Journal: Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
Volume: DBSJ 21:1 (NA 2016)
Article: Essential Elements Of Young Earth Creationism And Their Importance To Christian Theology
Author: Matthew A. Postiff

DBSJ 21 (2016) p. 31

Essential Elements Of Young Earth Creationism And Their Importance To Christian Theology

Matthew A. Postiff1

For about 15 years I have had the privilege of studying under William Combs, Bruce Compton, and Robert McCabe. More recently, I have benefited from their advice concerning local church ministry and their mentorship as I assisted two of them in their teaching responsibilities at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Their interaction as personal friends has been a great encouragement. I am indebted to all of them for their careful and conservative scholarship in exegetical, biblical and systematic theology as well as the biblical languages. I trust this essay will be a fitting honor to them as I offer further support for one of Dr. McCabe’s areas of special interest: the important biblical doctrine of young earth creationism.

A note about nomenclature is necessary to begin. The theological view we espouse is most commonly called young earth creationism (YEC). Young quickly conveys the distinction of our view compared to all who posit an earth and universe that are billions of years old. The YEC moniker will likely remain the popular name of the view. But YEC can also be very appropriately called literal creationism. I somewhat prefer to use the term young earth theology (YET). The reason for this is that the significance of young earth creationism is not limited to the opening days of creation. Its long tentacles reach into the gospel, apologetics, the nature of God, man and sin, and many other areas of Christian theology.

This is consistent with Dr. McCabe’s teaching. In the conclusion of his defense of literal days in the creation week published 16 years ago, he wrote,

While many Christians and Christian organizations relegate a literal creation week to a secondary or tertiary level of Christian doctrine, I would suggest that it is an essential part of the faith. To relegate literal creationism to a peripheral doctrinal level minimally suggests an inconsistent view of Scripture’s perspicuity on this subject and pervasively promotes deterioration in other facets of orthodox doctrine.2

DBSJ 21 (2016) p. 32

In this essay, I will offer further evidence for his conclusion. To do so, I will first locate young earth creationism in the spectrum of creationist views. Second, I will provide a list of non-essential beliefs regarding young earth creation. The main body of the paper is the third section, in which I will list and explain the essential or “non negotiable” aspects of young earth theology.3 F...