How could such a statement be true? How could the creator of all issues not actually care about His creation?
As a blanket, catch-all statement, it is only partially true. God cares that you recognize Him as the creator. What I’m referring to is the “how” of creation.
As Christians, we all have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us, convicting us of sin. If our thoughts about the length of creation are not right, then why hasn’t the Holy Spirit convicted us of this sin? Why is it, when I pray for wisdom to comprehend young earth arguments, God grants me that wisdom? Of course, the flip side of this is equally puzzling. If the length of days of creation are not 24-hours, when why doesn’t the Holy Spirit convict the young earth believers that they are wrong?
Could it be that this is not a matter of sin? Could it be that what we feel about the “how” of creation is not crucial to God? It would appear to be the case. God lets us argue these points back and forth, without having convicting either side, by way of the Holy Spirit, that we are wrong. What is essential is that we both have Jesus Christ. That truly is the only essential point from God’s perspective.
The words of Leroy Eims, former president of the Navigators, sums it up best. He said
Can you envision everything Jesus could have talked to individuals about? Right after all, He was the eternal Son of God who knew everything about everything. He could have explained all the scientific wonders of the universe or warned against the numerous manmade philosophies that would arise over the years–how every single of them would lead down a blind alley and leave the followers of those teachings confused and frustrated. But Jesus didn’t deal with any of those issues. Rather, He focused on what people need most–the good news of salvation. Why? Because unless individuals hear and respond to the gospel, they are lost and going to a Christless grave (Footnote 1).
I think he is proper on target. If it did matter what we thought about creation, God’s Spirit would convict us, and steer us to the truth. The only thing that actually matters is regardless of whether we have Jesus.
All too typically, young earth creationists compare old earth creationism to sin, and claim that our path is incorrect, and amounts to cooperation with the devil. Such a claim can be noticed in the young earth book, Right after Eden, by Henry Morris III. On page 174-175, he makes a distinction (1 of several throughout the book) that young earth creationists represent “truth,” “light,” and “wisdom,” with the implication that all others are evil deceivers (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Such slanderous words have no basis in reality, and they are not what one would expect from a professing Christian. None of the verses employed by Mr. Morris in this section have anything to do with creation.
As a Progressive Creationist, I totally believe in the inerrant, infallible Word of God, and a literal interpretation of Genesis. Yes, some old earth proponents do not believe in inerrancy, and they require a warning, but Morris makes no distinction.
If God does not care which form of creation you think in, then Morris claims are empty rhetoric. There is no want for young earth creationists to resort to such tactics. Jesus is what matters…not the “how” of creation. We ought to busy ourselves in proclaiming Christ…not condemning fellow believers.
Footnote 1: From the Navpress Book, Every day Discipleship, which characteristics devotionals taken from radio broadcasts by long-time Navigator LeRoy Eims. To subscribe to a everyday devotional e-mail from the Navigators, visit http://www.navlists.org/dailydiscipleship/index.php?go=subscribe.