Young Earth Creationism (YEC) affirms that God created the universe, the earth, and all life in six ordinary days, only thousands, not billions of years ago. This view arises not from scientific minimalism, but from a commitment to take Scripture seriously, beginning with its plain meaning and allowing it to shape our understanding of history, nature, and humanity.
Scripture as the Starting Point
The Bible opens with a clear historical claim: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The text does not read like poetry or allegory, but like a chronological account of real events. Each day of creation is marked by “evening and morning,” indicating ordinary days rather than long epochs.
The creation week culminates in God’s evaluation of His work: “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). A “very good” creation leaves little room for millions of years of death, disease, and extinction prior to humanity, features often required by old-earth models.
Creation and the Fourth Commandment
The Ten Commandments reinforce a literal reading of Genesis. In grounding the Sabbath, God Himself explains: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth” (Exodus 20:11). The human workweek mirrors God’s creative work, implying that both consist of the same kind of days.
Death, Sin, and the Gospel
Young Earth Creationism also preserves the biblical connection between sin and death. Scripture teaches that “through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12). If death existed for ages before Adam, then death is no longer the consequence of sin, and the theological foundation of the gospel is weakened.
The Global Flood and Earth’s History
The Bible describes a worldwide Flood in the days of Noah, a catastrophic event with massive geological consequences. Peter refers to this judgment, noting that “the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water” (2 Peter 3:6). YEC proponents argue that this event explains much of the fossil record and large-scale sedimentary layers more consistently than slow, uniform processes alone.
Faith, Reason, and Humility
Young Earth Creationism does not reject science; rather, it challenges assumptions that exclude God’s direct action and eyewitness revelation. Scripture, as God’s Word, provides a trustworthy historical framework within which scientific observations can be interpreted.
In the end, YEC is about trust, trust that God has spoken clearly, truthfully, and authoritatively about our origins. When Scripture is allowed to speak for itself, it presents a coherent account of a young creation that glorifies God as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer.
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