A Case for Creation 101: The days of Creation and human theories

To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destiny. It means to know where you are going so that you better understand where you are now, so that you know the steps you are taking are always in the right direction. -Steve Covey, Educator

Covey’s quote is meant for educators in general, but if we apply that to the study of the Bible it will help us keep the “big picture” in view. Understanding that God’s original creation was perfect, but now fallen, helps us see how God’s unfolding plan throughout Scripture is focused on providing a way to bring us back to that perfection at the end of human history. The original perfection was not only physical but spiritual because what was lost at the “Fall” was our ability to walk and talk with God face to face, in complete innocence and holiness.

Over the last couple of weeks we have looked at the nature of God and evidence for His existence in many categories that provide us with, at least, a partial understanding of who God is. Because God is our Creator we must acknowledge our role in the creation, and realize that He is God and we are not, which means that in our limited time-space continuum our knowledge of Him will never be complete. 1 Corinthians 13:12 tells us: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

However, God has given us a more intimate way to know Him through His Son Jesus who He sent to take our place on that cross. But, we need to gain the background of what happened in early human history to appreciate our need for a rescuer (savior) in the first place. Understanding Genesis is critical for all Christians because we learn about God’s love (agape) for humanity, His holiness (a concept lost in today’s culture), and His desire to bring us back to that intended relationship we are born fighting against.

The First Major Historical Event: THE CREATION

Genesis Chapter 1

The LORD God (YHWH Elohim) created everything from nothing (ex nihilo) in six days and gave us an example of rest on the seventh day:

Day One:

Heavens, Earth and light

the universe was formed
light and darkness were established
the Earth’s rotation and the beginning of time was instituted

Note: Some people question the creation of light on the first day because the sun is not created until the forth day. This light is from an unknown source—the Bible does not tell us specifically, however we do know that the sun is not the only source of light. Nebula are hydrogen and helium gases that give off light; light could have been due to the creative act occurring. The terms day and night suggest the earth was already spinning on its axis, you do not need the sun and moon to determine a day/night cycle only the rotation of the earth. This first day is the creation of light, separating it from darkness; on day four the sun has a specific role to play in lighting the earth. From a purely Biblical perspective: This light source is God’s glory. Revelation 22:5 tells us, “And there will not longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them;” Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:6 also tells us, “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,“ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Day Two:

Sky and water

the waters separated creating the atmosphere
the waters were divided

Day Three:

Land, seas and vegetation

dry land formed
oceans/seas formed
plants and trees were created

Note: Some question the Day-Age/Old Earth Creation view here because plants would need the sun for photosynthesis and could have easily waited a day, but not millions of years for that to happen.

Day Four:

Sun, moon, and stars

the great lights were created to fill the universe
they govern day and night
they mark the seasons, days and years

Day Five:

Fish and birds

fish were created to fill the seas
birds were created to fill the sky

Day Six:

Animals; Humans

the second wave of animals were created to fill the dry land
the best for last—the image of God, and rulership, was given to humans to care for the earth and all it had been filled with – and they were the only ones in creation made to be in relationship with God

Note: Some will ask: What about the Dinosaurs? The Bible tells us here that God created them at the same time He created humans (we still have reptiles today, larger reptiles would have not survived after the “Flood” due to lower life spans, changes in environmental conditions including the ice age, and elimination by humans).

Day Seven:

God rested

He modeled the importance of rest
He declared all He had made, “very good”
He set a model for our work week

Watch this thought provoking video on the days of creation and the Biblical record:

In contention today are several human theories on the topic of origin. The question posed: How did life come about? Even though the Bible is very clear on this question we have competing theories (even within Christianity). Secular humanistic teachings in public education has elevated the concept of naturalism via evolutionary theory as the “god” of all answers to this question (anything of supernatural nature is not allowed into the conversation).

An overview of the Theories:

1. Evolutionary Theory:

The only teaching in public education today
Based on secular humanism that supports naturalistic evolution (macroevolution) which is opposed to any kind of creation
Promotes a uniformitarian view of life on Earth (things have always been the same since the beginning – no worldwide catastrophic flood, and rates of measurements have always been stable)
Dates the earth at 4.6 billion years old (based on a geologic column and fossil record that is only found in textbooks and museums, not evident in nature)
Does not have an answer for original creation (defers to abiogenesis)

2. Theistic Evolution:

Based on the belief that God uses evolution and supports the general “Evolutionary Theory” with the caveat that God started it all

3. Old Earth Creation:

Based on the belief that God created over long periods of time or eras, not days
Belief that the Biblical creation account by God is correct, but not the exact order and time given in Genesis chapter one
Belief that Genesis chapter one represents “poetic” language and is not a literal historical account
Agrees with Evolutionary theory on the dating of the earth at 4.6 billion years
Belief in a local, not global, flood of Noah’s time – this helps account for the old earth dating

4. Gap Theory:

This belief proposes a time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 where there was another creation that was destroyed
There are variations but generally speaking, holds an “old earth” belief based a long time gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2
It is proposed that this is the time when Satan was cast out of Heaven to the Earth
Biblical evidence is thin to support this view

5. Young Earth Creation:

Based on a literal interpretation of Genesis as an historical account of creation
Belief in a literal 6 day creation period of time
Belief in a literal worldwide catastrophic flood of Noah’s time
Belief based on the Biblical records that the Earth is dated between 6,000 to 10,000 years old

What is taught in public schools?

California State Standards, Common Core Standards, and now the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) require students to have proficient and advanced knowledge of evolution, and this knowledge acquisition is also embedded across the standards in other fields of study such as history, English, and the Arts. We find the language of evolution all over the public arenas (museums, national parks, and all forms of media).

Evolution is the only science ‘theory’ that is treated as fact, yet it does not follow the highly esteemed Scientific Method that states ‘for a theory to become fact it must be observable, testable, and repeatable.’

The Oxford definition of science is: The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. Evolutionary theory does not abide by this definition. There are other things at play in the secular educational worldview and we would do well to research that history.

We must keep these things in mind when considering theories about the origin of life:

Presuppositions

The preconceived ideas scientist hold can affect their research methods (atheism, agnosticism, theism)
The assumptions scientists make based on current paradigms (if the research evidence does not fit the models in place it is thrown out)
Researchers with evidence to support creation or an intelligent design model are not hired in secular universities, nor are they allowed to present in mainstream science journals or at conferences

The role and limits of science

Science studies and reports on how things observably work
Science today, does not (will not) give metaphysical answers even if the evidence points in that direction

The laws of nature are descriptive not prescriptive

What was observable in the past is not necessarily observable today
Amounts and rates of measurable substances can be observably static today, but that does not mean they were always at those rates in the past – some rates have been observed to change over time due to variables (weather, environment, contamination, heat etc.)

The Flood

Did a catastrophic global flood cause a profound shift and change to the earth’s conditions (geography, topography, environment, chemistry, geology, and physics)?
Are places like the Grand Canyon representative of long periods of time or are they representative of layers laid down quickly by water in a short period of time?
Does the fossil record represent ages of time, or does it represent dead things buried rapidly in sedimentary layers laid down by water (which are found all over the Earth)?

“In grammar school they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fairy tale. In the university they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fact!”

– Ron Carlson, U.C. Irvine Professor and Author

If you would like to go a little deeper concerning the age of the Earth watch this insightful and respectful debate between three Christians, one with a young earth view, one with an old earth view, and one who holds a theistic evolution view (it is long, but worth it):

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Join us next week as we will continue to study the Genesis account and look deeper into the Creation vs. evolution debate and the effect it has on human creation in “the image of God!”

Study Questions

Read/Re-read Genesis Chapter One:

Review the list for each of the days of creation and what God made in each one. How did God describe His creation at the end of the sixth day? (1:31)
What did God do on the seventh day? Read Exodus 20:9-11—How does this passage support the Creation account? Is the concept of the seven-day week relevant to us today, if so how?
The Biblical story begins with familiar words: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Reflect on what you have read in this first chapter of Genesis. Describe what God’s actions reveal about His character and who He is (list some of the attributes you see in God). Read Psalm 104 for further emphasis on God’s supreme creativity.
What questions do you still have about Genesis chapters 1? Did you find anything you’d like to share concerning the Creation account?
Write out a prayer to God asking for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your search for truth through His Word found in the Bible.————————————————————————————————————————————————————

You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15