The universe declares the existence of the creator God. The Bible gives us a brief account in Genesis of how God went about His creative work. Unfortunately, the scientists and the theologians have not been able to come together on the facts.

One reason - the age of the universe. This issue leads to another reason - evolution.

In 1650 AD, Archbishop James Ussher used the genealogies provided in Genesis to calculate the age of the earth. He arrived at a date of 4004 BC. Ussher had very little scientific data available to determine if he was using sound exegesis. Remember, only a few short years earlier in 1633 Galileo was tried on charges of "Grave suspicion of heresy" for stating the Earth revolved around the Sun.

It would be easy to conclude the Archbishop would surely not reach the same conclusion if he were to study the evidence now available. However, this is not the case as the young earth creationists are still perpetuating this tradition today by demanding the 6,000 year old age of the earth be taught in public schools. The courts convinced of a lack of evidence for a young earth have removed special creation from textbooks and have sanctioned the teaching of naturalistic evolution. God has been eliminated in the classroom.

The young earth creationists have made this issue a battleground by coercing well meaning clergy into believing godless science is purposely attempting to discredit the Bible. The young earth arguments are flawed but they sound like they are glorifying God. The clergy generally lack scientific knowledge and are easily convinced of the young earth beliefs.

Naturalistic science claims on the one hand that science says nothing about the existence of God, while on the other hand it is claimed there is nothing for a creator to do. All things can be explained without invoking a god. The sad thing is this is not true but admitting otherwise it is feared would give credence to the young earth beliefs. Naturalistic evolution holds an educational monopoly in our public schools. The founders of this country wanting to prevent the formation of an official church under government control wisely prohibited the government's establishment of a national religion. It was not intention that we eliminate God.

In their pure form, Christianity and science are interested in the same thing - the truth. Many Christian scientists struggle daily between the facts of the universe and the tradition they are told they must accept because of their faith. Many unbelievers never come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because they cannot settle the differences between the traditional interpretation of Genesis and the universe God has created.

The fossil records indicate that life began as simple bacteria type cells and became more and more complex as creation progressed. This does not mean naturalistic evolution is true. It is a theory. Microevolution does explain much of the variations within a species - different types of finches for instance. Macroevolution's ability to produce through natural selection or mutations novel organs or a change in body plan is not proven fact. On the contrary, the fossil records show that species generally appear suddenly and remain basically stable throughout their existence. The missing link is still missing. It does not exist. (more on this subject later - if you are an evolutionist don't tune out just yet!)

Only two extreme voices are being heard on this matter. They seek to silence and eliminate one another. From their viewpoint the earth is 6,000 years old or there is no God (at least not the God of the Bible). There is a solution. The truth of the universe can be harmonized with the truth of the Bible.