how old is the earth

[MacUser]

I hope that God gives me a deeper understanding of who he is..

I understand this desire and also love this..

John 14:8-9
8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

John 15:15
15. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

*******

If we know Jesus.. we'll know the Father. Essentially.. If you seen one.. you've seen the other here. Everything that God is has been made known already.

[Russell Roberts]

TW,

I think God created everything too. I just don't agree with a lot of folks as to how He did it. Is it any less miraculous if he took a billion years to do it? Not to me it isn't. It is actually much more fascination. Not only that but if he evolved all the animals that exist from a single cell, oh my goodness, how incredible is that? Rather than making God seem small, it makes Him seem that much more incredible to me. What an awesome God we serve.

Where did that single cell come from?

Ultimately? From God. How did he made that happen? I'm not sure.

Where do babies come from? From God or from a sperm and an egg?

[TW]

TW
In my first post on this subject I accepted the possibility the earth was older. My whole point in my posts is that science has not and cannot prove that because it is based upon false assumptions.
My problem with your post is much different because you cast doubt on the nature of scripture. You seem to imply the Creation narrative was only a "story" told by a "primitive culture" and seen through a "biased cultural lens." This relegates scripture to being unreliable. How many other accounts in the scripture are just unreliable, traditional tales told by a primitive culture? The resurrection itself could then be placed in that category.
We may not interpret the Genesis account correctly but the account itself is absolutely correct. Having said that, I do agree there is room to question if the 7 days of creation were days as we know them. This is seen by the fact "the evening and the morning" existed before the Sun which sets and rises. Still, I have seen nothing to convince me to move from my belief in a young earth. All that science has shown can be explained if we believe in an Almighty God.
Also, God didn't show weakness by resting on the 7th day. I think there is something much deeper. In fact, one might ask, "Why didn't God just say He created the universe in 6 days?"

Pastorbps,
Sorry in taking so long to respond, but things are rather hectic for me these days. I have a few moments now that I can spend in response.

My post does not cast doubt on the nature or validity of scripture. Not when scripture is read in the proper context. The Bible is not a "History Book." Yes, it does record some historical events, but it's purpose is not to educate us on history. It is God's guide for us, to teach us about God and our relationship with Him. In the New Testament Jesus taught using parables to demonstrate important concepts. In the Old Testament God used the various stories to also teach important concepts. Jesus said that He did what He saw the Father do. In the Genesis narrative God is teaching us some very important lessons and concepts.

The first of these is that He is God, the Creator. He created us, not we created Him. That He created everything in the universe, everything we see, touch, smell, or hear. He set the laws that govern how elements react to each other. His creation was prefect.

Now consider that Adam's name translates to "person, human." Adam is a representative of mankind for the purpose of teaching this lesson. It does not matter if there was actually a man named Adam. It is unimportant as far as the concepts God is showing us. The Garden of Eden was the prefect world in which Adam (man) walked with God in perfect relationship, paradise. Until sin entered into the world. Then the Garden (paradise) was lost to Adam (man).

God rested on the seventh day, not because He was frail or actually needed to rest, but to establish the Sabbath. Remember that Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

To read the Genesis narrative as being history is really missing the point and muddying up the waters with false "facts." Does it really matter how old the earth is? No. What matters is that Jesus came to earth and took upon himself the punishment that should rightfully be mine so that I could regain a proper relationship with God.


TW