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| Vol. 14 No. 9 September 2012 | Page 4 |
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| Vol. 14 No. 9 September 2012 | Page 4 |
Joey Barrett
How long did it take to create the earth? This question has been argued by scientists, evolutionists and theists for centuries. The best way to find the answer is to see what the Creator has to say about it. We have the Word of God to confirm that the world was created in six days. A day means a day. If God wanted days to mean ages, he would have revealed that to us. In the Hebrew, in which the Old Testament was written, the word “Yom” means a “day.” A look into the Hebrew language shows us that “Yom” or “day” preceding a number always means a literal twenty-four hour day.
The next point that upholds God’s Word and the six-day creation is that of contingency. Look at plants, for instance. They rely on something else for their existence. Plants need sunlight and water for survival. The existence of plants began on the third day (Genesis 1:11-12). Light on the earth was introduced in Genesis 1:14 on day four. Anything other than seven literal days would mean plants would have existed without light for millions of years. If that argument is not sufficient, some forms of plants cannot survive without pollination. Insects are not introduced until the fifth day (Genesis 1:24). Therefore, plants could not possibly have existed for hundreds, thousands or millions of years without pollination.
The final point is about the first man, Adam. The Scriptures tell us that Adam was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26, 31). We know from the Genesis account that God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2), but if these two days were ages, then that would make Adam millions of years old. We can learn from the Scriptures that Adam was created part way through the sixth day, was alive on the seventh day and must have lived through the eighth day, etc. Scripture points out that Adam lived to be 930. One can see the theory of creation over millions of years just does not comply with what the Bible teaches. Some people do not believe in the Genesis account at all. They wish to cast out anything that pertains to God. Read Matthew 19:4, “And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female?’”
In closing, I would like to say there is great power in a Christian. He needs a balance of Scripture knowledge and scientific knowledge. Contrary to what many people believe, there is a great deal of scientific evidence that suggests that the Earth is in fact a “young Earth.” The topic of the theories of our creation should be handled in the same way as any other biblical matter: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
Thomas Baxley
In a long section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasted the traditions of the scribes and Pharisees with the spirit of the Law. In the first of this section, Jesus dealt with murder versus anger. The Jews were told that murder was a sin. It was a violation of the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not murder” (Exodus 20:14 NASB; “Thou shalt not kill” KJV). What we have to infer here is that though they were teaching that murder is wrong, hate and anger were permissible. It seems as though they were teaching that it is fine to be angry with one’s brothers (without cause, KJV) and to hate them. You could call them all sorts of evil names (“Raca” or empty-headed) and say bad things about them (“fool” Matthew 6:22), and that would be okay because no one was actually, physically killed. The Law says “Do not kill,” but Jesus said not to hate or to be angry (without cause). Remember, also, that the Law says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Our relationship with God is important, but our relationship with our fellow man can hinder that relationship with God. This is why Jesus taught that if a brother has something against another brother, he should go and make it right with him before giving his offering (Matthew 5:23-24). We cannot be angry people if we wish to enter into the kingdom of heaven.