Cheryl Schatz

Don,

All I want to assume is that anyone (young earth or old earth view) will be open enough hear and understand the points that I am bringing out and then I would desire that they would be open-minded enough to test my argument by the scriptures. If anyone who follows my blog were to dismiss my arguments just because it contracts their presuppositions, then the door is shut for me to teach them anything.

This is where I put the rubber to the road as far as what submission means. Submission means that one is willing to listen and understand what is being taught. Submission can mean that one is willing to reflect back what he/she hears in order to make sure they properly understand. Then the teaching must be tested for truth against the only measuring stick that is not a rubber ruler. The test must be against the word of God.

I usually chose not to ignore alternate arguments. I try to ask questions to pinpoint the meaning of the argument so that I can fully understand where the person is coming from. Sometimes my questions are not answered so I find myself assuming I know what they mean. If I am wrong, I like being corrected because it would never do to misrepresent another point of view. When I get to that point, I must test the view by the scriptures. Some may think that this is a wrong thing to do. Some may think that one must just accept another view as valid so that there is no one right view. I do not believe this is scriptural. The Apostle Paul’s teaching was tested by the Bereans and they were considered “noble” for testing even the Apostle Paul. If we test a teaching by the word of God, we too should be considered “noble”. Unless we are instructed that our biblical test is wrong or that we misunderstood the opposing view, the test from scripture will stand. When we our views are tested by the scriptures by others, it gives us a chance to correct our view to measure up to scripture, refine our view or hold to our view even more strongly if it stands the test.

As far as “evening and morning” that go together with the first day, day two, etc, how would we know what metaphor “evening and morning” refer to? If there is no reference to another meaning, how could we ever come to a consensus about what it means? It seems impossible unless we just take God at his word that there was a time period one the earth that appeared as a dark time (night) and a light time (called day) followed by another dark time and another light time, etc?

I think the thing that amazes me is the closed mindedness that most old earthers have. Perhaps I am just so amazed because I don’t think this way. I understand that truth is more valuable than my own ego and I also understand that truth can be uncomfortable. Because of that I brace myself to accept truth even if it is uncomfortable and even if contradicts my point of view. But I will not accept another point of view without first testing it by the scriptures. For for old earthers I don’t see them trying to test my arguments by the scriptures. When I have been on other forums all I got was science and reason. The scriptures did not play a major part or perhaps any part at all in the “test”. That way of thinking just doesn’t cut the mustard with someone like me who wants truth more than life itself. However the spiritual truth that I will hold onto will always and only be the truth that is able to be tested by God’s word. Does that seem fair?