sharp contrast to the modern young earth position that death before the fall of man undermines the Gospel.  One of the greatest preachers of the last 200 years, whom Answers in Genesis holds up as a great preacher, had no theological problems with an ancient earth, or death before sin.