Sharon:
I believe God made the world in six real days, just like it says in the Bible. Genesis is very clear. It talks about evening and morning for each day. That sounds like a normal 24-hour day to me.
Mike:
I hear you. I used to think the same. But now I see Genesis as a poetic story. I think it’s meant to teach us about God’s power and love, not to be a science book. The writing has a special rhythm to it, almost like a song.
Sharon:
But the Bible doesn’t say it’s a song or a poem. It just says what God did each day. First, He made light. Then sky. Then land and plants. It’s all very step-by-step. Why wouldn’t we take that as fact?
Mike:
I get that. But back then, people told stories in ways that helped them understand deep things. The Bible writers weren’t thinking about science. They were showing how God brings order out of chaos. Genesis 1 isn’t just listing events. It’s showing meaning.
Sharon:
But it’s not just meaning—it’s history! If we say Genesis isn’t real history, then where does it stop? What about Adam and Eve? What about sin? The Bible says Adam was the first man. If he wasn’t real, then why do we need Jesus?
Mike:
I do believe Adam and Eve were real. But I think the six days of creation are more like a framework. The story shows that God made everything and made it good. That’s the big point. Not how many hours it took.
Sharon:
But it says “on the first day,” “on the second day,” and so on. That’s not vague. It’s very detailed. God doesn’t need to use metaphors. If He says something happened in a day, I believe it happened in a day.
Mike:
I respect that. And I believe God could have done it in six seconds if He wanted. He’s God. But I think the way the story is written—how it repeats phrases, how the days match up—feels like a pattern. Patterns usually mean something deeper.
Sharon:
I still don’t see why it would need to be deeper. Why not just believe what it says? God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. That’s why we have the week. That’s where our seven-day week comes from!
Mike:
That’s true. The seven-day week does come from the Bible. But just because something teaches us a rhythm doesn’t mean it had to happen exactly like that. I think God gave us the creation story in a way that people of all times could understand.
Sharon:
I think people today are trying too hard to make the Bible match science. They don’t want to sound old-fashioned. But I trust God’s Word more than science. Science keeps changing. The Bible never does.
Mike:
I agree, science changes. But God’s truth doesn’t. I just think sometimes people read the Bible too quickly and miss the style it was written in. Like in Psalms—it talks about God spreading out the heavens like a tent. That’s poetic. I think Genesis might have some of that too.
Sharon:
But Genesis isn’t Psalms. Psalms is clearly poetry. Genesis is the beginning of the history of the world. It connects straight into the stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses—all the way to Jesus.
Mike:
That’s a good point. Genesis does lead into real people and events. I’m not saying it’s all just a myth. I’m just saying the creation part might be written differently than the rest. It may be meant to inspire us, not to explain every detail.
Sharon:
Still, if we don’t believe the start of the Bible, how can we trust the rest? It’s like building a house. If the foundation is weak, the house falls. Genesis is the foundation.
Mike:
That’s why I think we have to understand the purpose of Genesis. I believe it’s true. I believe God created everything. I just don’t think He told us how exactly. I think He told us why—because He wanted to create something good, and He wanted to make people in His image.
Sharon:
I agree with that part. God made the world, and He made us special. But I still feel like the “how” matters too. If we stop taking parts of the Bible literally, then soon people will say Jesus didn’t rise from the dead either.
Mike:
No way. I believe Jesus rose from the dead. That’s not a metaphor. That’s the center of our faith. But I don’t think believing Genesis is symbolic means we give up truth. It’s just a different kind of truth.
Sharon:
Different kind of truth? What does that even mean?
Mike:
Like this: When I say “God is my rock,” I don’t mean He’s made of stone. But that’s still true. It means He’s strong and steady. That’s truth in a picture. I think Genesis shows us truth in pictures too—God bringing light from darkness, creating order, calling things good.
Sharon:
I see what you’re saying. But it still worries me. If it’s just a picture, then why would God say, “It was evening and morning, the third day,” and so on? That seems too specific to be just an idea.
Mike:
That’s a fair question. I think the writer used those words to help people feel the rhythm. Like a week with a Sabbath rest at the end. The whole story leads to the seventh day—rest. That’s the goal: rest with God.
Sharon:
So you think it’s more about the message than the timing?
Mike:
Yes. I think the message is that God made everything with care and purpose, and we were made to live with Him in peace. Whether it took six days or six billion years isn’t the main point to me. The point is who made it, and why.
Sharon:
But doesn’t Jesus talk about creation like it’s real history? He talks about Adam and Eve like real people. Doesn’t that mean Genesis is literal?
Mike:
Jesus does talk about Adam and Eve. And I believe they were real. But Jesus also told stories that weren’t real events—like the Good Samaritan—to teach deep truths. He could use both real people and powerful stories to show God’s heart.
Sharon:
I still lean toward taking it just as it’s written. I think it keeps things clearer. I worry that saying parts of the Bible are “poetic” gives people a reason to ignore the parts they don’t like.
Mike:
I understand that. It’s a good warning. But I think it’s not about picking what we like. It’s about asking, “What kind of writing is this?” The Bible has many kinds—history, poetry, law, letters, prophecy. We need to read each part the right way.
Sharon:
That’s true. The Bible is full of different kinds of writing. I guess I just want to honor God by trusting His Word, plain and simple.
Mike:
And I want to honor God by digging into His Word and understanding it as deeply as I can. We both want the same thing—we just see the beginning of the story a little differently.
Sharon:
You’re right about that. We both believe God made everything. That’s the most important part.
Mike:
Yes. And we both believe He made us on purpose. That gives us value. I think that’s the heart of the creation story, whether it’s read as history or as holy poetry.
Sharon:
Well, even if we don’t agree on every detail, I’m glad we can talk about it.
Mike:
Me too. These kinds of talks help us grow, even when we don’t change our minds.
Sharon:
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll both see it clearly one day—when we get to ask God Himself.
Mike:
Now that will be a conversation worth having.