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PDFAP says, "While Ken Ham...says all those answers are already in the Bible."
They had a big public debate this week in Kentucky, moderated by CNN and streamed live worldwide on the Internet. Millions watched.
I watched part of it.
Is the debate only about Creation and evolution? Or is there something more at play?
Here are the highlights and some thoughts.
Bill Nye The Science Guy has been teaching kids his secular, Darwinian beliefs for years on PBS.
Ken Ham is recognized as a leader in teaching Creationism. He has built the Creation Museum to further explain and illustrate biblical beliefs regarding Creationism and has raised about $27 million from private donations for the project.
The debate was passionate.
Jerry Coyne, a professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago said, "Nye's appearance will be giving money to organizations who try to subvert the mission Nye has had all his life: science education, particularly to kids."
It's true, Bill Nye the "Science Guy" has spent his life influencing kids through PBS, undermining what their parents and their church has taught them about biblical Creation, leading them to evolution and all things yet to be discovered about our origins.
An audience member asked Nye where atoms and matter come from. Nye explained scientists are making more discoveries everyday on that front.
Ham said, "Bill, I want to tell you there is a book that tells where atoms come from, and it starts with, 'In the beginning...' "
Ham also introduced a number of scientists who said they believe in the biblical account of Creation.
Ham told the audience, "Creation is the only viable model of historical science confirmed by observational science in today's modern scientific era."
Nye, an agnostic, said Ham's ideas are "fanciful". "And if you insist the natural laws have been changed, for lack of a better word, that's magical." He said, "Your interpretation of a book written thousands of years ago, as translated into American English, is more compelling for you than everything that I can observe in the world around me."
Nye also said, "Technology keeps the US ahead as a world leader" and he is worried that "if Creationism is taught to children, the country will fall behind."
So biblical Truth becomes the roadblock to progress for America.
This stands in stark contrast to the beliefs of our Founders and the principles upon which they built our institutions, both civil and social.
Faith Facts has done a study of the relationship of Scripture and the American government. This is a sample of their research:
The Bible and Government
Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws
| PRINCIPLE | LEGAL DOCUMENT | BIBLE |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereign authority of God, not sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man | Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance | Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2,Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1,Col. 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15 |
| Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life | Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) | Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119: 142-152, Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15, Heb. 13:8 |
| Rule of law rather than authority of man | Declaration, Constitution | Ex. 18-24, Dt. 17:20, Isa. 8:19-20, Mat. 5:17-18 |
| All men are sinners | Constitutional checks and balances | Gen. 8:21, Jer. 17:9, Mk. 7: 20-23, Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn 1:8 |
| All men created equal | Declaration | Gen. 1:26, Acts 10:34, 17:26, Gal. 3:28, 1 Pet. 2:17 |
| Judicial, legislative, and executive branches | Constitution | Isa. 33:22 (See Madison) |
| Religious freedom | First Amendment | 1 Tim. 2:1-2 |
| Church protected from state control (& taxation), but church to influence the state | First Amendment | Dt. 17:18-20, 1 Kgs. 3:28,Ezra 7:24, Neh. 8:2, 1 Sam. 7:15-10:27, 15:10-31, 2 Sam. 12:1-18, Mat. 14:3-4, Lk. 3:7-14, 11:52, Acts 4:26-29 |
Republican form of government and warnings against kings but in favor of Godly rulers | Constitution | Ex. 18:21, Dt. 1:13, Jud. 8:22-23, 1 Sam. 8, Pr. 11:14, 24:6 |
| Importance of governing self and family as first level of governance | First, Second, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments | Mat. 18:15-18, Gal. 5:16-26,1 Cor. 6:1-11, 1 Tim. 3:1-5,Tit. 2:1-8 |
| Establish justice | Declaration | Ex. 23:1-9, Lev. 19:15, Dt. 1:17, 16:19-20, 24:17-19, 1 Sam. 8:3, 2 Sam. 8:15, 1 Kings 3:28, 10:9, Mic. 6:8,Rom. 13:4 |
| Fair trial with witnesses | Sixth Amendment | Ex. 20:16, Dt. 19:15, Pr. 24:28, 25:18, Mat. 18:16 |
| Private property rights | Fifth Amendment | Ex. 20:15,17 |
| Biblical liberty, Free enterprise | Declaration | Lev. 25:10, Jn. 8:36, 2 Cor. 3:17, Gal. 5:1, James 1:25, 1 Pet. 2:16 |
| Creation not evolution | Declaration | Gen. 1:1 |
| Biblical capitalism not Darwinian capitalism (service and fair play over strict survival of the fittest) | Anti-trust laws | Ex. 20:17, Mat. 20:26,25:14-30, 2 Thes. 3:6-15, 1 Pet. 2:16 |
| Importance of the traditional family | State sodomy laws, few reasons for divorce | Ex. 20:12,14, Mat. 19:1-12,Mk. 10:2-12, Rom. 1:18-2:16, 1 Cor. 7:1-40 |
| Religious education encouraged | Northwest Ordinance | Dt. 6:4-7, Pr. 22:6, Mat. 18:6, Eph. 6:4 |
| Servanthood not political power | Concept of public servant | Ex. 18:21, Rom. 13:4, Php. 2:7 |
| Sabbath day holy | "Blue laws" | Ex. 20:8 |
| Restitution | Restitution laws | Lev. 6:1-5, Num. 5:5-7, Mat. 5:23-26 |
No one can honestly question the positive effect the Bible and biblical principles have had on the success of this country.
Why now would Scriptural Truth become a stumbling block to America's continuing success?
I personally believe the debate is not so much about Creationism v. Darwinism.
It is about Man v. God; and who God is. And who is the final authority.
Pew Research says 78.4% of Americans are Christian. Some research finds higher numbers. Among Pew' s findings, 51.3% are Protestant. And 26.3% of those are evangelicals.
All say they believe in God. But is their god the God of the Bible or a god of their own creation?
A god of our civil religion.
R.C. Sproul says, "The god of civil religion is without power; He is deity without sovereignty, a god without wrath, a judge without judgement, and a force without power."
The secular progressives are at war, not so much with a civil god, but with the biblical God and with those who embrace Him as Creator God. And with His absolute Truth. And His authority.
We have driven Him from the public square, but we bring Him back in times of crises and sing "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America."
Contrast the civil god with the God of the Bible. Note what the God of the Bible said in Deuteronomy 11:26-28:
"See I am setting you today a blessing and a curse---the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known."
For those who embrace the God of the Bible and His Truth, His Word sets us free. For those who do not embrace Him, His Truth becomes a stumbling block.
We have seen the works of God in our lives and in our country. We are seeing the results of the civil god (the god our Founders did not know). We must choose which we will serve.
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.