Is it reasonable to assume that the six creation days in Genesis chapter one were actually extended periods of time, such as millions of years? Let’s step through the six days of creation, assuming that each day is actually an age of thousands or perhaps millions of years, and see how this idea holds up under scrutiny.
Day One: Light
God created light before he created the sun and stars. So how is the light shining? Can science explain the light source for a light before the sun and stars were created? (In fairness, we know about several different kinds of light, such as infrared light, unseen by the naked eye.) How does science explain a light source that shone for millions of years?
Day Two: Space between the waters
It appears that water was one large lump, then it was split into two, one over the other. Is this phenomena mentioned anywhere in evolutionary circles? Can science explain how water split up?
Day Three: Dry land appears
Land appears after water does. Evolutionary theory postulates that the earth began as hot and gradually cooled over billions of years. How, then, could the water come first, then the land?
Day Four: Stars and sun appears
Evolutionary teaching asserts that the earth, sun and stars appeared simultaneously as they were flung out by the Big Bang. Here, the order is backwards -– the sun came several days after the creation of the earth. Can you believe in evolution and the Bible at the same time?
Day Six: Mammals, insects, and man
According to one evolutionary tree, which charts the course and inter-relatedness of all living creatures, birds were formed after amphibians and turtles, and alongside the development of mammals. Here, we have mammals developing millions of years after the birds, if we are taking each day to mean that length of time.
Another complication is added. Romans 5:12-14 teaches that sin came through Adam, resulting in death entering the creation. According to evolutionary theory, though, death has been happening for millions of years before mankind came on the scene.
It is clear to me that macro-evolutionary theory and scientists’ theory of the birth of our solar system can’t be reconciled with the biblical account. Furthermore, the New Testament affirms that Jesus played a significant part in creation. Colossians 1:16-17 states: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” The Son of God directly created all things, visible and invisible, and he existed before all created things.
John 1:1-3 states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Did Jesus create via a slow process or by the spoken word? Genesis tells us that he merely spoke, and it was created.
Indeed, this is confirmed in Psalms: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:7-9).
The Bible does not leave any room for a chance creation of solar system or mankind. The system was created by Jesus for a purpose. Scripture declares that God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:2-3).
What do you think?
a. Is it possible to harmonize macro-evolution and six-day creation?
b. If the New Testament affirms creation came by the spoken word of Jesus Christ, then what is the likelihood that the Genesis account is a mere allegory?
c. If, as a Christian, you believe God used evolution to create all living beings, did you start this thinking from a science framework, or a biblical one? If you began from Genesis 1 before you knew about science and evolution, how would your beliefs change?
Sources
http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers#/topic/creationism
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IICTreebuilding.shtml
http://geology.about.com/od/nutshells/a/aa_earthbirth.htm
http://ldolphin.org/ntcreat.html
Old Earth Creationism viewpoint: http://www.godandscience.org/youngearth/old_earth_creationism.html
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