Chronological snobbery is defined as, “an argument that the thinking, art, or science of an earlier time is inherently inferior to that of the present, simply by virtue of its temporal priority.”(1) I would argue that this phrase also applies to our use of ancient thinking as a plumb line for modern thought. We love to make our cases by quoting Einstein, but we also love to quote Aristotle. I’m afraid that the internal Christian debate about the age of the earth has also fallen victim to chronological snobbery. On one side you have those who hold to a young earth viewpoint characterized by belief in a six, 24-hour day creation, while on the other, you have those who advocate for a creative process occurring over millions of years. We need to remember that both sides bring something to the faith table. The young earth contingent wants to keep us faithful to the Word of God, while the progressive creationists want to make sure that the Bible doesn’t get dismissed as another ancient myth. Genesis is important, not because it tells us when God punched the time clock, but because it reveals the character He displayed when He went to work. We can’t let this debate divide us because the world doesn’t need chronological correctness; it needs Christological correctness. The only reason we are on the clock is because our Fallen world is quickly running out of time to know its Savior. We worship a God who has set eternity in our hearts so lets stop bickering about days and years and concentrate on the One who gives us everlasting life. 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1: 15-20)

(1) Wikipedia.

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