The Winsome Creationist

In this episode of The Winsome Creationist, I share a project I’ve been working on for the past three years: Go Fund Creation, a brand-new crowdfunding website designed to solve a major problem in creation science—lack of dedicated, transparent research funding. After conversations at the July 2023 International Conference on Creationism, I partnered with Steven Policastro and the International Association for Creation, along with Logos Research Associates, to build a platform where donors can support vetted creation research projects with a clear 90/10 split (90% to researchers, 10% to platform costs). I tour the site, explain the mission and blog, and introduce nine launch projects including dinosaur DNA, bombardier beetle biomimicry, an ancient soft tissue atlas, flood-related modeling and geology work, university outreach, student scholarships, and general/reserve funds.

00:00 Big Announcement
01:31 Origin Story at ICC
02:32 Why Funding Is Broken
04:40 A Transparent Solution
07:32 Partners Behind the Platform
09:08 Blog and Research Vision
11:49 Why Researchers Need Support
14:35 Projects Page Overview
14:53 Featured Research Projects
18:53 Outreach and Scholarships
20:11 General Funds and Reserve
22:23 Giving Rules and 90 10
25:25 Final Call to Join

In this episode, I’m thinking out loud about whether it’s wrong for Christians to appeal to the supernatural while doing science, and when that kind of appeal should (or shouldn’t) be part of our models. I talk about the tension between a supernaturally created world and science as the study of the natural world, and I walk through examples like the resurrection, the distant starlight question (including Danny Faulkner’s DAA idea and other possible mechanisms), and the Flood—especially the unresolved “heat problem” tied to catastrophic plate tectonics. I also lay out the differences between philosophical naturalism, methodological naturalism, and what I’m calling methodological supernaturalism, arguing we should stay within biblical guardrails while still being willing, rarely, to consider supernatural causation. I close with Kurt Wise’s “floating forest” example and preview my next episode on William Lane Craig and a recent Lutheran Satire exchange.

00:00 Channel Introduction
00:30 Big Question Supernatural Science
01:29 Problem Versus Opportunity
02:30 Resurrection As Case Study
03:55 Distant Starlight Tension
06:10 Flood Heat Problem
08:27 Guardrails Not God Of Gaps
10:14 Naturalism Versus Supernaturalism
14:44 Biblical Knowable Guardrails
18:28 Faith And Kurt Wise Example
21:34 Creation Week And Critics
23:05 Wrap Up And Next Episode

In this episode of The Wins of Creationist, I talk through whether Christians—especially young age creationists like me—should watch and recommend the upcoming documentary The Story of Everything (in theaters April 30, 2026), based on Steven Meyer’s The Return of the God Hypothesis and released through Fathom Entertainment. I explain how intelligent design draws its line at “design vs. no design,” not the age of the earth, and why that can confuse some viewers if the film leans on Big Bang cosmology. Using similar past critiques aimed at Is Genesis History, I argue it’s fair for different projects to pursue different goals, and that this film seems more like “pre-evangelism” than direct gospel presentation. My advice: you should probably see it, leaders should watch before recommending, and consider priming your people if needed.

00:00 Should Christians Watch
00:24 Young Earth vs ID
02:54 Movie Overview Meyer
05:22 Facebook Concerns
10:52 Lines in the Sand
11:34 Genesis History Parallel
21:13 Why This Film Exists
21:57 Not Evangelism Pre
28:32 Should You See It
32:02 Final Encouragement

I respond to a question sparked by a Facebook post: are the Divine Council worldview and young age (young earth) creationism compatible, and can you take ancient Near Eastern scholarship seriously while upholding biblical authority? I clarify that young age creationists don’t deny dinosaurs, and I argue the “Bible vs. ancient Near Eastern background” framing is a false dichotomy because Scripture was written in an ancient Near Eastern context under God’s superintendence. I explain the Divine Council worldview as a royal hierarchy with Yahweh as “species unique,” other created elohim (including beings like malak, seraphim, and cherubim), and humanity as God’s imagers, with the New Testament “flipping the script” so humans become sons of God who will judge angels. I then outline young vs. old age timelines and argue there’s no necessary conflict, offering reasons the combined view can enrich topics like Babel and questioning the need for 13.8 billion years in God’s program. I recommend resources from my site, Tim Chaffey’s Fallen, and Michael Heiser’s Supernatural, The Unseen Realm, and Reversing Hermon, and I mention my upcoming book The Winsome Creationist.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:05 The Big Compatibility Question
02:50 Why ANE Context Matters
06:04 Polemics and Scholarship
11:23 Defining Divine Council
12:02 Three Layers of Agency
13:52 Elohim Explained
18:23 Types of Spiritual Beings
20:33 Monotheism Not Polytheism
23:13 Imagers of God
25:02 Imaging God and Agency
26:01 Incarnation and Script Flip
26:36 Royal Hierarchy and Divine Council
28:40 Psalm 82 and Genesis 6 Fallout
29:32 Young Earth vs Old Earth Timelines
32:23 Why They Can Coexist
33:35 Babel Myths and Flood Legends
35:02 The 14 Billion Year Problem
39:46 Mere Young Age Creationism
41:04 Tim Chaffey and Fallen
44:54 Holding Views with Humility
47:46 Where to Start and Final Wrap

Responding to Ken Ham on Unity, Authority, and the Gospel

*Important note: I appreciate Ken Ham's bold stand for the gospel and I take my family to his attractions every single year and we enjoy them immensely. I wish I didn't have to make this video, but I think it's very important that we clarify and get these issues right as we move forward to build a better creationism for the future. 

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In this episode, I’m back after a year away finishing my book, and I jump right into Ken Ham’s recent video where he says he’s willing to cause division in the church over young earth creationism. I explain why I think there’s a big difference between critiquing a view and attacking people, and why treating “my interpretation” as identical to “God’s Word” creates confusion—especially when young earth is called a first-tier issue while also being framed as non-salvific. We walk through the Bible passages being used to justify division (1 Corinthians 1, John 7, Luke 12, 1 Corinthians 11, Romans 16), and I argue they’re mainly about unity in the gospel and avoiding false gospels, not splitting over creation debates. I also look at Galatians 2 as an example of public disagreement that really was about the gospel. Finally, I talk about why young earth creationism is dying—often because of how people are treated—and why a more winsome, model-building approach matters for the future.

00:00 Divisive Creationism Question
00:06 Channel Return and Book Update
00:33 Why Respond to Ken Ham
01:30 Young Earth Creationism at Risk
03:21 Craig Critique and Personal Attacks
05:17 Should We Divide for Authority
07:47 First Tier Issue Confusion
10:07 Testing First Corinthians Context
13:58 Gods Word Versus Mans Word
15:37 Judging Rightly John 7
19:11 Bereans and Scripture Authority
22:47 Jesus Division Verses Applied
25:23 Corinthians Divisions Context
27:59 Head Coverings And Customs
29:54 Debate Versus Division
32:04 Romans 16 Warning Explained
36:44 Unity On Gospel Only
39:15 Creation Debate Without Schism
41:22 Judging Motives And Charity
43:02 Paul Confronts Peter Publicly
46:38 Is Creation A Gospel Issue
48:14 Why Young Earth Is Declining
49:08 Winsome Future And Wrap Up

In this episode of the Winsome Creationist, I explore the question, 'Is creationism a hill to die on?' Through a candid, stream-of-consciousness discussion, I delve into whether being a young-age creationist holds the same level of importance as other Christian doctrines. We break down this larger question into smaller facets, examining creationism's significance in salvation, worldview implications, and its theological challenges. I also discuss the impact of evolutionary beliefs on biblical interpretations and the critical importance of understanding death in the context of creation. Join me as I brainstorm and reflect on these important issues that shape our theological understanding.

00:00 Introduction: Is Creationism a Hill to Die On?
01:07 Defining the Importance of Creationism
02:27 Creationism and Salvation: Are They Linked?
03:37 Worldview Considerations: Evolution vs. Creationism
05:33 Theological Implications of Evolutionary Beliefs
07:06 The Role of Death in Creationism
09:56 Conclusion: Why Creationism Matters

Why doesn't the Bible specify the age of the earth? As a creationist content creator since 2016, I've often encountered this question. In this episode, I address it comprehensively. We explore common objections, examine a well-articulated version of the question from a commenter, and break down the logical, cultural, and theological dimensions of the topic. Additionally, we delve into biblical interpretation and practical implications of discussing the Earth's age, especially within a Christian worldview. I conclude that understanding the Earth's age is vital, not for arguing but for appreciating the theological and biblical importance.

00:00 Introduction: The Question of Earth's Age
00:37 Common Objections and Misconceptions
01:36 A Commenter's Thought-Provoking Question
04:10 Analyzing the Argument: Is It Worth Discussing?
06:03 Logical and Cultural Considerations
16:14 Biblical Interpretation and Practical Problems
20:40 Theological Implications and Conclusion

Hebrew Bible/Old Testament scholarship has undergone a major shift in recent decades. More and more, we hear that the Bible was written by just another culture in the ancient Near East, and that lots of borrowing and sharing of ideas between cultures have taken place.

Has this happened? How? And if so, does that mean Genesis is not unique in its own right? How should Christians make sense of this issue? Let's talk about it!

Link mentioned: https://biblearchaeologyreport.com/2019/02/22/three-ancient-near-eastern-creation-myths/

In this episode of the Winsome Creationist podcast, I introduce the concept of Winsome Creationism and discuss its foundation in three key pillars: being attractive, able, and articulate.

00:00 Introduction to the Winsome Creationist

00:31 Exciting Updates and Upcoming Conversations

01:39 Defining Winsome Creationism

03:44 The Three Pillars of Winsome Creationism

09:53 Pillar 1: Being Attractive

12:52 Pillar 2: Being Able

19:06 Pillar 3: Being Articulate

32:17 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Want to have better conversations about young age creationism? In this episode, I break down Greg Koukl’s Columbo Tactic—a powerful way to ask the right questions, stay in control, and challenge assumptions without starting a debate. Learn how to use three simple questions to guide discussions and make your points persuasively.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & why conversations matter
02:30 - What is the Columbo Tactic?
05:45 - The power of asking the right questions
09:15 - Question 1: “What do you mean by that?”
13:00 - Question 2: “How did you come to that conclusion?”
16:45 - Question 3: “Have you ever considered…?”
21:30 - Real-world examples & applications
28:00 - How to stay winsome & persuasive
32:00 - Final thoughts & next steps

Want to sharpen your skills? Let me know how these tactics work for you in the comments!