The Christian church has historically supported ‘young-earth creation’, however, around ad 1800, long age theories crept into secular geology. They denied the global Flood of Genesis a priori by restricting causes to processes happening now. That meant it would take millions of years to form the rocks and fossils. In response, many churches essentially replaced the authority of Scripture with the authority of secular geology.
As a result, God raised up ministries like Creation Ministries International (CMI), http://www.creation.com. The ‘young earth’ position is not their axiom, or starting assumption. Rather, it is a theorem, i.e., something logically deduced from their real axiom: the authority of Scripture. Throughout most of its history, the Church accepted that Scripture was the last word on origins. Thus no Church Father or Reformer taught that Earth was older than a few thousand years.
Sadly, the liberal wing of the church rejected the authority of Scripture outright. They agreed that Scripture really does teach a young earth, but it was wrong. Many conservatives wanted to keep biblical authority but were intimidated by the secular long-age claims. So they invented various schemes to pretzelize the Bible to accommodate long-age thinking. For example, concepts like the gap and day-age theories appeared in the 19th century. The ‘framework hypothesis’ was a 20th-century novelty. (See creation.com/history-interpretation.)
But it was clear that they had really made secular ‘science’ their final authority. If these views were really taught in the text, then why did the Church Fathers, Reformers, and other Christian scholars miss them before about 1800? And if we abandon biblical authority on history, then why not on morality and doctrine as well (creation.com/useful-dupes)?
Other pushbacks are claims that the Bible is not clear on the topic. But this goes to another important issue: whether the main teachings of the Bible are understandable or perspicuous. After all, Jesus often said, “it is written”. Paul said, “All Scripture is breathed out by God” and makes us “complete” and “equipped” (2 Timothy 3:15–17). This could not be, if the Bible were as difficult as some claim.
Some make hyper-pious claims that ‘God’s days are not man’s days’. But God wrote Scripture to teach us. Therefore, God’s meanings must be the same as ours; otherwise, communication is broken. And for us to apply His teachings, God’s logic must be the same as ours. The difference is that God knows all true premises and commits no logical fallacies (see creation.com/logic).
This is the 48th year of Creation magazine, affirming both the authority and understandability of Scripture, plus ample supporting evidence. The latest issue contains much more of the same. For instance, hard blue-gray rocks forming in decades show there is no need for millions of years.
Biblical authority and understandability have historically been a fruitful foundation for science. On p. 24, CMI interview a molecular biologist who firmly defends biblical creation, while challenges the supposed evolution of the whale. The biblical Creation/Fall/ Flood/dispersion framework explains the wide variety of animals around the world, including the bowerbird. Plus, the Bible’s design implication explains why some animals will sacrifice themselves for their groups. And their p. 40 article explains how and why Scripture clearly teaches the foundational doctrine of creation out of nothing.
This article is taken from the latest issue of Creation Magazine Vol 48, Issue 1 2026. I have been a subscriber for 48 years.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 
Dear Ron, We have probably supported Answers in Genesis and then CMI as long as you. In fact we belong to and have led a Friends Group in the Illawarra for many years. I have visited many Ministers and Pastors and Christian Schools promoting CMI and offering them CMI minist ry. Many would agree wholeheartedly with us, but refuse to have them come to their church. “Too divisive!” was their cry. In fact one time we were invited to a Fraternal meeting by a Baptist Minister, but once we introduced ourselves and told of our concern for our Christian kids who are bombarded by Evolution at School but given no scientific back up for the Bible at Church, and more times than not they are leaving their Christian faith as they grew up. An Anglican Minister immediately asked, ” Does that mean you believe in 6 day Creation?” We said that is what the Bible states. He said my God is so great He could do it however He wanted… you had better pack up and leave. 2 others sgreed, the Catholic and Uniting Clergy. The other 3 looked at the ground. We were so stunned we did what he,said, although we thought, “so God could create any way he wanted, except the way He said He did in the Bible!” We later wished we had been more prepared for this onslaught and argued the point. We had much the same reaction from the Christian School that all our 16 grandchildren went to. We knew the Science Master taught Evolution there, as fact. So we asked at the Association (Parents) Meeting if the Board would allow a CMI Speaker to come to the Association and present their Scientific evidence so the parents could decide if CMI should speak to the children and give them evidence for the truth of biblical Creation. Next meeting it was brought up briefly, that a subject had been raised at the previous meeting and had been discussed and advice had been received that the school was dealing with this matter themselves.(ie occasionally asking kids what they thought about it all!) They also stated that they were grateful to a prominent Anglican for his advice on the subject. Mind you none of them could say the words, “Creation or Evolution”, or look us in the eye that night. Many parents had come up to us in support, when I brought it up the first time…. I am so disappointed in our churches these days on many fronts. I feel they have lost the plot, they don’t stand up for anything. Abortion, sex before marriage, kid’s church is more entertainment, than teaching God’s Word especially for teenagers who need to know what they believe. They have not stood up for Israel, or even the Jews in our own country and all over the world. Of course there are individuals and groups that are concerned but the church is pretty well asleep about the things they should be standing up for. Christmas just passed with hardly a Nativity Scene to be seen anywhere and we now celebrate “the Season” or “Happy Holidays”. I bought wonderful cards centring JESUS and many asked me where I got them. They couldn’t find any in the shops! Thankyou for all you are reporting Ron. I am sure the end is nigh, but while there is still time, we have a big job to do always under the Holy Spirits guidance.
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Hi Lesley, When Ken Ham went to the USA he asked me if I would take on the job of CEO at Creation Science Ministry. God had just got me to change the name of Christian Press to Care & Share Products and take Christian products into the secular market (out of the holy huddle) so I knew the job was not for me. I suggested Carl Weiland but at the time he had just accepted a job in Cairns. I think it was at the Australian Marine Conservation Society. It was on his way from Adelaide to Cairns that he had his terrible car accident that almost took his life. However, it resulted in him becoming CEO at CMI but at great cost including his marriage. Carl did a great job. He was God’s man for CEO and God did what was necessary to get him there. It was sad that Ken and Carl clashed over Creation Magazine which caused the split, CMI and Answers in Genesis (AIG) but both have been used by God in different ways. I met up with Ken Ham recently when he was in Australia with Martyn Isles and was disappointed that he had not forgiven Carl for not becoming part of AIG. Please pray for him. It is interesting that Martyn Isles did not stay with AIG long, even though he had the title CEO. Ken could not let go of the reins. Blessings, Ron
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