That is a good post, and I agree with you. If I sounded like I want people to take their focus off of the overall big message "Christ Died on the Cross for our sins" I am terribly sorry, because that is certainly not my intent.
I also believe in the old-earth. I think the 7 days is not the same 7 day week that we now have. But the order of events are as they are listed in Genesis.
My argument is not just with science class, but with the dirction public schools are heading in general. It is not that they are just taking God out of the schools, they are teaching that God does not exist and it is stupid to believe in God--in many schools.
But you are right, we can not and should not take our eye of the ball. The message of Christ is the overall message, but if people are taught at a young age not to believe in God--they aren't going to believe in Jesus either.
Seriously, now: you believe trees and grasses existed on Earth prior to the creation of the sun?
That order would have grass and fruit trees created on day 3, sun, moon, and stars created on day 4, whales, fishes, and birds on day 5, and land animals on day 6. That order seem ok?
Oh, yes, I have always marvelled at the parallels between Biblical Genesis and the Bigbang in the Void->Celestial Matter->Local Star->Sol System Day/Night->Ocean Muck->Human Beings path. And I hope I didn't paint you as taking the focus off...this was just a response to the whole thread.
"If they don't believe all the Law and all the Prophets". eh? Too sadly true...Our Founders couldn't imagine that we would ever use the Courts to separate God from our society...how could they think to legislate against it? Even Jefferson was no foe of an abstract God. It's just that in the last 50 years we have realized that our brains are so much smarter than Adams and all his ilk!
[/SARCASM]