@Mike_Gantt I agree with you. The appearance of age to us is not evidence of God’s deceitfulness. We are not in a position to judge God that way. This, in my view, is not the right way to deal with this.
I appreciate that you are willing to acknowledge the evidence for an old earth. That is a wise step that I respect. I also see that you believe the Bible teaches a young earth. I disagree with that, but if you choose obedience over science, you choose the better thing.
These two article may help you make sense of my position. I think the parable of the 100-year old tree is relevant here. Do you now it?
In my view, you take an honorable position that should have dignity in the church.
The key theological question that will be asked is, “why didn’t God make it more clear the earth is young.” I think your answer is supposed to be, “His purpose in creation was not to declare the age of the earth. He make himself known another way, by raising Jesus from the dead. God has no need to be clear in creation, because He is clear in Jesus.”
I’m sorry so many have been pressing you here.
I do have one request though. You keep saying things like this:
Is that really what you think of me? The last you wrote to me, you said you were thinking through my interpretation of Genesis 2:1-3. You asked me to give my interpretation of what it said, rather than what it did not say. I gave it to you, and as far as I can tell you do not object.
I think we both agree on so much. You should know by now that I am not saying the Bible cannot be contradicting the scientific consensus. In fact I say the opposite every time I confess that Jesus rose from the dead.
I think your position deserves dignity in the Church, even among theistic evolutionists. This is why I have not pressed you to change your mind. I have also seen your blog, http://www.blogforthelordjesus.com/, where you have been faithfully writing for a long time. I agree so much with your call:
To put my message as simply and straightforwardly as possible, we – that is, we who are called Christians – need to repent. The organized church has placed itself ahead of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to return to Him. Therefore, I present a Christianity centered on Him – not on rituals and traditions. We need to stop going to church, and instead be the church. Like Jesus, we should be known for our godliness, not our associations.
Do you not think my position deserves dignity in the Church too? We disagree on things here and there, but I’m sure you see that I am confessing Jesus in the public square. Perhaps a refrain that acknowledge those like me would be helpful. Not all who affirm evolution do so by disregarding Scripture.
What do you think?