It should be clear by now that the world is divided between those who believe in God and those who don't. It takes a number of forms, but the really big money is in the world of science.
The Issue? Evolution v. Design. Or, more specifically, how the universe began? Has it always been here? That's the Steady State Theory. Or did it have a beginning? That's the General Relativity Theory.
No reputable scientist believes The Steady State Theory any longer. Einstein and host of others have demonstrated, beyond doubt, that the universe had a beginning.
But how did it begin? The accepted answer these days is The Big Bang Theory. There is credible evidence, from a number of sources, that the universe is expanding from a theoretical beginning point. The heavenly bodies are not expanding to fill up the universe. Rather, the universe is expanding.
But every result requires a cause, according to science. If it's a natural cause, it needs a natural beginning. Some sort of natural material must be present BEFORE the Big Bang. Of course that means there is time and space BEFORE the beginning, which is not simply confusing but impossible.
If the cause is outside the natural, that's the definition of supernatural. And, of course, that's what the "Law of Causality" says:
Everything that had a beginning, had a cause
The universe had a beginning
Therefore the universe had a cause
Agnostic Astronomer, Robert Jastrow, in his book: The God of The Astronomer, wrote: "astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world."
In this battle, the stakes are high. The Bible's assertion of God as The First Cause cannot stand without destroying the materialist's entire world.
So, NASA is spending a billion taxpayer dollars to find anti-matter in space. They're sending up a rocket to pursue the theory that The Big Bang ocurred when matter and anti-matter collided.
Of course, like grabbing a tiger by the tail, NASA has not indicated what they will do with this anti-matter, should they find it. Putting it in a container would bring it in touch with matter and there would then be an explosion, destroying both.
But, regardless of the outcome, the question will remain: Where did the anti-matter come from?
Stay tuned.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Christian Patriotism
As we watch our beloved America being swallowed up by governmental totalitarianism and socialist philosophy, what, if anything, is a Christian to do?
Many Christian organizations have sought to force America back to her Christian roots through political activism. A New Breed is preaching a “Kingdom Now” philosophy which has The Church ushering in the Millennium through social activism.
Others are saying that The Bible teaches Christians are to stay out of politics on the basis that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world and the fact that The Bible characterizes all countries, other than Israel, as “The Nations.” A group that will be judged during the Great Tribulation.
I believe the answer is rooted in the scriptures. Human government is ordained of God. Believers are commanded to “obey them that have the rule over us “ (Rom. 13). In most cases this has meant Kings and Dictators, who make the laws. In our case we are ruled by The Constitution. In America we have no King. No one is above the law.
When unjust men seek to subvert the Constitution, godly men have a responsibility to hold them accountable, by legal means. We would not hesitate to take a neighbor to court, should he erect a fence 20 feet inside our property line. Or continually violate the law in an effort to establish himself at our expense.
The argument that we are not of this world is offered by those who would defend their worldly rights by suing the uninsured motorist who recklessly destroyed their property and/or inflicted serious bodily harm and refused to make it right.
Christians have the right (responsibility) to defend against those who seek to undermine the law of the land....at least to a point.
We dare not violate God’s Word in a vigorous defense of liberty.
We dare not break the law to defend the law.
And we dare not let this earthly pursuit interfere with, or rob us of, heavenly pursuits.
In the end, should the laws change, we would be required to live in harmony with whatever they are, as long as they did not require us to violate God’s Word or our conscience. (Acts. 5:29)
Whatever we do and however far we go depends on the individual, the circumstances and sound reason. As important as this battle may be, it is not to be waged at the expense of our testimony or stability.
Many Christian organizations have sought to force America back to her Christian roots through political activism. A New Breed is preaching a “Kingdom Now” philosophy which has The Church ushering in the Millennium through social activism.
Others are saying that The Bible teaches Christians are to stay out of politics on the basis that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world and the fact that The Bible characterizes all countries, other than Israel, as “The Nations.” A group that will be judged during the Great Tribulation.
I believe the answer is rooted in the scriptures. Human government is ordained of God. Believers are commanded to “obey them that have the rule over us “ (Rom. 13). In most cases this has meant Kings and Dictators, who make the laws. In our case we are ruled by The Constitution. In America we have no King. No one is above the law.
When unjust men seek to subvert the Constitution, godly men have a responsibility to hold them accountable, by legal means. We would not hesitate to take a neighbor to court, should he erect a fence 20 feet inside our property line. Or continually violate the law in an effort to establish himself at our expense.
The argument that we are not of this world is offered by those who would defend their worldly rights by suing the uninsured motorist who recklessly destroyed their property and/or inflicted serious bodily harm and refused to make it right.
Christians have the right (responsibility) to defend against those who seek to undermine the law of the land....at least to a point.
We dare not violate God’s Word in a vigorous defense of liberty.
We dare not break the law to defend the law.
And we dare not let this earthly pursuit interfere with, or rob us of, heavenly pursuits.
In the end, should the laws change, we would be required to live in harmony with whatever they are, as long as they did not require us to violate God’s Word or our conscience. (Acts. 5:29)
Whatever we do and however far we go depends on the individual, the circumstances and sound reason. As important as this battle may be, it is not to be waged at the expense of our testimony or stability.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Global Economics And End Times Prophecy
Revelation 17 is a picture of the political scene, at the end of the age. It is personified as a woman, sitting on a scarlet beast. This beast is the same "beast" of Revelation. 13.
This beast has the power of "the dragon." It has 7 heads and 10 horns. The 10 horns have 10 crowns (authority). One of his heads has a wound that is severe enough to cause death, but has been healed. The people "wonder after the beast."
Revelation 17 says the 10 horns are 10 kings which have no kingdom (now), but receive power as kings one hour with the beast (v. 12).
While the Revelation narrative is symbolic it is not allegorical. These are actual events, yet to be played out on the world stage. But what exactly are we looking at?
I believe this is describing an unholy alliance between a godless religious system (the woman), in league with a despotic, global, political system (the beast), intent on ruling the world in place of the promised Lord Jesus Christ.
In so doing, 10 kings come to power but without kingdoms. How is this possible?
Amsel Mayer Rothschild, a prominent 18th century banker is quoted as declaring, "Let me issue and control the money and I care not who makes the laws." [1838]
The recent G-20 meetings in Europe produced a plan to establish a Financial Stability Board. It's mission will be to regulate all international financial institutions, with authority to regulate all "systemic firms and compensation."
We are watching our President do exactly this, as General Motors was required to fire their CEO and as the president appointed his own man to fill that position.
It would not surprise me to see a Stability Board made up of 10 nations which have global authority, but no political power, only to receive that power in the End Times.
The world's economic power is already concentrated in Roman-style democracies with political leaders working every day to globalize the economy as well as civil laws.
When this happens, what will stop "The Dragon" from taking over? Our commerce is already monitored and controlled through computerized transfers.
What would it take to add a 3-digit prefix to our bank accounts and credit cards, in order to join this global economy?
This beast has the power of "the dragon." It has 7 heads and 10 horns. The 10 horns have 10 crowns (authority). One of his heads has a wound that is severe enough to cause death, but has been healed. The people "wonder after the beast."
Revelation 17 says the 10 horns are 10 kings which have no kingdom (now), but receive power as kings one hour with the beast (v. 12).
While the Revelation narrative is symbolic it is not allegorical. These are actual events, yet to be played out on the world stage. But what exactly are we looking at?
I believe this is describing an unholy alliance between a godless religious system (the woman), in league with a despotic, global, political system (the beast), intent on ruling the world in place of the promised Lord Jesus Christ.
In so doing, 10 kings come to power but without kingdoms. How is this possible?
Amsel Mayer Rothschild, a prominent 18th century banker is quoted as declaring, "Let me issue and control the money and I care not who makes the laws." [1838]
The recent G-20 meetings in Europe produced a plan to establish a Financial Stability Board. It's mission will be to regulate all international financial institutions, with authority to regulate all "systemic firms and compensation."
We are watching our President do exactly this, as General Motors was required to fire their CEO and as the president appointed his own man to fill that position.
It would not surprise me to see a Stability Board made up of 10 nations which have global authority, but no political power, only to receive that power in the End Times.
The world's economic power is already concentrated in Roman-style democracies with political leaders working every day to globalize the economy as well as civil laws.
When this happens, what will stop "The Dragon" from taking over? Our commerce is already monitored and controlled through computerized transfers.
What would it take to add a 3-digit prefix to our bank accounts and credit cards, in order to join this global economy?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Backslider
Last Sunday night, on the Bible Forum, a caller asked: When I was a backslidden Christian, had I died, would I have gone to heaven? He was convinced he would not. I hope I convinced him he would.
Think about it: To be a backslider you must slide back from something. In this case, Christianity.
Maybe it's the way the term has suffered in recent years, describing anyone who willingly goes to church or has prayed 'the sinner's prayer.' Or because of the charismatic movement that loves to define saving faith as a purely human capacity we can exercise (to our benefit) or not.
The truth is, salvation is a supernatural conversion. It does not proceed from anything in the sinner. It is something that takes place on the inside (spiritually). And which is accompanied by a host of spectacular transitions and creations.
Here's a representative list.
A saved person has his sins forgiven.
He is justified in the sight of God -- being declared righteous
The "Life" of God is now his -- a quality of existence, unique to God
He is made a "New Creature" in Christ -- something brand new
He is made a "partaker of the divine nature"
He is sanctified by God -- separated unto God / from sin
He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit
He is gifted by the Holy Spirit -- for the benefit of the Body of Christ
And Paul said he was already glorified (Rom. 8:30)
Now, to say such a person will suffer eternal damnation because of his actions, is to imply that
1. some human action must have occurred to placed him in this enviable situation
2. that God has un-done all that he did in that life (see the List)
Ask a backslider: Do you know you are backsliding, right now? Do you know this is inconsistent with your testimony? Do you know you're going to have to stop this and get back to serving God?
The answers to these questions will expose the person's heart. A born-again believer answers all these questions in the affirmative. An unsaved person (according to Scripture) has no understanding of God, nor is he seeking Him (Rom. 3:11).
Think about it: To be a backslider you must slide back from something. In this case, Christianity.
Maybe it's the way the term has suffered in recent years, describing anyone who willingly goes to church or has prayed 'the sinner's prayer.' Or because of the charismatic movement that loves to define saving faith as a purely human capacity we can exercise (to our benefit) or not.
The truth is, salvation is a supernatural conversion. It does not proceed from anything in the sinner. It is something that takes place on the inside (spiritually). And which is accompanied by a host of spectacular transitions and creations.
Here's a representative list.
A saved person has his sins forgiven.
He is justified in the sight of God -- being declared righteous
The "Life" of God is now his -- a quality of existence, unique to God
He is made a "New Creature" in Christ -- something brand new
He is made a "partaker of the divine nature"
He is sanctified by God -- separated unto God / from sin
He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit
He is gifted by the Holy Spirit -- for the benefit of the Body of Christ
And Paul said he was already glorified (Rom. 8:30)
Now, to say such a person will suffer eternal damnation because of his actions, is to imply that
1. some human action must have occurred to placed him in this enviable situation
2. that God has un-done all that he did in that life (see the List)
Ask a backslider: Do you know you are backsliding, right now? Do you know this is inconsistent with your testimony? Do you know you're going to have to stop this and get back to serving God?
The answers to these questions will expose the person's heart. A born-again believer answers all these questions in the affirmative. An unsaved person (according to Scripture) has no understanding of God, nor is he seeking Him (Rom. 3:11).
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Maybe Now It Makes Sense
Over the last 10 years suicide among young people (10 - 24 years of age) has increased 10-fold. Suicide is now the 3rd leading cause of death among this demographic. There are now twice as many suicides as deaths from HIV/AIDs. More females than males consider suicide, but four times as many males die by this method than females.
It is not fair to make sweeping generalizations about such a serious situation. However, there are some interesting and informative statistics.
The children committing suicide largely feel as though they are cut off from family, friends and any meaningful relationships. Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, a family history of depression, feelings of isolation, physical or sexual abuse and the lack of a social support system are just a few of the emotional issues that accompany suicide.
My opinion is that we're playing around with fundamental social structures like family and sexuality and worth, reaping the logical result.
The psychological community responds to all this by insisting parents make sure children feel a sense of worth. Of course, this means simply telling a child how special they are, whether they are or aren't. Any engaged parent can tell you this just creates monsters. Young people who think they're special are now sure of it!
In the "old days" parents gave children credit for doing worthwhile things. And the accomplishments of worth reinforced positive feelings of worth. A worth that translates into productivity rather than destruction.
Children were an integral part of the family structure. They had a place. They had a job. And they knew who they were and where they stood. Today our children are living a disconnected life and wondering what's the use.
Where does all this come from? We'll here's a suggestion:
Richard Dawkins -- noted Darwinian Evolutionist -- said, "Life has no higher purpose than to perpetuate the survival of DNA...life has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference."
William Provine -- another Darwinianist -- said, "There are no gods, no purposes, and no goal-directed forces of any kind. There is no life after death....There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning in life, and no free will for humans."
Is it possible that, after 70 years of this kind of instruction in our Schools and government-sponsored indoctrination, we have an entire society that believes these things?
On the other hand, noted scientists like Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle (Father of Modern Chemistry), Michael Faraday (Father of Electromagnetism), Louis Pasteur, Charles Babbage (Computer Science), Lord Kelvin (Thermodynamics) and scores of others were men and women who believed the Bible.
It was the fact that the universe was orderly (the product of intelligent design) that both motivated and encouraged them to continue in their research and study. A random universe can have no scientific hope. If things don't work the same way every time, how can you make sense of them or quantify them?
And, it would seem, a social structure without hope is equally discouraging.
It is not fair to make sweeping generalizations about such a serious situation. However, there are some interesting and informative statistics.
The children committing suicide largely feel as though they are cut off from family, friends and any meaningful relationships. Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, a family history of depression, feelings of isolation, physical or sexual abuse and the lack of a social support system are just a few of the emotional issues that accompany suicide.
My opinion is that we're playing around with fundamental social structures like family and sexuality and worth, reaping the logical result.
The psychological community responds to all this by insisting parents make sure children feel a sense of worth. Of course, this means simply telling a child how special they are, whether they are or aren't. Any engaged parent can tell you this just creates monsters. Young people who think they're special are now sure of it!
In the "old days" parents gave children credit for doing worthwhile things. And the accomplishments of worth reinforced positive feelings of worth. A worth that translates into productivity rather than destruction.
Children were an integral part of the family structure. They had a place. They had a job. And they knew who they were and where they stood. Today our children are living a disconnected life and wondering what's the use.
Where does all this come from? We'll here's a suggestion:
Richard Dawkins -- noted Darwinian Evolutionist -- said, "Life has no higher purpose than to perpetuate the survival of DNA...life has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference."
William Provine -- another Darwinianist -- said, "There are no gods, no purposes, and no goal-directed forces of any kind. There is no life after death....There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning in life, and no free will for humans."
Is it possible that, after 70 years of this kind of instruction in our Schools and government-sponsored indoctrination, we have an entire society that believes these things?
On the other hand, noted scientists like Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle (Father of Modern Chemistry), Michael Faraday (Father of Electromagnetism), Louis Pasteur, Charles Babbage (Computer Science), Lord Kelvin (Thermodynamics) and scores of others were men and women who believed the Bible.
It was the fact that the universe was orderly (the product of intelligent design) that both motivated and encouraged them to continue in their research and study. A random universe can have no scientific hope. If things don't work the same way every time, how can you make sense of them or quantify them?
And, it would seem, a social structure without hope is equally discouraging.
Monday, February 23, 2009
When Worlds Collide
I was reminded the other week when a caller to the Bible Forum started reciting historical and scientific facts that bore no resemblance to anything I had ever read or learned, that we live in a parallel universe.
Technically it's about worldviews: how people view the world they live in. And a Christian sees things differently than does an atheist -- or at least he should.
The caller couldn't think of an atheist, world figure, who was responsible for the mass murder of thousands, if not millions of people declaring this "proof" that religion is the biggest problem in the world.
He saw the Crusades and Hitler as Christians and Israel's incursion into Gaza as adequate examples of his theory. Never mind that Hitler was creating a completely atheistic (and occultic) society, or that the Crusader's raping and pillaging across Asia Minor was not in the least Christian.
He also didn't want to hear my list of atheistic despots: from Attilla the Hun, to Gheghis Khan, to Joseph Stalin, to Mao Tse Tung, to Slobivan Misolovic, to Idi Amin, to Pol Pot.
But the most shocking revelation was that this caller was working on a Master's Degree in Education! He's going to be educating YOUR children. And he hasn't heard any of these things?
So, if this doesn't motivate parents to make sure their children understand the world they live in, they probably don't care.
The real question is: Do YOU see the world the way God presents it? Or the way godless ideologues present it? Does it really matter?
It matters more than whether or not you have enough food! There is a (not-so) subtle battle raging behind the veil -- on a spiritual plane. It is the battle for your heart and mind, and that of your children.
When a parent entrusts their child to the Federal School System and to the media for their world-view, is it really such a surprise that so many have such a warped perspective?
Technically it's about worldviews: how people view the world they live in. And a Christian sees things differently than does an atheist -- or at least he should.
The caller couldn't think of an atheist, world figure, who was responsible for the mass murder of thousands, if not millions of people declaring this "proof" that religion is the biggest problem in the world.
He saw the Crusades and Hitler as Christians and Israel's incursion into Gaza as adequate examples of his theory. Never mind that Hitler was creating a completely atheistic (and occultic) society, or that the Crusader's raping and pillaging across Asia Minor was not in the least Christian.
He also didn't want to hear my list of atheistic despots: from Attilla the Hun, to Gheghis Khan, to Joseph Stalin, to Mao Tse Tung, to Slobivan Misolovic, to Idi Amin, to Pol Pot.
But the most shocking revelation was that this caller was working on a Master's Degree in Education! He's going to be educating YOUR children. And he hasn't heard any of these things?
So, if this doesn't motivate parents to make sure their children understand the world they live in, they probably don't care.
The real question is: Do YOU see the world the way God presents it? Or the way godless ideologues present it? Does it really matter?
It matters more than whether or not you have enough food! There is a (not-so) subtle battle raging behind the veil -- on a spiritual plane. It is the battle for your heart and mind, and that of your children.
When a parent entrusts their child to the Federal School System and to the media for their world-view, is it really such a surprise that so many have such a warped perspective?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
reEvolutionary Thinking
The last few weeks on the Bible Forum, folks have commented on evolution. Generally those who favor Darwinian Evolution are a) uninformed as to what evolution is, and b) rude in their effort to communicate what they DO know.
Take, for example, the most common comment regarding the criticism of evolution: "Everyone knows that animals evolve!" "They adapt to their surroundings and needs."
Okay. That's true, but it's not a discussion of evolution. It's a discussion of adaptation of the species, which everyone accepts.
The second most common comment is that science supports evolution in the fossil record or in the geologic column or by carbon dating. This one is so thoroughly ingrained that any criticism of the concept is received as proof that the critic is an idiot.
If it were possible to keep a Darwinianist 'on subject' for more than 30 seconds, it might also be possible to enlighten them. But alas.
In it's simplest and most fundamental form, Darwinian Evolutionary Theory is the effort to explain what we see in nature without considering God. It is a completely naturalistic and therefore materialistic hypothesis. The logical conclusion of which is to subvert known science and exalt the human spirit.
If life began in some primordal ooze and evolved upward to become a human being, where will it end? Since this life came from non-life, it exists completely on it's own and is answerable to no one and to nothing but the all-knowing and all-sufficient self.
What this means is every society is free to craft the governing system that best suits their goals and needs. Each one being just as good as the other and capable of providing for the people it serves.
There is no superior system. There is no system that fails. And, as societal needs change, we are free to alter our system to satisfy these new needs.
Enter the destruction of the American System! The Constitutional Republic that brought the strongest, most productive and creative culture the world has ever known has given way to the selfishness and greed of the human spirit.
Perhaps this will expose Evolution for what it is: regressive. Having come this far, giving honor and submission to God, we have thrown Him over in favor of a god more to our liking. One that has greater promise. Not for morally upward progress, but for self-gratification.
Perhaps, when all this is firmly in place, people will begin to see the fallacies in Darwinian thought.
Take, for example, the most common comment regarding the criticism of evolution: "Everyone knows that animals evolve!" "They adapt to their surroundings and needs."
Okay. That's true, but it's not a discussion of evolution. It's a discussion of adaptation of the species, which everyone accepts.
The second most common comment is that science supports evolution in the fossil record or in the geologic column or by carbon dating. This one is so thoroughly ingrained that any criticism of the concept is received as proof that the critic is an idiot.
If it were possible to keep a Darwinianist 'on subject' for more than 30 seconds, it might also be possible to enlighten them. But alas.
In it's simplest and most fundamental form, Darwinian Evolutionary Theory is the effort to explain what we see in nature without considering God. It is a completely naturalistic and therefore materialistic hypothesis. The logical conclusion of which is to subvert known science and exalt the human spirit.
If life began in some primordal ooze and evolved upward to become a human being, where will it end? Since this life came from non-life, it exists completely on it's own and is answerable to no one and to nothing but the all-knowing and all-sufficient self.
What this means is every society is free to craft the governing system that best suits their goals and needs. Each one being just as good as the other and capable of providing for the people it serves.
There is no superior system. There is no system that fails. And, as societal needs change, we are free to alter our system to satisfy these new needs.
Enter the destruction of the American System! The Constitutional Republic that brought the strongest, most productive and creative culture the world has ever known has given way to the selfishness and greed of the human spirit.
Perhaps this will expose Evolution for what it is: regressive. Having come this far, giving honor and submission to God, we have thrown Him over in favor of a god more to our liking. One that has greater promise. Not for morally upward progress, but for self-gratification.
Perhaps, when all this is firmly in place, people will begin to see the fallacies in Darwinian thought.
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