The Dark Side of
Young Earth Creationism
by Greg Neyman
© Old Earth Ministries
First Published 6 November 2017
(This article can be freely copied and distributed, as long as it is unaltered and a link back to the original article appears on the page)
For the Tract by the same name, click here
When it comes to the modern young earth creationist movement, and specifically Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis, one cannot deny the fact that they are having a positive impact upon today's church. Through the Creation Museum, Ark Encounter, speaking engagements, and the web, many people have been given thought provoking information, and many have committed their lives to Jesus. We should praise God for this fact, even if we don't agree with the pseudo-science that they are promoting.
However successful young earth creationism appears to be, there is a very massive dark side to their efforts, which they largely ignore, and even scoff at. In their efforts to reach people, they are promoting the unscientific claims that the earth is only 6,000 years old. In order to support this claim, they have to deny the proven scientific principles within astronomy, geology, physics, biology, and other fields of study, that clearly show the earth and universe is much older, and replace it with their own twisted science, which they re-interpret to support a young earth.
When faced with YEC teaching, some accept it, perhaps because they have not had any scientific training. However, the majority of people see the YEC teachings as nonsense, as it flies in the face of mountains of scientific evidence that supports an old earth. As a result, many are turned away from the message of young earth creationism, and as a result, they turn away from God.
Young earth creationist ministries have a great responsibility to reach the lost for Christ. Although they reach a few, they turn many more away from Christ, so that these people will never consider the possibility that both the Bible and science can be right. This is the dark side of young earth creationism. Yes, they help thousands, but in the process, they alienate millions and keep them from seriously considering the Gospel. Young earth creationists turn a blind eye to this enormous negative effect of their teaching, in exchange for reaching a few people with their message.
Young earth creationists counter that they have chosen to accept man's interpretation of science, and thus they have rejected the clear teaching of the Bible. However, these who have rejected a young earth have not rejected God, they have rejected the pseudoscience of young earth creationism. They are still reachable by God, given the right information about how the Bible supports an old earth. Old earth organizations, such as Reasons to Believe, Solid Rock Lectures, and Biologos, have striven to reach people with this information, and many have been saved through their work. While young earth creationism casts these people aside, these organizations are seeking to reach them by showing them how to reconcile the Bible and science, without having to twist either to make them fit.
Considering old earth creationism, young earth creationists claim that we are re-interpreting Scripture to mean something that it doesn't support. So while they are free to re-interpret science, old earth creationists cannot do the same to Scripture...they say we are 'compromising' God's teaching. As YEC's are fond of saying about science, we both have the same evidence (scientific facts), but we interpret it differently. The same is true of Scripture...we both have the same Scripture, but we interpret it differently. Yes, Scripture is the Word of God, and can be trusted, but its meaning is not always clear, and thus it must be interpreted.
Young earth creationists have painted themselves in a corner by claiming their young earth interpretation is the only right one, and therefore they re-interpret science to make it fit. However, the Bible does not say "The earth is 6,000 years old," therefore we must examine both science and Scripture to arrive at the truth, without distorting either one. Coming to an old earth conclusion is not 'compromising the Bible,'... it only compromises a man-made young earth interpretation of the Bible.
Conclusion
Old earth creationists will continue to correct the teachings of young earth creationism, in order to reach those who have been cast aside by this false teaching. But it does make me wonder...as teachers and leaders in the church, YEC leaders will have to give an account for their actions to God. While they can say they led thousands to faith in Christ, what will they say to the fact that they drove millions away from Christ by placing a stumbling block to belief in their path (a stumbling block built upon a man-made interpretation and twisted science). This is a matter for God, and it is not for me to say, but it does give me some food for thought. I will continue to pray for their success in reaching people for Christ, but also I will pray that they will see the folly of their teaching. As the Apostle Paul said, "Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice." (Phil. 1:18).
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.
Biblical Interpretation and Theology Articles
For More Information
Creation Science and Genesis 1
Old Earth Creation Science Articles
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.