Posted on 05/01/2010 8:40:54 AM PDT by truthfinder9
Introduction
The standard young earth paradigm says that God originally created the heavens and earth as a perfect paradise in which God's image bearer, mankind, was to live. However, Adam and Eve's sin resulted not only in the fall of mankind, but the fall of creation itself to its current imperfect state. The fall of creation is usually attributed to the curse - God's judgment on mankind and His perfect world.1 Changes attributed to God's judgment include the initiation of death for both mankind and animals, the creation of weeds, parasites, disease, carnivorous activity, and any other aspect of creation that causes either pain or suffering (including natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, etc.). Nearly all young earth creationists believe that God will restore God's original perfect paradise (Eden) at the return of Jesus Christ.
Was the original creation perfect?
It should be noted that the Bible never says that original creation was perfect. It is described as being good2 and very good,3 but never "perfect." How does one determine what God's perfect creation would look like? It turns out that young earth creationists have assumed that God would not have been able to create any world less than "perfect" - based upon biblical descriptions of the millennial kingdom and the new creation. Unfortunately, the Bible never indicates that either the millennial kingdom or the new creation represent the state of the original creation. In fact, the Bible indicates that this creation was not created to be perfect, but is only a partial representation of that which is to come,4 which will be perfect. The new creation will be the perfect tabernacle - the city "whose architect and builder is God",5 which will not be of this creation.6 Old earth creationists agree that the creation was perfect for the purpose for which it was created. However, the Bible indicates that the purpose of creation is not what has been claimed by young earth creationists.
The purpose of creation
The young earth paradigm assumes God created the earth for mankind to give us a perfect place to live, "designed for our enjoyment."7 However, nowhere does the Bible indicate that God created the earth for our pleasure or enjoyment. In contrast, the Bible indicates that the earth was established to accomplish the purposes of God.8 What are the purposes of God regarding this creation? First and foremost, the creation is designed as a place where evil can be conquered.9 Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice on the cross, provided a sacrifice to remove our evil and reconcile us to God and each other.10 Our role in this purpose is to choose between good and evil.11 By choosing good, we participate in God's purposes and bring glory to Him.12 According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, "Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."13
According to the young earth paradigm, mankind's sin thwarted God's original perfect plan, requiring Him to institute "plan B." Henry Morris says, "it seems unthinkable that the God of the Bible—the God who is omniscient and omnipotent, merciful and loving—would do anything like that. Surely He could devise and implement a better plan than this."14 What was plan B? God created weeds, caused some animals to become carnivorous, cursed mankind with pain and suffering, and instituted death for humans and animals - all because of the sin of mankind. The problem with this thinking is that it contradicts the nature of the God of the Bible, who is described as being omniscient and omnipotent. If God is truly omniscient, He would have known that mankind was going to fall into sin. In addition, the Bible says that no purpose of God can be thwarted.15 So, maybe weeds, carnivorous activity, and suffering were all part of God's original plan?
The problem of evil
Of great importance to young earth creationists is the problem of evil. Since the days of David Hume16 and Charles Darwin,17 skeptics have claimed that a benevolent God who is omnipotent would never create a world in which suffering was allowed to exist. Young earth creationists have bought into the atheists' argument and attempted to circumvent it by shifting the blame for the presence of evil and suffering from God's original plan to God's plan B response to human sin. The failure of this explanation is that it brings into question God's omniscience. Shouldn't an omniscient God have known that human beings were going to rebel, and plan His course of action accordingly? In addition, young earth creationists claim that God is justified in condemning all mankind to a life of evil and suffering just because Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Although God can and does judge sin, not all "bad" things that happen to people are the result of sin. When Jesus' disciples passed a blind man, they asked Jesus if his blindness was due to his own sin or the sin of his parents. Jesus replied that it wasn't due to sin at all, "but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him."18 Peter tells us that those who do what is right will be reviled for the name of Christ, although it will bring glory to God.19
Weeds and work
In contrast, the old earth paradigm says that, indeed, God has a purpose for weeds, carnivores, suffering, and death. Weeds don't seem like something a perfect God would create - at least from a human perspective. The reason why we think in such a way is that we are basically lazy. We don't like the idea that we have to work hard for our food and that we are opposed by "useless" plants, pests (such as insects, rodents, disease), and uncooperative weather and other natural hazards. What purpose could God possibly have in making us work? Going back to Genesis 2, we know that God created the man and placed him into a garden that He had planted with trees that produced fruit.20 My guess is that God did not plant any weeds in the garden, although the text does not specifically say. Even so, Adam was given charge over cultivating and tending the garden.21 If weeds never grew in the garden, Adams "work" would be virtually non-existent. What work did Adam have to do to tend the garden? Maybe God does have a purpose for work.22
Killing carnivores
Young earth creationists say that God would never create a world in which there were millions of years of animal death and suffering.23 However, the Bible indicates that God Himself is implicated in the death of animals. First, God killed animals to clothe Adam and Eve after the fall24 and then killed many animals during the flood.25 God set up the system of animal sacrifice for atonement for sin.26 In addition, scripture tells us that God created carnivores on day 6. Contrary to young earth doctrine, the scriptures indicate that God provides food for the carnivores of the Earth, therefore condoning the death of some animals for the survival of others:
"Who prepares for the raven its nourishment, When its young cry to God, And wander about without food?" (Job 38:41)
"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions," [God speaking] (Job 38:39) The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God. (Psalm 104:21)
There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Animals both small and great... They all wait for Thee, To give them their food in due season. (Psalm 104:25, 27)
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. (Luke 12:24)
If God is responsible for feeding the carnivores and brags about doing so, maybe the young earth creationists are wrong in their assessment that carnivorous activity is evil and not part of God's original design.
Purposes for evil and suffering
Part of God's original plan involved the defeat of evil. According to the Bible, Satan, God's highest created angelic being,27 rebelled against God, taking one third of the angels with Him.28 These beings attempt to deceive human beings into following them into rebellion against God.29 Jesus Christ came to earth as part of God's original plan to defeat evil30 and redeem mankind.31
God has a higher purpose for this creation than the prevention of evil and suffering. The Bible indicates that evil and suffering provides believers with a means to witness to others,32 including angels,33 about our faith. Suffering also produces patience and endurance34 and conforms us to the image of Christ,35 the purpose for which we were created.36
God's original plan or "plan B"?
Did God really change His plans because of mankind's sin? Actually, the Bible indicates that God's purposes are unchangeable37 and eternal,38 and that He finished His work at the foundation of the earth.39 In fact, many verses indicate that God's plan was formulated before He even created the time dimension of our universe.40 God had already prepared the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ41 and prepared a place for the redeemed in heaven.42 A passage from Isaiah summarizes what God has said about the establishment of His plans:
"Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded, Who are far from righteousness. I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel." (Isaiah 46:9-13)
Contrary to the claims of young earth creationism, God is not going to restore paradise (Eden) at the return of Jesus Christ, but will deliver us from paradise into an entirely new and perfect creation that is eternal. For more information, see What Will Heaven be Like?
Conclusion Young earth creationists believe that God's original creation was "perfect" in every way - no weeds, no disease, no suffering, and no death. In reality, the "perfect paradise" paradigm fails in its lack of biblical support and also in the underlying assumptions that it forces upon a "Christian" worldview. Under the "perfect paradise" paradigm, God is relegated to the position of a poor designer, whose plans for the perfect creation are ruined by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. God is forced to come up with "plan B," in which He vindictively creates weeds, disease, carnivorous animals, and death to get back at humanity for their sin. Young earth creationists inadvertently buy into the atheistic worldview that suffering could not have been the original intent of God, stating that the earth was created "for our pleasure."
In contrast, old earth creationists believe that the universe was created with a perfect purpose, in which human beings are to choose good from evil and bring glory to God in doing so. The "perfect purpose" paradigm states that God created the universe as a temporary place, in which evil and suffering fulfill the will of God toward a higher goal than just to give us pleasure or a nice place to live. We, the followers of Jesus Christ, manifest the abundant grace of God, even in our sufferings, witnessing for the gospel to our fellow human beings and also the angels.
...for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
bfltr
It is not an overpowering conundrum to me that the creation of the universe by the Word of God resulted in “very good” and not “perfect”, that is, in the first place.
God created a new physics, for His own purposes, that would “wind down”, a la 2nd Law, entropy.
But when God says “very good”, I listen. “Very good” in God’s eyes means as good as it gets, perfectly suitable to the purposes He had in mind.
In the NT it says, “when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away”; and “we look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness”. I look forward to things that are of similar physique, but different physics.
Meanwhile, the writer is correct in that all of this is very mysterious (but wonderful)!
Finally, someone with some sense. I have never understood some people’s fixation on “perfection”.
Intriguing....
in my bible, genesis says that God looked at all He created and saw that it was good. not perfection, but good. He liked what He saw. why do we expect perfection from God when He did not create it for Himself?
i look at my kids and i see they are good kids and i like them. they are not perfect but they are darn good. i look at my garden and it is good, not perfect, but good. we are made in God’s image, working with the possibilities and limitations He gave us. if “it was good” was good enough for God, why do we expect perfection from Him? or our children or ourselves?
i have always wondered about this.
Was the original creation perfect?
Non-Sequitur #1: "Perfection" is not the issue. The issue is whether or not the world was more pleasant than it is now, which the Bible clearly states.
The purpose of creation... The young earth paradigm assumes God created the earth for mankind to give us a perfect place to live, "designed for our enjoyment."
Non-Sequitur #2: The purpose of creation is stated repeatedly in the Bible; obey God. This is what Adam, Eve, and the Serpent failed to do. It is a shame someone can look into a Bible and not see accounts of people obeying or disobeying God and the results of that behavior over and over, and still not get it.
: The problem of evil... Shouldn't an omniscient God have known that human beings were going to rebel, and plan His course of action accordingly?
Non-Sequitur #3: I wonder what you think God meant when he said "...but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."? I call it forethought, but then again, I can read.
: Weeds and work... What purpose could God possibly have in making us work?
Non-Sequitur #4: If you had bothered to read Genesis, you would know that the labor of the fields is literally described as a punishment for Adam's behavior: "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Please note that God CURSES the earth with weeds AFTER the creation BECAUSE of Adam's sin.
: Killing carnivores...
Non-Sequitur #5: What a mess. You can cite nowhere an animal killing and eating another animal before the fall of man. In fact, you cannot cite anything eating an animal until after the Great Flood. It is after that flood where God states: "And let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the earth: all the fishes of the sea are delivered into your hand. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." That's right, God makes animals food AFTER the flood. I wonder how you could explain why nobody ate meat until hundreds of years after creation?
Anyway, this is stupid, and I bored with it now.
It still is perfect. May not suit any human’s ego or agenda but it is perfect.
: The problem of evil... Shouldn’t an omniscient God have known that human beings were going to rebel, and plan His course of action accordingly?
He did know. He wanted Man to love and obey him of his own will because without free will Man’s love would just be programed. God knew with this choice Man would sooner or later disobey and fall under his perfect justice. His plan was to provide a perfect redeemer in his Son Jesus which he carried out later.
Truly seek him and ask for him to give you understanding of his word.
Abel was raising those sheep as pets? Riight!!
The “perfect” God was speaking about in the scriptures - was SPIRITUAL PERFECTION .. not physical.
And .. if people would read Deuteronomy 28, 29 and thru 30:15, they will see that God laid out evil and it’s rewards, good and it’s rewards, and then in 30:15 God said, “I’ve set before you this day good and evil, life and death .. NOW YOU CHOOSE.
God’s greatest gift to mankind was THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE.
Have a great day
As a person that raises sheep I can say that they do provide more then just a food source...in fact my wife is spinning some of the wool as I am typing this. Also check out Genesis chapter four...the sheep were offered as an offering to God. So you would be assuming they ate the sheep based upon what we currently do, not based on what scripture states.
Before the fall of man there were not very many people around and all we have is what Moses wrote down based on years of oral history. Just because they did not write down that animals were eaten doesn't mean it didn't happen. Not everyone agrees with your interpretation of scripture so I wouldn't be so sure of myself on these tangential points if I were you.
Offering what was considered valuable
4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Again, where does it say they ate the animals? This would be an assumption. Sheep offer wool for makeing clothes, rugs, etc. and milk that can be made into cheeses.
The offering was not based on offering something of value otherwise Cain’s offering would have been o’kay. The offering was based on what God had determined was the correct offering...it comes down to obeying God.
That God recognized each creation phase as being "good" before moving on the the next phases of creation means during each phase, he could have gotten something wrong which he either had to correct during that phase or alter plans for the subsequent phases.
I was listening to Frank Pastrori’s show on local Christian radio the other day and he had a guest from the Creation Museum who claimed that Noah had two of each kind of dinosaur on the Ark with him.
I believe in God, but I also go with the geophysical age of the Earth, and this “young earth” busisness is not supportable by the evidence.
What a joke! Typical Bible "scholarship" (rea: oxymoron). Is there a plan "B?" Sure seems that way (cf Gen 6:6).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.