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For reasons beyond me, there are those who believe that Genesis is myth. Many limit it to Genesis 1-11, which only confounds the problem. What makes Genesis 11 myth but Genesis 12 history? The language didn't change. The approach didn't change. And what "myth" includes "these are the generations of ..." (Genesis 5)?

Worse, what does it say about the rest of the biblical authors? When God spoke at Sinai, He indicated, "In six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (Exodus 20:11), but we're expected to conclude that no such thing happened ... at all. When Jesus spoke about marriage, He quoted from Genesis 2 (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5), but Genesis 2 never really happened, right? Paul is quite clear that he believes in an historical Jesus and an historical Adam (Romans 5:12-15). He believed there was a God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness" (2 Corinthians 4:6). He believed there was an actual Adam and Eve who actually did things (2 Timothy 2:13-14). Peter thought Noah was a real person (1 Peter 3:20). The author of Hebrews speaks of a "cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) who encourage us in our faith. That cloud includes God's creation "by the word of God" (myth), Abel (myth), Enoch (myth), and Noah (myth). Good luck with that mythical cloud.

So is the Word of God to be trusted? I mean, isn't that whole "inerrancy of Scripture" thing a myth itself, made up out of whole cloth, a pure philosophical figment? Solomon didn't think so (Proverbs 30:5). Jesus didn't think so (Matthew 5:18). Paul didn't think so (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible doesn't think so.

There is only one reason that people assume Genesis (especially 1-11) is myth. It is the same reason that they deny the inerrancy of God's Word. It is a fundamental distrust of the God who breathed it (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This distrust begins with "That text doesn't say what I find acceptable" and ends with a denial of the text because of "Me". They succumb to "Science doesn't support it" which is nothing more than idolatry, an idolatry that doesn't begin with Science, but with "Me". The Church has always held that Genesis was not myth, but was historical narrative. Nothing in the language suggests otherwise. All of those who cite it afterward cite it not as myth, but as historical. If it is myth, those people, including Jesus, are wrong.

It may be that some genuine Christians believe the Bible is wrong at points, that Genesis is myth, that there are serious and systemic errors in the Bible. It may be that such Christians exist. But if they do, it is not because of the Bible; it's because of a prior commitment to not the Bible. You see, the authority and accuracy of the Bible is not rooted in the humans who wrote it or the Christians who defend it; it is rooted in the One who breathed it. If He has neither the ability nor wisdom to actually provide the Word of God for us, these Christians should probably reconsider. Where else can't we trust Him?

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Storms Of Life