Deep Time in Genesis

As a career geologist working in the science for 40-years, I have a message for you. This message is:

Purely from a scientific perspective the Earth appears much older than 6000 years. But this appearance doesn’t make it necessarily true.

I almost feel like I need to repeat those last two sentences several times to make sure the point has been registered. There are theoretical and theological reasons why the Earth may only be 6000 years old, but this does not obviate the fact that scientifically it appears much older. I more than keenly realize that I am opposed on the scientific age of the Earth by many Christians, and even by a ministry in which I am currently a volunteer. Why do I take the position of believing in an old Earth from a science standpoint? The reason is that the evidence kept piling up over the years until I could no longer ignore it. I was not buffaloed by atheistic professors, nor would I hesitate in the slightest to buck my profession by supporting a young Earth if I believed it. In fact, I do buck my profession when it comes to the subject of evolution. Geology does not support evolution, and while I will say a bit more about evolution, that topic is more than book-length in itself; I am writing about the age of the Earth, not evolution.

The fact is that the Earth simply looks a lot older than 6000 years. Having had hundreds of discussions on this subject over the years, some that turned into heated debates, I know the immediate comebacks that people make who disagree with me on this subject. They say, what about the dinosaur footprints alongside human footprints? What about problems with radiometric age-dating? What about Noah’s flood? What about erosion rates of the Grand Canyon? The list goes on and on. Then they question me as to why I don’t accept the clear meaning of Genesis 1, and then how I can’t really be a true believer with my obvious disregard of Scripture.

I can address each of the science-based questions with a lot of technical firepower, but not in any kind of abbreviated format. How can I quickly transplant my years of geoscience learning into another’s brain? This is way more than a book-length subject if I were to wade through all the geological evidence amassed over the years. To do it effectively would require first teaching a lot of basic Geology 101 that few people would have the patience and interest to read, followed by at least five years of on-the-job training. Geology cannot be learned solely from books. The observational component is critical to understanding its concepts, and the conclusions that can be drawn from them. But moving beyond that discussion, and for the sake of argument (and brevity), let’s suppose that I am right and the Young Earth Christians are wrong. What does it matter? Clearly the position that one takes on this subject is not a point of salvation, so what is the big deal? Well, here is why it matters:

1. This issue has turned into a barrier to faith for many unbelievers, particularly the college educated. It is a huge issue. I personally know people who do not believe the Bible to be God’s Word because, in their opinion, a 6000-year Earth is so out of step with obvious scientific observation. If we insist that the Bible teaches a 6000-year Earth, we have potentially turned them away the faith. Is this necessary? That is the question at hand.

2. When children attend college they are going to be hit with evidence that strongly, and I mean very strongly, supports an old Earth. If they have been raised with the inerrancy of the Bible depending on a young Earth, we have potentially shaken their faith. I have personally met young people who said they no longer believe in the Bible because of this specific reason. A Barna poll attributes one of the major reasons for the alarming defection of young people from the church in recent years is due to their perceived conflicts between Christianity and science.1

3. This issue has become a divisive doctrine between Christians. It is even a point of fellowship in some churches. Division is sometimes necessary to separate ourselves from harmful doctrines, but if the division is based on faulty or questionable understanding of Scripture, then it is wrong and harmful to our cause. We need to seek unity whenever possible in our fellowship, allowing for variance of opinion on issues that are not directly vital to salvation.

4. Preaching a young (6000-year old) Earth has tremendously hurt our credibility in the public arena. It has hurt us in court cases. It has damaged the reputation of Christian schools and home-schoolers. We Christians can, and should, expect persecution, but we should NOT bring unjustified persecution upon ourselves. Christian astronomer Hugh Ross astutely says, “Secularists are delighted that a majority of evangelical Christians believe in a young universe and a young earth. They are confident that they can exploit such a belief to win court cases related to teaching about creation in public institutions. Of greater importance, they believe that by discrediting Genesis, they can demonstrate a flawed Bible.”2

5. We have unnecessarily increased our divide from the science community. My fellow unbelieving geologists typically think Christians are uneducated simpletons, creating a barrier for people like me who are trying to win them to Christ. We need to work at tearing down this divisive wall whenever possible.