Worldview #19: “What If I Don’t Need God?”

 While Mohammad Ali was on one particular flight, the plane experienced some significant turbulence. So the captain stated that everyone needed to fasten their seatbelts. Ali refused. When he was confronted by a flight attendant, Ali declared, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” At this the flight attendant replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.” :)

Some people openly declare that they do not need God, and many others declare this with the way that they live: extraordinarily similar to the atheist. There are 3 realities that these 2 groups of people need to address if what they believe is actually true.

First, without God, there is no moral law and thus no standard for right and wrong. Here’s a tip for those philosophy students. If your professors teach that there are no moral absolutes (things that are inherently right or wrong), then tell them that it is ok for you to cheat on your assignments and tests. :) If there is no moral law then it is wrong to have prisons for anything including rape, theft, and murder, for those things were morally justifiable to the perpetrators. Thus, for those who do not believe in moral laws, who are you to say that Hitler was wrong when he murdered 6 million Jews, or when terrorists attack, or someone robs you? 

Second, without God, there is no meaning in life. Just consider what a couple of the most respected atheists in the world have to say about purpose: Richard Dawkins said “The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at [the] bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference” (River Out of Eden, p. 133). Alex Rosenberg is even more to the point: “What is the purpose of the universe? There is none. What is the meaning of life? Ditto. Does history have any meaning or purpose? It’s full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” (The Atheist’s Guide to Reality, pp. 2-3). Without God there is no purpose in life.

And third, without God, there is no hope. “If God does not exist, then both man and the universe are inevitably doomed to death. Man, like all biological organisms, must die. With no hope of immortality, man's life leads only to the grave. His life is but a spark in the infinite blackness, a spark that appears, flickers, and dies forever” (William Craig, “The Absurdity of Life without God” available from http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-absurdity-of-life-without-god#ixzz4ixvmwq1H).  Therefore, without God there is no hope.

Thankfully, the evidence for God’s existence and Biblical worldview is astounding as we have seen over the past several months (for more info see www.eugenechristianchurch.blogspot. com). Thus, since God does exist, there is a moral law protected mankind from right and wrong. There is great purpose to your life. And with God we can have great hope in spite of any situation that we encounter, including death itself.

In His service,

      Matt 

Worldview #18: Don’t All Religions Teach the Same Thing?

 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

One non-Christian named Suzie stated, “Christians are just so narrow-minded and arrogant. Who are you to say one group or culture is right or wrong? To say Native American Indians, for instance, were wrong in all their beliefs because they knew nothing about Jesus? That’s ridiculous.” How would you respond to Suzie? I mean come on, what makes us right and everyone else wrong? Are all Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists doomed to hell? Isn’t it arrogant to believe that Christianity is the only path to eternal life?

It is true that all major world religions have some similarities. All teach some version of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” All teach that we should honor our parents. All teach that we should not murder, commit adultery, steal, or lie. And all teach that we should care for the weak and less fortunate.  However, there are not many other similarities than these. Beyond that, these similarities only confirm God’s existence since He has wired into our hearts that certain things are inherently wrong even if one has done them; thus, pointing to a Moral Law Giver.

On the other hand, there are fundamental differences between the major world religions. Take for example Hinduism. Hinduism teaches that the entire universe is God, (Brahmin), and that one must overcome their bad deeds, advancing through different caste systems by reincarnation to eventually become one with Brahmin.

On the other hand, Buddhism denies fundamental doctrines of Hinduism: the caste system. It also denies that God exists. Buddhism teaches a goal of reaching Nirvana: eliminating all desires or cravings in order to escape suffering and achieve nonexistence.

Meanwhile, Islam teaches that only Muslims will be saved. And salvation comes ultimately through good works done for Allah which must outweigh their bad deeds to earn their way to Paradise. And Christianity teaches that one goes to heaven not based on their own good deeds but by faith alone in Jesus.  

Thus, there are fundamental differences between the world religions and at best only superficial similarities. In fact, only three of the major world religions even claim to be inspired by God: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The other religions claim only to be human solutions to the problems mankind faces, or they are devotional poems, songs and stories, but do not factually claim God has revealed Himself. Therefore, we must not assume more than they actually claim.

The bottom line is that all religions do not teach the same thing! And God’s Word states that salvation is only found in Jesus’s name (Acts 4:9-12). So is Jesus your Savior and Lord?

In His service,

      Matt 

Worldview #17: Something Worth Living For

 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).

What or who are you living for? Many live for their families, some live for their work, while others live for their recreations, or other things. As Christians, we are called to live for Christ. Unfortunately, there are many who claim to live for Christ and believe that they are doing His will by saying and doing things in a very unbiblical manor.

In John 8, we find the story of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery being brought to Jesus by some religious leaders. These religious leaders asked Jesus what they should do to the woman since the Old Testament law commanded that she should be stoned to death for her sin. Rightfully the woman should have died for her sin. However, that was not how Jesus responded. Instead, Jesus responded with no condemnation. He accepted her as a person, and then basically told her that He wanted more for her by telling her to leave her life of sin (8:11).

The response that Jesus offers each one of us is the same as that of the adulterous woman in John 8. He extended grace and mercy towards her. He loved her. He sought to lead her to a better life that God desires for each person—better than anyone of us could ever ask for or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Jesus responded in this same way to all of those who were far from God. The only individuals whom Jesus responded harshly to were the religious leaders; thus, those who should have known better.

God calls all of us as Christians to respond in the same way. He has given each one of us as Christians a calling that is worth living for. It is a call of loving others regardless of the sins that the struggle with, regardless of their religious affiliations, regardless of who they voted for, regardless of their sexual preferences, etc.

Loving others does not mean that we approve of their actions. But it means that we see them as having great value: as people made in the image of God, and whom Jesus died for. There are seeds of greatness inside every person as God is the creator of us all.

And God calls us to extend grace to all people. As a church, and as a representative of Eugene Christian Church, I want you to know that we are here for you, we care for you, and want to help you to navigate through life-following the path that will lead to the best possible life, the life that God always intended you to live.

Why do I say all of these things to you? I do so because someone else was willing to do the same things for me. And as I began to follow Christ, I discovered a life worth living. And we as a church would like to help you find it as well.

So may the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. And may the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace (Num. 6:24-26 NLT).

In His service,

            Matt 

Worldview #16: Foolish Talk and the Origin of the Languages

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).

There are many throughout our society who believe that the message of the Bible is foolishness, especially as it relates to the origin of the universe and creation account talked about in Genesis chapters 1-11. One individual said, “It is a stretch to think that a bunch of animals and a family got into a boat and rode around for a year. Now come on, you expect me to believe that?”

However, I have to agree with Dr. G. Thomas Sharp who said, “It is a stretch to believe that 3.8 billion years ago lightning struck a tide pool outside an ancient volcano, exciting the microspheres up into replicating systems until  one of them ultimately became a full-fledged organism. And it wiggled out on to a bank, lived under a rock for millions of years. Then through natural selection it ultimately turned into some kind of tree dwelling creature, and began eating bananas until one day after continuous natural selection, it climbed down out of the tree and went to JC Penney, bought new clothes, got a haircut and shave, then went down to the University of Texas and began teaching philosophy. Now that is a stretch!  But that is the ultimate premise upon which evolution is founded.

Without the scientific community’s sanction of that silliness, the teaching of the evolutionary worldview would have already disappeared from the earth. This nonsense requires a whole lot more faith than ‘In the beginning God…’ (Gen. 1:1). Therefore, our perception of truth forms the basis of our worldview (Evolution: The Greatest Deception of All Time; available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMr278CMAIA).  Thus, the heart of the debate relates to a faith based question: do you trust the thoughts of man or the words of God?

Genesis 11 describes a time in which the whole world had one language. Much of the world was gathered together in one location and built a tower, the Tower of Babel. However, God had explicitly told them to expand and fill the earth (Gen. 9:1). They wanted to make a name for themselves and reject God. Much of our world is very similar today in wanting to reject God.

As a result of mankind’s disobedience at the Tower of Babel, God intervened confusing their single language into multiple languages and scattering them over the face of the earth. It is from this that all of the languages of the world have their origin. And this is partly responsible for the various people groups throughout the world today.

On the other hand, when one examines the various theories that evolutionary worldview gives for the origin of languages, it amounts to foolishness. In fact, some even consider it as the hardest problem in science (Morten H. Christiansen and Simon Kirby, eds. Language evolution, pgs. 77-93). Yet the Word of God has always and will always trump the foolishness of men, giving the answer from the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

In His service,

            Matt

Worldview #15: The Absolute Nature of Truth

What are you willing to do for your happiness? Is it God’s job to keep us happy? What do our prayers consist of — prayers centered on our happiness, or that God’s will be accomplished, regardless of our happiness? Believe it or not this thought process, called humanism, has infiltrated our brains 40+ years ago and has reduced God to a ‘self-help Genie’ who bows to our demands through which we can define our lives as we wish – including the acceptance of immoral practices. Paul warned us about this in Romans 1:21-22: They knew God. But they didn’t honor Him as God. They didn’t thank Him. Their thinking became worthless. Their foolish hearts became dark. They claimed to be wise. But they made fools of themselves.

Remember last month’s discussion about Jesus being the light, and shining into the darkness? And through this foolish thinking, we have allowed the idea of relative truth (or what’s true for you is not necessarily true for me) to creep into our thought process. Today, “nearly three out of four Americans say there is no such thing as ultimate or absolute truth. And the numbers don't look much better among those who claim to follow Jesus” (Lindy Keffer, Absolute Truth, available from http://www.focusonthe family.com/parenting/teens/absolute-truth).

If you want proof of absolute truth outside of Scripture, look at the world around us. Does the sun rise every day? Does it come up in the same location? Does 2+2=4 every time? Does gravity hold us in place? If truth was relative, these things and many more would not consistently hold true. And “the effects on civilization would be disastrous! Laws of science and physics would be irrelevant, and commerce would be impossible (see Gotquestion.org).” Putting this into perspective, aren’t you grateful for absolute truth?

Lindy Keffer said, “Truth is powerful. It brings life. It has been here since the beginning, and it still exists today. Truth is available to all who seek it in the person of Jesus Christ. Even though our society tells us that it's narrow-minded to believe in ultimate truth, there is lots of evidence that declares we should run after it with all our hearts. Christ says the truth will set us free. And that promise is true for all time.”

I hope and pray that this article comes as a wake-up call to you as it has been to me. The father of lies has successfully twisted our concept of truth, and altered our perspective of God!! The ways of the world has crept into our hearts and has drawn us from our Creator, Father and Friend. John warned us of the implications of this thinking: Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him… And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Thus, I encourage you to examine your thinking, and then take a knee before our God asking His forgiveness and for a purification of our minds and heart to His purpose. May we choose not to “live the way this world lives. Let your thinking be completely changed [by reading Scripture]. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what He wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2).

In His service,

     Matt

Worldview #14: Contenting for the Truth

   Scripture records Jesus being engaged in a handful of debates on hot topics with powerful leaders of His time. He spoke with Nicodemus about attaining eternal life (John 3). Then we learn of Pilate asking Jesus what is truth (John 18). Interestingly, truth is still a hot topic today. So, let’s explore what truth is.

While, John did not include Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question, Jesus does declare His purpose for coming to into the world being to testify to the truth (John 18:37). This is echoed in the introduction to John’s gospel where he wrote that Jesus was full of grace and truth. In this passage, it also talks about Jesus being the Light and shining into the darkness. Putting this in terms of truth, if truth is not absolute, concrete, complete, unvarying and permanent, how can truth shine into darkness and not be overcome by it?  If, instead, truth is relative, it could be overcome by darkness as one person defines truth based on their circumstances and another theirs.

Later, John records a discussion between Jesus and His disciples. In this setting, Jesus is preparing them for His coming crucifixion telling them that He is going away. Then He tells them that they will also follow Him at a later time at which prompts Thomas to ask Jesus how they can know the way. Jesus responds by saying that He is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6).

Thus, through examining these Scriptures, we can see Jesus declaring Himself to be truth. Furthermore, we can see Jesus talking with Jews who chose to believe Him declaring “if you continue in My word… you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free… from sin (John 8:31-34). Based on this brief examination of Scripture, we can surmise that truth is not a wish-washy, do as you wish as relative truth would make you believe. Instead, it is something steadfast that we can put our foot on and stand firm upon through all of our life. (I stand alone on the Word of God, yes that’s the book for me!)

In conclusion, relative truth is a lie in disguise!  Remember, Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) who can disguise himself as an angel, and whisper thoughts (relative truths) into our ears. So, how do we overcome?  Simple!  Paul instructs us to put on the FULL armor of God every day which includes the belt of truth by which we can stand firm against the spiritual forces of wickedness that assert themselves against us (Eph. 6:12-18).

You might think that this idea of absolute truth is a high-polluting debate among scholars and philosophers but really has no impact upon our lives here in rural Missouri. However, next month, we’ll explore the reality of this thought process infiltrating our lives and the consequences it bears.

In His service,

        Matt

Worldview #13: What happened to the Dinosaurs (Part #3)

“In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month--on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights” (Gen. 7:11-12).

Last month we talked about how the land animals survived the global flood which is outlined in the Bible and confirmed by almost every ancient civilization. Included among these land animals on the ark were dinosaurs. As we have discussed before, the Bible specifically lists 4 different kinds of dinosaurs. All of which are attested to having existed after the flood that took place some 4,500 years ago.

Many will object to the existence of dinosaurs within the last 4,500 years. However, since 2005, scientists have discovered soft tissues in a T. Rex bone which would be impossible if dinosaurs died off millions of years ago (see https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/when-did-dinosaurs-live/solid-answers-soft-tissue/). Therefore, while some of the dinosaurs did die off as a result of the flood, many did not. So what happened to the dinosaurs?

Many of the dinosaurs died for a variety of reasons. First, conditions after the flood were drastically different. Genesis 7:1-12 describes 3 places from which the water originated for the flood (“the springs of the great deep”-the oceans, “the floodgates of the heavens” -the canopy, and “rain.”). The second of these is frequently missed yet has great significance. Basically, the Bible is teaching that prior to the flood, the earth was surrounded by a layer of water in the atmosphere (Gen. 1:6-8). This would have meant that the entire world was like a giant greenhouse. This enabled people and animals to live way beyond any normal life expectancy today. Yet during the flood, the canopy came down and, as a result, the life expectancy of all living beings was drastically reduced! For some creatures this even meant their extinction. 

Within a century after the flood, mankind once again rebelled against God at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11). Therefore, God brought judgment upon some of the world through an ice age and the diversifying of the language into the almost 7,000 languages in our world today. Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling said, “We know from the fossil record that they faced constant local flooding, dust storms, super-volcanoes, massive earthquakes, meteorites, and downpours of snow or rain on a scale never before seen” (When Was the Ice Age in Biblical History?; available from https://answersingenesis.org/environmental-science/ice-age/when-was-the-ice-age-in-biblical-history/).

Some of the dinosaurs that survived for a while after the ice age likely were referred to as “dragons.” Most of these eventually died out or were killed. Other reasons for their extinction could be starvation, disease, and hunting pressure” (Ken Ham, The New Answers Book, p. 353). Yet maybe a better question is, did all dinosaurs actually go extinct (see the following video for more information, Creation Seminar 3 - Kent Hovind - Dinosaurs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsQIF7Yh3hI&t=3994s)?

The truths that dinosaurs share about God’s creation, man’s sin, death, the global flood, and ice age uphold the authority of Scripture and the Biblical worldview.

In His service,

            Matt

Worldview #13: What happened to the Dinosaurs (Part #2)

God commanded Noah “You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you” (Gen. 6:19).

Last month we considered evidence for the global flood that is discussed in Genesis chapters 6-9, referenced by Jesus and the Apostle Peter (Luke 17:27; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 3:5-6), recorded in different people groups’ legends on every inhabited continent, and scientifically verifiable through the fossil record. As a result of the flood many of the dinosaurs became extinct. However, Noah was commanded to take two of every kind of animal onto the ark, this would have included dinosaurs. Several passages validate the existence of dinosaurs after the flood (Job 40-41; Psa. 44:19; Isa. 14:29; 30:6; Jer. 9:11; 14:6; 49:33; 51:34; Mic. 1:8). This leaves us with several questions to consider.

First, how did Noah round up so many animals including dinosaurs? In Genesis 6:20 God told Noah that the animals would come to him. Thus, he did not have to round them up. Beyond that, consider two different factors that would have assisted the animals. At that time all of the continents were joined, creating, Pangaea; so all land animals could have traveled there on foot (The land split apart during the flood).  Another consideration is the amazing migration ability that animals have. Thus, God drew them to the ark.

Second, how did all of the animals fit onto the ark? There are multiple variables that address this question. First, God said that only two of every kind would come to the ark; not every variety. For example, only two dogs were needed to produce the variety of dogs that exist today. Second, the only stipulation of the animals that came was that they needed to be able to reproduce a year later when they came off the ark. And even the largest of animals are not that big during infancy in comparison. This meant that the average size of animal on the ark would have been about the size of a sheep. And third, the ark was an enormous boat (450’ long, 75’ wide, and 45’ high), being able to hold over 500 railroad box cars, each 8’ wide by 40’ long. Therefore, there was more than enough room.

Third, wouldn’t the predators have devoured the other animals? The Bible teaches that every creature (man and animal) was vegetarian until after coming off the ark (Gen. 1:30; 9:3). And it is likely that God caused the animals to go into a hibernation state while on the ark. This made everyone on board safe and sound.

The questions that we have briefly addressed this month can be asked in a similar way to us. Jesus says that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them (John 6:44). So have you responded to His invitation to come? There is more than enough room in the Lord’s house, for He has prepared a place for all who will come (John 14:2).  Thus, are you a follower of Christ (John 14:6)? And are you resting in the security that is found only in Him (John 10:27-29)? 

 In His service,

      Matt  

Worldview #13: What happened to the Dinosaurs (Part #1)

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually...The Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them” (Gen. 6:5, 7).

For the past few months we have talked about how dinosaurs coexisted with mankind. This can be proven by considering the historical, archaeological, and Biblical evidences. Yet what happened to the dinosaurs?

 The answer can be found in the fossils. As you may know, “Fossil formation requires a sudden burial. When an animal dies, it usually gets eaten or decays until there is nothing left. To form a fossil, unique conditions are required to preserve the animal and replace it with minerals, etc.

While evolutionists once claimed that the fossil record was formed slowly as animals died and were gradually covered by sediment, they have recently acknowledged that it must involve catastrophic processes (D. Ager, The New Catastrophism). Now, evolutionists say the fossil record formed quickly as animals were quickly engulfed in sediment, in spurts interspersed by millions of years” (Ken Ham, https://answersin genesis.org/dinosaurs/when-did-dinosaurs-live/what-really-happened-to-the-dinosaurs/#fn_2).

We’ve examined what the evolutionists say, but what does the Word of God teach?  To answer this, we need to look at a world-wide event that started in Genesis chapter 6.  As noted in the opening passage, there was a time when everywhere God looked He saw evil in every man’s heart.  And since God is loving and just, He had to carry out justice on account of how immoral and wicked mankind had become. In the process, God destroyed much of the animal kingdom. The justice that God carried out on this wicked and immoral world was a global flood.

Evolutionists reject the idea of a global flood since it would require the supposed evolutionary process to begin again. However, there are several evidences which point to this historical event. First, there are billions of creatures which are fossilized all over the world. Fossilization requires quick burial, something rarely occurring today.  And to see fossils like this around the world, not just in areas highly prone to mudslides, volcanoes, etc.

The second piece of evidence for a global flood is fossils of sea creatures found high above sea level which can be observed on every continent. For example, most of the rock layers in the walls of the Grand Canyon contain marine fossils including at the rim of the canyon which is between 7,000-8,000 feet above sea level (R. L. Hopkins & K.L. Thompson, Kaibab Formation, p. 196-211). Also marine gastropods have been found near the highest point in the world of the Himalayas (J.P. Davidson, W.E. Reed, & P.M. Davis, “The Rise & Fall of Mountain Ranges,” in Exploring Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, p. 242–247). There is only one possible explanation: the ocean waters at some time in the past flooded the continents, reaching above even the highest mountain.  

The third piece of evidence for a global flood looks at flood legends which “abound on every inhabited continent. The number of legends has been reported as high as five hundred. Their similarities to Genesis indicate a common source. For example, legends from Assyrio-Babylonia, Asia Minor, China, India, Persia, and the Cherokee people of the United States tell of birds being sent out, often even specifying a dove and/or a raven. Several of them tell of a favored family, and in the vast majority, the flood was global. These and other similarities point to a very real, historical event” (AIG, Flood Legends From Around the World, https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/resource-preview-flood-legends-around-world/).

And the forth piece of evidence for a global flood is the Biblical record. Genesis chapters 6-9 give the details of the flood, how long it lasted, and why it took place. The New Testament writings also affirm the global flood taking place. Jesus affirmed that it took place. “In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27 NLT). And so did the Apostle Peter (1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 3:5-6).

Thus, when one considers the requirements of creating a fossil —rapid burial and a catastrophic event, the global flood may have been one of the reasons many of the dinosaurs to become extinct. Before the flood, dinosaurs freely roamed the earth. But due to man’s wickedness, God sent a global flood that destroyed all life that was not inside the ark. During the flood, many were buried in sediment that later hardened, thus giving us the fossils scientists now study.

Next month we will consider other factors, but for now, let us consider the lesson which the fossils testify about from their grave. Mankind, with the exception of those who were on the ark, experienced God’s justice on account of their immorality, and much of creation suffered through this judgment, namely many of the dinosaurs. One day, God’s justice will once again and finally be carried out on those who are not faithful followers of Christ, yet then it will not be by the waters of a flood but rather by fire (2 Peter 3:7). It is my prayer that you would be found safe in Christ on that day similar to how Noah was safe in the ark when the flood came.

In His service,

     Matt

Worldview #12: Dangerous Assumptions

Have you ever assumed something only to later find out that you were completely wrong? Chances are, we all have. Maybe for you, you assumed that you had packed everything you needed for a vacation. Or maybe, it was assuming that a car behind you saw your brake-lights. Or maybe it was something else.

Yes, there is no getting around it, we all assume certain things. Most of us assume that our cars are going to start. We assume that we are going to reach our destination on our vacations. Often, we assume that our friends and family members are doing well, etc., etc. However, the less assumptions that a person can have the better. This is clearly the case concerning one’s worldview. Worldview assumptions can lead to Christ-less eternities and radically affect the way one lives here and now.

One area related to worldviews that people frequently make assumptions relates to the creation of the universe, its age, and the topic of dinosaurs. Frequently, as scientists study the universe and the fossil record, they make assumptions about the past by examining dinosaur fossils in the present. This is known as historical or origins science. “Origins science deals with the past, which is not accessible to direct experimentation, whereas operational science deals with how the world works in the here and now, which, of course, is open to repeatable experiments” (Ken Ham, The New Answers Book, p. 152).

A problem with studying fossils is that they do not have a label attached to them showing their date. R. L. Mauger of East Carolina University wrote about modern dating in Contributions To Geology: “In general, dates in the ‘correct ball park’ are assumed to be correct and are published, but those in disagreement with other data are seldom published nor are the discrepancies fully explained” (V.15 (1): 17).  In fact, Dr. Don Patton cited scientist Roger Lewin who examined a skull that was found. The tests provided “41 separate age determinations...which varied between 223 million and 0.91 million years...after the first determination they never again obtained 2.61 million from their experiments” (Bones of Contention, p. 194). Yet they published the 2.61 million, which was in disagreement with the 40 others. Thus, what they assumed beforehand was what was published.

There are multiple assumptions that evolutionary scientists make. First, the current rate is extrapolated into the past. Second, the starting value is assumed. And third, little or no allowance is made for contamination into the system beyond what we measure today.  Then based on these faulty assumptions, evolutionary scientists conclude incorrect ideas concerning dinosaurs, an old universe, that the Bible is inaccurate, and that God does not exist.

Thankfully, we do not have to make these dangerous assumptions because we have the testimony of the Creator of the universe in the Bible; and His testimony can be verified throughout creation, and history.

 In His service,

      Matt  

Worldview #11: Dinosaurs in the Bible

Two months ago, we briefly considered the historical, archaeological, and Biblical evidence which supports man coexisting with dinosaurs.  This month, we turn our attention to the Biblical record concerning dinosaurs. The Bible says very clearly “For in 6 days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them…” (Ex. 20:11) Mankind was created on the sixth day, and death did not enter the world until after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden (Rom. 5:12). This means that Adam and Eve must have seen dinosaurs. Ken Ham said, “If we accept God’s Word, beginning with Genesis, as being true and authoritative, then we can explain dinosaurs and make sense of the evidence we observe in the world around us” (The New Answers Book, p.176).

While the Bible never uses the word dinosaur, it does mention at least 4 different types of dinosaurs. As we talked about previously, the word dinosaur did not enter the English language until 230 years after the King James Version (KJV) was translated in 1611. Prior to the 1841 invention of the word “dinosaur,” dinosaurs were frequently called “dragons.” There are multiple references to dragons in the KJV (Psalm 44:19; Jer. 9:11; 14:6; 49:33; 51:34; Mic. 1:8). Beyond that, the description given of 4 different creatures in the Bible clearly matches that of certain types of dinosaurs.

First, Psalm 74:13 mentions “dragons in the waters,” aka “sea monsters.” could have included dinosaur-type animals such as the Mosasaurus. 

Second, multiple passages talk about “flying serpents” (Isa. 14:29; 30:6) These passages distinguish between a normal serpent and the flying serpent. The flying serpents could be a reference to one of the pterodactyls, which are popularly thought of as flying dinosaurs, such as the Pteranodon, Rhamphoorhynchus, or Ornithocheirus.

Third, Job gives very clear descriptions of two different dinosaurs. Job 41 describes a great animal that lived in the sea, “leviathan.” This creature breathed fire. It may have been 40 feet or more in length, possibly a Sarcosuchus imperator (Super Croc), or the 82 ft. Liopleurodon. 

Lastly, Job 40:15-22 mentions the “behemoth.” Many Bible commentaries claim that this creature is possibly the hippopotamus or elephant. Some versions actually translate it this way. Besides the fact that the elephant and hippo were not the largest land animals God made (some of the dinosaurs far eclipsed these), this description does not make sense, since the tail of behemoth is compared to the large cedar tree (Job 40:17).  No living creature today comes close to this description. However, behemoth is very much like Brachiosaurus, one of the largest dinosaurs.

Next month we will consider what happened to the dinosaurs. But for now, let us recognize that the Bile gives us a framework for explaining dinosaurs and ultimately points us to Christ as we will see soon see.

In His service,

      Matt  

Worldview #10: Man and Dinosaurs Co-Existed?

 According to evolutionists, mankind and dinosaurs never existed together.  The History channel stated that the dinosaurs went extinct some 65 million years ago, while man first appeared some 200,000 years ago. Many of us have been indoctrinated with this teaching from an early age. Yet historical, archaeological, and Biblical evidence teach otherwise.

The historical record reveals that dinosaurs and mankind coexisted. However, the word used to describe the creatures we call dinosaurs has changed. The term dinosaur was first used in 1841 by the famous paleontologist Sir Richard Owen at a meeting for the British Association for the Advancement of Science to describe the giant lizard like creatures that were being discovered by paleontologists. Prior to this, dinosaurs were known by different names. The most commonly used term prior to the acceptance of the term dinosaur was “dragon.” Even as recent as 1946, the primary dictionary listing of a “dragon” was a “Now rare, huge serpent.” Dragon history is universal in cultures across the globe. Worldwide, drawings, carvings, and pictures depict very similar creatures. How could this happen unless there were numerous eye-witnesses?  The written record also includes things like personal encounters, science books, and legendary accounts. (For a very thorough listing of the written record see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6M1b36KbHs).

The archaeological evidence tends to be censored since it contradicts the modern evolutionary theory. There are numerous carvings, temples, sculptures, artifacts, etc. which are frequently placed in historical artwork. Why would one place these images among historical artwork depicting normal life? The obvious answer is that they existed together in normal life.  Dr. Don Patton describes how the fossils of mankind have been found in the same rock layers that dinosaurs are found at (for more information see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX6KIQVFnZE). 

The Biblical evidence for dinosaurs must also be understood in light of the 1841 origination of the term dinosaur. The most widely used translation of the Bible at that time was the King James Version, which was translated in 1611; thus 230 years prior to the invention of the term dinosaur. It is for this reason, that we do not find the word dinosaur in the Bible today. However, a careful examination of the Bible reveals 5 separate creatures that were clearly dinosaurs. We will discuss more about this next month and what happened to the dinosaurs. But the bottom line is the Bible does describe mankind and dinosaurs coexisting.

Therefore, we have briefly considered the historical, archaeological, and Biblical evidence which supports man coexisting with dinosaurs.  Ken Ham the president of Answers in Genesis said, “If we accept God’s Word, beginning with Genesis, as being true and authoritative, then we can explain dinosaurs and make sense of the evidence we observe in the world around us” (The New Answers Book, p.176).

In His service,

            Matt 

Worldview #9: Science Proves a Young Earth Part #2

A key component to the theory of evolution is time. The common teaching of evolution requires the assumption that everything evolved ever so slowly over billions of years. Unfortunately, this thought process has been indoctrinated into our minds through the public school system, secular universities, and the media. Just turn on the Science Channel and you will hear comments about billions of years. Yet where is the birth certificate stating exactly how old our universe is? One will not find such information since no one was there in the beginning to tell us how old the universe is (except God).

Thankfully though, apart from the Bible we can find clues pointing to the age of the earth. Last month we discussed three clues pointing to a young earth and this month we will consider a couple more.

One of the strongest arguments pointing towards a young earth is the rapidly decaying magnetic field.  Dr. Andrew A. Snelling who has a PhD in geology explains this scientific fact. “The earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that protects living things from solar radiation. Without it, life could not exist. That’s why scientists were surprised to discover that the field is quickly wearing down. At the current rate, the field and thus the earth could be no older than 20,000 years old” (For more information see https://answersingenesis.org/evidence-for-creation/5-rapidly-decaying-magnetic-field/). This is significantly less than the billions of years that is widely propagated by evolutionists.

A second argument that points towards a young earth is helium in radioactive rocks. During the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium contained in rocks, lots of helium is produced. Because helium is the second lightest element and a noble gas—meaning it does not combine with other atoms—it readily leaks out (diffusion) and eventually escapes into the atmosphere. The fact that so much helium is still there means they cannot be 1.5 billion years old, as uranium-lead dating suggests. Indeed, using the measured rate of helium leakage, these pre-Flood rocks have an average “diffusion age” of only 6,000 (± 2,000) years (for more information see https://answersingenesis.org/age-of-the-earth/6-helium-in-radioactive-rocks/).

I’m sure that some of you might be wondering why I am going to such depths concerning the age of the earth. Does it really matter? It all comes down to worldview. At the core of billions of years is the ideology of evolution and atheism. Therefore, it is of greatest significance since we are allowing ourselves and our kids to be indoctrinated with a worldview that is false and destructive as it subtly leads people away from the Lord.

In His service,

            Matt 

Worldview #8: Science Proves a Young Earth Part #1

The Bible teaches a much younger earth than the 4.5 billion years old that is commonly taught in our public schools, universities and society in general. However, what does the universe tell us about its age? There are several clues pointing to a much younger creation than what evolutionists want us to believe. This month we will consider 3 such clues.

First, there is very little sediment on the seafloor. If sediments have been accumulating for 3 billion years, then the seafloor should be choked with sediments many miles deep. Dr. Andrew Snelling (PhD in geology, University of Sydney) said, “Every year, 20 billion tons of dirt and rock debris wash into the ocean and accumulate on the seafloor. Only 1 billion tons (5%) are removed by tectonic plates. At this rate, the current thickness of seafloor sediment would accumulate in less than 12 million years. Such sediments are easily explained by water draining off the continents towards the end of the Flood recorded in Genesis chapters 6-9 (for more information see (https://answersingenesis.org/geology/sedimentation/1-very-little-sediment-on-the-seafloor/).

A second clue that the earth is not as old as many teach is bent rock layers. In many mountainous areas, rock layers thousands of feet thick have been bent and folded without fracturing. However, hardened rock layers are brittle. Therefore, if the earth’s fossil-bearing sedimentary layers were laid down over millions of years, they could not be bent without breaking. The region around Grand Canyon is a great example showing how most of the earth’s fossil-bearing layers were laid down quickly and many were folded while still wet. Some will argue that heat and pressure can make hard rock layers pliable, so this must have been what happened in the Grand Canyon. However, heat and pressure would have transformed these layers into quartzite, marble, and other metamorphic rocks. Yet Tapeats Sandstone is still sandstone, a sedimentary rock! (for more information see https://answersingenesis.org/geology/rock-layers/2-bent-rock-layers/).

A third clue that the earth is not as old as many teach is soft tissues in fossils. Ask the average layperson how he or she knows that the earth is millions or billions of years old, and that person will probably mention the dinosaurs, which nearly everybody “knows” died off 65 million years ago. However, why do some dinosaur fossils still contain well-preserved soft tissues?  Dr. Mary Schweitzer discovered blood vessels in a Tyrannosaurus Rex found in the Hell Creek formation of Montana. This discovery would be impossible if the dinosaurs died off some 68 million years ago, as is commonly taught. On the other hand, historical evidence has confirmed that soft tissues can be found in the remains of beings around 5,000 years old, which is in line with the Biblical creation (for more information see https://answersingenesis.org/fossils/3-soft-tissue-in-fossils/)

The bottom line is creation itself supports the teaching of a young earth rather than the billions of years that evolutionists teach and need to support their false worldview. 

In His service,

            Matt

Worldview #7: Created in 6 Days

“Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).

This verse is frequently used to teach that the days of creation in the book of Genesis are no ordinary days—that they could have lasted an infinite amount of time. And therefore, some Christians try to harmonize the billions of years of creation that evolutionists hold to with the teaching of the Bible. However, there are multiple issues with this theory.

First, the Bible does not say, “With the Lord a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day.” Rather the Bible says that a day is like a thousand years.

A second issue with this theory is the context of 2 Peter 3:8. This text is not referring to the creation of the universe. Rather, the point of this verse is that God is not bound by time. He is in control of it. He is outside of it, as He created it. This is the same idea that is conveyed in Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

And third, in the creation account of the book of Genesis, the Hebrew word used there is yom. Typically yom either means a literal 24 hour period or a portion of the day, as in from sunrise to sunset. On occasion it is used in idioms to refer to an indefinite period of time just as we do: “in their day,” or “in my day and age.” Thus, some use this last definition for the Hebrew word for day (yom) in reference to the creation account.

However, Biblically there is a problem with this theory. Every time in the Bible when yom (day) appears in conjunction with a number (day one, second day, etc.), it always in context refers to a literal 24 hour period.  Therefore, the Bible teaches that God created the universe in 6 (literal) days.

 God is an infinite being. He has infinite power, knowledge, and wisdom. Obviously, God could then make anything He desired. He could have created the whole universe and all it contains in no time at all.

Perhaps the question we should be asking is why did God take as long as 6 days? After all, He could have done it in the blink of an eye. But the Bible gives us the answer in the Ten Commandments as to why God chose to make it in 6 days: “For in 6 days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Ex. 20:11).

The Lord created it in 6 days as a pattern for mankind (Ken Ham, The Lie: Evolution, p.169). We are to work, rest, and honor God, for He is ultimately in control of our days. 

In His service,

            Matt

Worldview #6: Couldn’t God Use Evolution (Part 2-The Age of the Earth)?

This month I celebrate my birthday. Age is a very interesting thing. When I was 30 years old, I remember going through orientation at Bible College. During that time, some people thought my wife and I were 18 or 19 years old, while others thought that we had kids who were enrolling in Bible College!

Sometimes it is hard to tell people’s age or the age of other things, like the earth. Evolutionists have to believe and teach that the earth is extremely old in order for life to arise by accident and evolve into the many different creatures and plants that now exist. However, the Bible suggests that the earth is not very old at all, roughly 6,000-7,000 years. This calculation is made by adding the genealogies recorded in Genesis chapters 5 and 11 (roughly 2,000 years), together with the commonly accepted date by both Christian and secular scholars of 2,000 B.C. for the patriarch Abraham. This gives us the date of roughly 4,000 B.C for the creation of the earth, or in other words about 6,000 years ago.

  This time-frame matches many cultures throughout the world who have kept track of history. “The first is that of the Anglo-Saxons, whose history has 5,200 years from creation to Christ, according to the Laud and Parker Chronicles. Cooper’s research also indicated that Nennius’s record of the ancient British history has 5,228 years from creation to Christ. The Irish chronology has a date of about 4000 B.C. for creation! Even the Mayans had a date for the Flood of 3113 B.C. This date is not far from where the Bible places it (After the Flood, p. 122–129).

Why is this important? It comes down to the trustworthiness of the Bible. In the coming months we will consider what historical and observational science tell us concerning the age of the earth. In so doing we will discover that commonly accepted dating methods, like radiometric carbon dates have been shown to be unreliable. Furthermore, we will overview some of the over 50 scientific limitations of the age of the universe, thus supporting a young earth viewpoint.

 Thus, it is a matter of trust in one’s worldview. “Will you trust what an all-knowing God says on the subject or will you trust imperfect man’s assumptions and imaginations about the past that regularly are changing?” (Bodie Hodge, How Old Is the Earth?).

In His service,

            Matt 

Worldview #6: Couldn’t God Use Evolution (Part 1-Salvation)?

The title to this article exposes the tension that many Christians face when they first become aware of the vast differences between the Bible and that which is commonly taught in public schools, universities and much of society. It’s like asking, ‘How can a Christian harmonize what the Bible teaches with what is commonly taught outside of the Bible?’

It is at this point that I believe we as Christians need to understand two things properly. First and foremost, we need to ask the question, ‘What does the creation evidence point to?’ As we have seen over the past several months, the evidence supports the Biblical record (see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/search/label/Worldview). Thus, the evidence excludes other possible views as irrelevant!

Second, it is impossible to harmonize the Bible’s teaching with the world without compromising the uncompromising Word of God. Therefore, the main idea of this article is to warn Christians of the dangers in seeking to harmonize what is commonly taught with what the Bible teaches concerning creation. There are at least two major problems: one is historical (which we will consider in-depth next month) and second is the Scriptural implications on salvation and God’s character. 

The Bible teaches that when God finished creation it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). At that time, death, disease, corruption and decay did not exist in any part of creation, for all animals and humans were originally vegetarian (Gen. 1:29-30). “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men…” (Rom. 5:12). According to Scripture death, disease, decay, corruption, and even thorns and thistles did not come about until after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:18-22). 

This creates a major problem for the Christian who wants to believe that God used evolution over billions of years to create the universe since death would have had to have existed prior to Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden. Evolution teaches that death is necessary and a good thing, while the Bible teaches the opposite. To believe that God uses/desires death to take place points to a god who is not very loving and not good.

On the other hand, God promises to one day destroy death (Rev. 20:14). And, as Scripture teaches, God is merciful, gracious and loving.  It also declares that God has made a way for all to enjoy that promise. “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17 NLT).

Therefore my fellow Christians, I admonish you to consider the teaching of Scripture and the evidence. God did not use evolution. That is not Scriptural nor scientific. God does not desire the death of anyone. Yet the enemy, Satan does desire people to hold to false teaching, subtly leading them astray to eternal death. Thus, consider the source of such teaching, and consider Him who has made the way to life!

In His service,

Matt 

Worldview #5: Is Evolution a Religion?

I’ll admit, I love this time of year. No, no, I am not a big fan of the cold and snow, even though I grew up in Michigan, a place that tends to get a lot of cold and snowy weather. But what I love about it is spending time with friends and family. I enjoy all those special holiday delights that for some reason I only get to enjoy at this time of year. But most of all, I love this time of year as more people consider the birth of Christ. Yet Christmas in the USA is not what it used to be. That may be true because a lot of people disagree with the reason for the season since after all they follow a different religion, the religion of evolution (and may not even realize it)!

What evolution? A religion? You’ve got to be kidding me. People who hold to the teaching of evolution do so because either that is what they were taught in school and/or they believe it is scientific. There are 2 reasons why I believe that evolution is a religion. 

First, Webster defined faith as a “Firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” Last month we discussed how there is no evidence which exists that proves macro-evolution (evolution from one species to another: for example a bird to a dog, or monkey to a man). Meanwhile, science is the “systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation” (http://dictionary. reference.com/browse/science). 

This creates a problem for those who hold to evolution. “Since all things that begin to exist must have a cause, this means that the universe has a cause. However, a naturalistic cause for the origin of the universe cannot be confirmed observationally. Therefore, atheists believe the tenet that all phenomena have a naturalistic cause based solely upon faith in naturalism” (Rich Deem, Evidence for God).

Second, Webster defines a religion as “a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.” It is hard to deny the ardor and faith which many evolutionists hold regarding their belief. It has been indoctrinating our public schools for centuries. As philosophy professor Dr. Michael Ruse at the University of Guelph in Ontario said, “Evolution is promoted by its practitioners as more than mere science. Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a secular religion—a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality… Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today (“Saving Darwinism from the Darwinians,” National Post, May 13, 2000, p. B-3).  Note also that the definition does not necessarily involve the concept of God. Consider the following comparison between the religion of evolution and the religion of Christianity:

	Christianity[i]	Evolution
A holy book	Christianity teaches that the Bible is the Word of God and that this book teaches us what to believe concerning God and what God requires of us.	The holy book of the evolutionists is Darwin’s Origin of Species. The evolutionists believe that this book gives an explanation for the origin and development of life on earth[ii] without the need of any God or supernatural agent.
The origin of everything	Christianity teaches that in the beginning God created everything (that is, the entire universe with all its stars and planets, all plant life and all animal and human life) out of nothing over a period of six literal days.	In comparison, evolution teaches that in the beginning nothing exploded and gradually evolved over billions of years into the universe that we see today.
The origin of death and suffering	Christianity teaches that when God created everything, it was perfect. As a result of the sin of the first man, Adam, death, disease, and suffering entered the scene.	Evolution does not recognize the word sin but teaches that fish-to-philosopher evolution can only proceed via death. Hence, death, disease, and suffering are the necessary driving forces of evolution; from this concept, we get the phrase survival of the fittest.
The reason why humans are here	Christianity teaches that humans are the pinnacle of God’s creation and that they were made in God’s image and likeness.	In contrast, amoeba-to-architect evolution teaches that humans have evolved from some apelike ancestor, which in turn evolved from another sort of animal.
The future of humans	Christianity teaches that one day the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth and that He will create a new heavens and earth where those people who trusted Him as their Lord and Savior in this life will live with God forever.	Evolution, on the other hand, teaches that humans are not the end product of evolution; evolution will continue and humans will either become extinct or evolve into some other species of creature that will definitely not be human.
The future of the universe	Christianity teaches that the present universe will be burned up by God, and He will then create a new heavens and earth.	Evolution, on the other hand, teaches that one day the universe will reach what is called a heat death, although it is in effect a cold death, for the temperature of the universe will be just a fraction of a degree above absolute zero. This will happen when all the energy that is available to do work will have been used up, and then nothing will happen—the universe will just “be.” The time period for the universe to reach this state is almost unimaginable. It is thought that it will take about a thousand billion years for all the stars to use up all their fuel and fizzle out. By then, of course, there will be no life in the universe; every single life-form, including humans, will have become extinct billions of years previously. There will still be, however, occasional flashes of starlight in the dark universe as very large stars collapse in on themselves to form black holes. For the next 10122 (that is the figure 1 followed by 122 zeros!) years, this so-called Hawking radiation will be the only thing happening in the universe. Then, when all the black holes have evaporated, there will be darkness for 1026 years, during which time the universe will simply “be” and nothing will happen.

Therefore, evolution does not fit into the category of science since there has been no observation or experimentation of evolution taking place. However, evolution does fit nicely into the definition of a religion. It is a system of beliefs for which there is no proof. On the other hand, the Bible does teach creation which can be observed, verified, and is subject to experimentation (see http://eugenechristianchurch. blogspot.com/search/label/Worldview)! Thus, the Bible does not teach blind faith as evolution does. It teaches that we can and should place our trust in the historical individual, named Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate this time of year.

Merry Christmas,

            Matt

P.S. a great video for more information on how evolution is a religion and the 6 definitions of the world evolution see “Evolution is a Religion-Not Science” on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RLcfwAYCjQ

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[i] Answers In Genesis, “Is Evolution a Religion?” by Dr. Tommy Mitchell and Monty White; available from https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/is-evolution-a-religion/; Internet; accessed 25 November 2015.

[ii] I (Monty White) once knew a professor of biology who told me that he believed that Darwin’s writings were inspired and that he read from the Origin of Species for at least 20 minutes every night before retiring to bed!