Some Christians compromise the literal meaning of Genesis by embracing progressive evolution.  This approach agrees with the old earth interpretation of the geological column by saying that God's chosen mechanism to create was evolution and occasional divine intervention. 

Setting aside the lack of fossil evidence, there are serious theological issues that must be faced by those who prefer this method of compromising with the old earth belief.  These issues are central to preserving the Christian message.

Is it like God to choose a method to create that is as cruel as evolution?  The process of death and gradual change over such lengths of time seems strangely at odds with the God of love.  This seemingly would be out of character for the God of the Bible.

It would also be a direct contradiction to the Word of God.  Genesis plainly states that creatures were created by kinds, there is no theological basis to say that God did not create each kind when scripture says that is exactly what He did.

Theistic evolution also requires that its adherents must give up any claim that Genesis is an historical record.  If this seems like a small concession think again.  The history of Genesis says that death entered the world only as the result of sin.  If the process of death was God's tool for evolving life eventually to man, then the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is only a myth of little significance.  It also follows that Jesus was just a silly dreamer who died for nothing and was seriously delusional.

Compromise of this type may satisfy the demands of man (so-called science) but it is God who sent His son to die on a cross for us to satisfy His perfect demand of penalty for sin.  Why would anyone throw away such a trump card, particularly when scientific evidence abounds supporting the Genesis account of creation, a young earth and the Flood?  His authority as Creator is a comfort to some but also an offense to others.