ugo wrote:why is it so surprising that an all powewrful God could create in 6 days as opposed to Billions of years? Its not I believe and His miracles continue today.
Ugo, welcome!, glad you asked this.
Ugo, this is a common misconceptio YEC hold about OEC motives. They think that we believe what we believe because we feel that God couldn't do things in 6 days. But what we hold to is that GOd's creation is something that shows a true testimony to HIm and therefore the evidence should reveal a young earth if indeed HE created it in a short period of time. God could have created the universe in a nanosecond if He so choose to do so. He oculd have created it in 6 second, 6 minutes, 20 minutes, 20 days, 6000 years, or 6 billion or 20 billion. The
time in which He created is
not what reveals His power, and His power is such that He could have made it in nanoseconds. It is the universe itself that reveals the power and majesty of God. The point, though, is that the evidence should show this age unless one delves into the idea that God's creation does not show a true testimony.
If one holds that God's creation week cannot really be studied ("How do we know if the speed of light cahnged or our measurements are trustworthy" some people say) , if one wants to hold to that, go for it, but then really we can't trust ANY science in that case and the YEC scientists should stop trying as well.
But if one holds that GOd's creation reveals God and His majesty and His works, then studying the creation is simply a matter of studying HOW God did it, not because we think HE CAN"T do it, but because to study the creation is to really glimpse another story of God, much like we get a glimpse into an artist by studying the art. I would bet that if you were to talk to any Christian scientist and you would see someone who LOVES what they do because God's creation reveals daily HIs majesty and power.
ugo wrote:
Why is it so surprising that he could create plants and the sun later? Do yuo think He made a mistake and was found wringing His hands wondering, what have I done? How can I fix it? Again I would say no.
Of course not, no one here suggests that the creation account reveals a GOd that is surprised. "No plan of God's can be thwarted". Check out some of the main pages on the main site and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much we revere God's word. But, yes, we are surprised. BAsed on logic, commonsense, and just plain observation, this would not make sense. Now I know that the wisdom of God often appears foolish to man, but I think with regard to this scripture, people are VERY quick to throw their hands in the air, almost scared to examine this in case they are showing a lack of faith or "giving in" to the dreaded naturalists. And since when do CHristians run scared!!?!?
God could have easily made plants that first day without carbond dioxide and light and simply hold them in stasis or maintain them with His might. He certainly COULD have, but why would He? We understand that God created the universe and established HIs laws. Why would He go against these laws by creating an organism that require the sun before that sun was created. Again He COULD have, but why? Doesn't it fly in the face of everything we know of HIm? God is logical, GOd is a God of order, God established these laws, why would He?
Our God is bigger than anything man can drum up and all truth is HIS truth. If HIs creation reveals many many pieces of evidence that reveal a complexity or an older age, then we shouldn't be afraid of it. Now if people would prefer to just accept this incongruity, that's fine, I just don't think we need to immediately throw our hands up in the air with the proclamation that "God can do anything He wants to do!", to which we reply..."ABSOLUTELY He can!! But is that what HE DID?"
I think this especially comes off as giving up and resorting to the easy way out when scholars and people are quite willing to delve into plenty of other controversial scriptures or confusing scriptures. It's almost as if Genesis 1 has been taped off with yellow "POLICE: CAUTION" tape warning anybody from even examining it. "Don't you dare think about crossing this tape...God could have done this!!" when most aren't even calling into question His ability, but rather the simple question of what does the Hebrew say and what are some interpretations. And frankly, it comes off as fear....what are we afraid off? IS our faith in our God that small that He can't stand the scrutiny? Even Christ allowed and encouraged THomas to delve into the wounds, HE is not afraid of being examined.
ugo wrote:There are theories about star light such as that in the middle of a sun the light travels far more slowly. We always think light travels at a constant. It does not actually and there are numerous sites supporting this. So the light coming to us may actually not be billions of years old. There are also theories for white holes rather than just black holes.
And the speed of light is merely 1 in MANY many pieces of evidence that reveal age of earth.