Thus all the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. Genesis 2:1, 2 ESV
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Exodus 20:11 ESV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV
Approaching History in an Ungodly way
The accredited method of historical inquiry includes, and insists upon, ignoring what God says. Deny him. Exclude him. Treat his words as of less import than scattered bones. The Bible is only a compilation of superstitions from primitive peoples. Godless teaching about history excludes the works and words of God, That is why it is ‘godless’.
This is not how the people of old received their commendation. When listening to God about what he has done and when he did it, we hope to gain true understanding, resulting in assurance and conviction. God, who is spirit (John 4:24), spoke creation into existence. We have faith in the God who has such power and wisdom. If we believe him, and do what he says, we are godly. This assurance and conviction are synonymous with faith in Christ.
Approaching History in a Godly way
The godly approach to understanding history uses the same tools as the godless approach, with the same rigorous care, by people of equal quality, but does not exclude and deny what God can do and has done. A godly view of history does not deny the scattered bones, but includes the words of God as worthy of full assurance and superior conviction. Since the godly are blessed with true information the godless reject, the godly come to quite different conclusions.
There is a point at which the godly walk by faith in what God has said, and not real material evidence (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). It is not godly to be swept up in the lies the ungodly follow, is it?
Whatever the godless historian concludes is interpreted by the godless historian, and limited by the perspective and ability of the godless historian. This is totally natural for the historian who does not profess faith in God. Thus godless history is constantly in flux, changing, and subject to the bias of perception by the godless historian. God’s testimony about early earth history is only limited by God’s eternal and omniscient perception and infinite power and ability. In other words, not limited at all; God’s testimony is infinitely superior. What is difficult to understand, and impossible to commend, is the godly historian who denies and excludes the testimony of the God they profess to worship. To reject God’s testimony in favor of the testimony of man is to reject God and prefer man. We put our faith in what we prefer.
Why not express faith in God’s words, God’s own testimony? Why profess to believe God, and place your faith in the godless? There are many, many reasons, none of them commendable.
There is a godly approach to history and an ungodly approach to history: Why does the American church express hesitance and embarrassment about teaching the real history of the world? Why are Christian scholars not developing the history of earths earliest 1,650+ years? Has it not occurred to them that a lot of information is available? Might it be that American Cultural Christian scholars prefer impressing their secular (godless) peers instead of professing the words of God?
The scandal of early earth history is that Christian educators teach godless lies, and many of them believe the lies. Further, many fear the words of those who place their faith in the godless points of view. Academia is not free of petty retribution! Please be aware; those in the local churches will respond to faithful godly teachers… will not the Holy Spirit guide them that way? And when it happens, will you resist? And who, actually, will you be resisting?
Is Creation a Gospel Issue?
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. John 1:3, 10, 11 ESV
The apostle John began his gospel this way! Jesus Christ is the Creator. He told us what he did and when he did it. He came to his own people and they denied him. They didn’t believe what he said about who he was and what he did. While some of the ungodly may have accepted him “with some caveats”, they would not accept him for who he was and what he had done.
Is creation a gospel issue? Given that man is prone to inaccuracy, how can one be certain where the gospel begins and ends? Given that man is influenced by his culture and national identity, how can one be certain where the objective gospel begins and ends? Given that man has different languages and different worldviews in different ages, how can one be certain where the gospel begins and ends? Perhaps what we need is a perfect being, incapable of inaccuracy, free of culture and national identity, and immune from misunderstandings stemming from different languages and the differing worldviews held throughout history.
Fortunately, we have such a gospel testimony.
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Revelation 14:6, 7
The godless often construct whole theories upon the evidence of teeth, bone fragments, shards of pottery, chipped stones, and cave scribbling. They are of the world and the world accepts them. But God has given a massive amount of information about the real early history of the earth. He must think it is important.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ESV
Jesus Christ is the Creator. He knows his history, including the accuracy of early earth history. If I call Jesus Christ my Creator and Lord, then deny his words, what kind of faith is that? I would be trusting something else rather than trusting in Him.