Friday, September 12, 2014

List of christian leaders who agree with an old earth interpretation

Christian leaders who advocate old-Earth interpretations of the Bible (or acknowledge that the Bible could allow for an old Earth) From Geochristian: http://geochristian.com/best-of/
Many top advocates of Biblical authority accept an old Earth as completely compatible with Scripture — This shoots down the common YEC assertion that Old Earth = Compromise.
J.P. Moreland’s advice to young-Earth creationists — It is better to take the second-best interpretation of Scripture if it works well with outside evidence, as opposed to taking the best interpretation of Scripture if it flatly contradicts the outside evidence.
C.S. Lewis, evolutionist — Lewis believed that biological evolution posed little threat to Christianity.
William Jennings Bryan — the prosecutor at the Scopes trial hated evolution, but had no problem with a very old Earth.
J. Gresham Machen on the age of the Earth — Machen was a staunch defender of Christian orthodoxy and Biblical inerrancy, and had no problem with the idea of an old Earth.
John Piper and the age of the Earth — Here’s what is important: God created the universe, Adam and Eve were real, the creation is good.
John Piper and the age of the Earth — part 2 — John Piper makes a stronger statement about the age of the Earth.
Augustine and Darwin — well, we really don’t know what Augustine would have said about some things, but here’s some speculation
Spurgeon distorted — Answers in Genesis has a hard time swallowing the fact that the great preacher Charles Spurgeon accepted an old Earth
Fundamentalism and creationism — B.B. Warfield, James Orr, and William Jennings Bryan (of Scopes trial fame) were all old-Earthers.
Augustine: The Literal Meaning of Genesis — Augustine didn’t read Genesis in the same literal way that the young-Earthers do.
Spurgeon 0n science — In Spurgeon’s mind, both the “irreligious scientist” and the “unscientific Christian” are wrong.
Derek Kidner on Genesis — From the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary series.
Francis Schaeffer on the age of the Earth — from his book Genesis in Space and Time.

Geocentric christian blog- Oldearth creationist view



My last post was a link to a biologos documentary "from the dust" about creation and evolution and understanding the beginning chapters of Genesis. In followup to that I will throw out this blog I found while searching on the topic- Geochristian.com a blog written by an old earth creationist named Kevin Nelstead who is a geoligist living in montana....he describes the purpose of the blog in this way:
"The primary objective of The GeoChristian is to increase science literacy among Evangelical Christians, especially in the areas of the Earth and environmental sciences.  I aim to discuss controversial topics in ways that are sound both Biblically and scientifically, and to do so in a way that treats all readers with respect."
His credentials to write about the Bible and science are:
  • M.S. degree in Geology from Washington State University
  • B.S. degree in Earth Science from Montana State University
  • Teaching certificate in Chemistry from University of Missouri-St. Louis
  • Additional schooling: University of Utah, Missouri Baptist College, Covenant Theological Seminary (PCA)
  • Almost six years of service as a missionary/teacher with ReachGlobal (Evangelical Free Church of America)
  • Membership in the Geological Society of America, the American Scientific Affiliation, and the Affiliation of Christian Geologists

His "creed" in a short and long form is below:  


Creation creed — short version

As an old-Earth creationist
I believe that the universe was created by the triune God of the Bible
I believe that the Bible does not dictate when this creation took place
I believe in a real Adam
in a real garden
in a real fall into sin
in real consequences for that sin
and in Jesus Christ as the only solution for sin
Amen

Creation creed — long version

As an old-Earth creationist
I believe that the universe—all that is seen and unseen—was created from nothing by the triune God of the Bible: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God
I believe that the Bible does not dictate when the creation took place, nor does it state the extent or work of Noah’s flood
I believe in a real Adam and Eve as individuals—the first humans in the image of God—and that we are all descendants of this family
I believe that all humans retain the image of God, and are therefore of very high value
I believe in a real Garden of Eden, which was at a specific location in Mesopotamia, and that the Edenic paradise did not cover the entire Earth
I believe that the natural world has inherent value, and that humans are called to be good stewards of the creation that God has given us, for the glory of God,  for the good of all humanity, and for the sake of the creation itself
I believe in a real fall into sin through Adam’s disobedience to God’s command, and in real consequences for that sin that continue to this day: human physical and spiritual death
I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only solution for sin, and that those who put their faith in him as their savior will spend eternity with him and with each other in the New Heavens and the New Earth
Amen