What do you think about the compatibility of Genesis and an old Earth?

I love this question because only someone from a western perspective (which we are raised in) would ask it. We come to the scriptures trying to define numbers and values, days and dates, times and seasons…when the Hebrews would assign point and purpose to the God who made it all. 

Let me walk through this with you a bit:

The word for Beginning (where the title of Genesis comes from) is Bereshit (RAY-Sheeth). It could also be translated as "When God began to create." In the Hebrew the entire thought isn't even finished till verse 3 and God brings light into His creation. 

Bere’shit Bara Elohim Shamayim' Erets = Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning can mean multiple things. It can mean the first of its kind, the choice part (like filet minion or the top of a muffin), first fruits, or even first born. In the context of Genesis it can really mean: AT SOME POINT.

How old is the earth? IT DOESN'T MATTER.  That's the point of Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God created - "at some point" specifically doesn’t nail down anything.

Some people like to say the earth is 4.5 billion years (radiometric dating), some theologians like to say 10,000 years old because of the genealogies in scripture (which I thunk fails to take into account the proper Hebrew idea in the lineage). The truth is simply, no one knows. 10,000 or 10 billion doesn’t matter, what matters is God made it; that is the point.

Genesis is not meant to be exhaustive; it doesn’t tell you all there is know, but simply what you NEED to know…especially when it comes to the creation account. It is not a book about dinosaurs and monkeys, it is a book about God (and eventually man). God couldn’t tell us everything because we wouldn’t understand EVERYTHING (we are not as smart as God and He would just confuse us if He told us too much). God through Moses gives us what we need to know to know Him and understand what He has done.

What the point for us to see is that a Creator (GOD) made Creation (US). We know this because God reveals this to us. Only scripture reveals HOW it all came to be (only one person was there). Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

There is a lot of speculation:

• The days of creation are periods of time (called the day age theory) where each DAY of creation is actually a longer period of time.
• Some say the days are literal days (just 7 in number).
• Still others say God created Adam and Eve about 10,000 years ago (no humans as we define them before that) but that the earth itself could be very old. There could be sunrises/sunsets, animals, plants and that could the earth could be very old, but the 7 days of creation reference a particular piece of real-estate known as Eden. So GOD CREATES EVERYTHING...then the days deal with Eden (this view is gaining much popularity today.)

Young earth or old, they both fit in the Genesis narrative because it is about God. We can even disagree and still both love God and agree that God made it all. Now that is an amazing book!

Imagine this, God set it up for our life and He really is a good God.

Maybe you have noticed the few couple weeks that there are some cameras at Element. This is NOT for my vanity, it is to meet a request. Many people have been asking for a video cast of the messages, rather than just audio.

Now, I have a hard time with this because I have a hard enough time looking in the mirror at my ugly mug (face). I would much rather have myself as audio only…because you can leave it up to your own imagination if I have combined stripes and plaids on any given Sunday.

We have a couple of guys who decided that they would like to take on this ministry to video cast the sermons. Much to my chagrin it is now happening. They will first be posted on our Vimeo page, then, maybe, one day, on a video podcast as well. There may be some hiccups in the beginning, so don't expect FOX type quality…but we hope to get there.

So, if you notice I am combing my hair more, or I am better color coordinated, that's why. Also, if you see cameras around, please don't think we are taking ourselves too seriously, we are actually trying to be servants, meeting a need, and trying to give God glory in the process.

Viva La Camera.

I am happy to say that I have been busy at work mapping out the book of Genesis for the coming year…unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your mindset) it isn’t going to make it the year; it is going to be a year and a half.

We never want to sell a book of the bible short and it seems that this is the length it simply needs to be. It is what it is, and it is oh so good. The actual length, when all is said and done, is 73 weeks (plus the very few special one off weeks in the midst of it, like Easter).

I am through writing 34 weeks of Genesis now (so almost half way).

One of my friends asked me if we were covering every verse, and my answer was “of course.” I mean, what else would a people as neurotic as Element do?

Genesis will be fun, informative, and give all of us a better picture of what God has been doing all along: saving, redeeming, restoring, and making His name great.

So, in 2013 when the website STILL says “Current Sermon Series: Genesis” you can be excited all over again because every week will be something new, something old, and something amazing.

I hope you are ready for the ride.
Aaron

Ok, seriously, will everyone stop trying to tell me the latest bit of information on every new movie that is coming out? Does every movie trailer have to show me the ending before I even see the movie?

I love all things Christopher Nolan and I am totally excited about 2012’s The Dark Night Rises, but I feel as though I can’t go anywhere without someone trying to spoil it for me. Why can’t we just wait until it comes out and watch it? Why do people have to sneak onto a movie a set to and try to steal the script to post to everyone to read? Is our need to be in control and have information so overwhelming that we can’t enjoy a story without having control of the end?

This has been a problem since the mankind was first made. “Don‘t eat this fruit, trust me,” is what God says to man…But what does man do? Eats the fruit and doesn’t trust. It seems, for us, letting go of our lives and trusting Jesus is something we all refuse to do. Can we really trust him for the remainder of our lives? Has He really filtered all things through His hands before they come to us?

The answer is: yes.

I know a stupid little blog isn’t going to change you much, but at this time of the year if I could get you to start thinking about God’s promise of hope and redemption more, it could actually help. We know the end, it is Jesus; all things begin and continue in Him. Truly “the end” is not the end in Him.

When life is overwhelming, it will not overwhelm Him. Take comfort in the fact that our Great God loves you, has laid a course for your life, and though we don’t know where it is going, He does…He has always been there.

Oh, ya…and if you haven’t see the Sixth Sense, Bruce Willis is DEAD.