The Apostasy 09/04/2010
 
391223 04: A 42-year-old Ten Commandments sculpture is on display in front of city hall June 27, 2001 in Grand Junction, CO. The sculpture became a target of controversy betweem the ACLU and the Christian Coalition''s American Center for Law and Justice when the ACLU began a legal offensive aimed at removing displays of the Ten Commandments from city halls and other civic buildings throughout the United States. (Photo by Michael Smith/Getty Images)


The Church is being attacked right now like no other period in history. The last 300 years have brought unique direct and indirect attacks against the Bible's authority and authenticity that the first 1700 years could never had imagined. In this guest article, "Attacks on the Biblical world view and the time of the 'Apostasy'", Mark Hodges (Notmanynoble Blog) examines the shift from a biblical to a skeptical and hostile culture and the events in history that has led to the apostasy of the Christian church today. Keep reading for an excerpt of the excellent article.
 
 

Dr. Jason Lisle of Answers in Genesis takes a look at why only the biblical Christian worldview can make sense of anything at all. Filmed at Creation College 3 in Kentucky, Summer 2009, we had the pleasure of being there live for this segment and others. Though this is a copy of the video I found on YouTube, you can view the original for free at Answers in Genesis by clicking here. The summary over at the Answers in Genesis website states:

"In this companion DVD to his book by the same name, Dr. Lisle presents an ultimate proof for the existence of God and the truth of creation. He goes beyond the battle over “evidence,” and demonstrates why and how we are to defend the faith. Dr. Lisle shows why secular worldviews cannot stand up to logical scrutiny, and how only the Christian worldview can account for the world we live in."
(Transcript Source: http://www.answersingenesis.org/media/video/ondemand/ultimate-proof-of-creation/ultimate-proof)
 
 
MAGELANG, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA - MAY 28: Buddhist monks walk around Borobudur temple during Vesak Day, commonly known as 'Buddha's birthday', at the Borobudur Mahayana Buddhist monument on May 28, 2010 in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Annually, Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, which makes it the most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia. It is observed during the full moon in May or June, with the ceremony centered at three Buddhist temples by walking from Mendut to Pawon and ending at Borobudur. The stages of life of Buddhism's founder, Gautama Buddha, which are celebrated at Vesak are his birth, enlightenment to Nirvana, and his passing (Parinirvana). (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

In our age of "tolerance" and moral relativism, one of the most common questions presented to Christians is: "Aren't all religions equally the same? Isn't Christianity no different than any other religion?" It is an honest and seemingly complicated question, and one that the Christian should not shy away from nor compromise with. With a little research, the differences between Christianity and all other religions becomes strikingly clear and the more important question of, "Can't anybody go to the same 'heaven' by just worshiping their own gods in their own way?" can be answered effectively and truthfully.
 
Around the Web 07/21/2010
 
ITAR-TASS 240: MOSCOW, RUSSIA. APRIL 25, 2010. A participant of the Rubik's Cube competition solving a Rubik's Cube. The Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik. Originally called the Magic Cube the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toys in 1980. (Photo ITAR-TASS/ Vladimir Astapkovich) Photo via Newscom

If the God of the Bible doesn't exist, what does being a "good person" mean, anyway? Such is the question presented by Victor E. Pearson in "Whose Definition of 'Good' do You Use?" The guest blog examines the worldview issue through a biblical perspective and is highly recommended.

Religious Tolerance is an emotionally contemporary issue in our culture today. The idea stems from the popular belief that all religions are the same. But does this popular notion accurately portray the reality of religion? Is a religion that refuses to be tolerant in the sense that all others are equal make it a bad one? Join David Messieh as he takes a closer look in "Tolerance And Religion" over at the Sydney Morning Herald.

What is truth? In an increasingly relativistic culture and society, the notion of absolute truth feels out of place. Not so for the Christian, however. Jeremy Ham tackles the nature of truth and what it means for the Christian in his devotional, "How Do We Learn Truth?"

Charges of the Bible's inconsistency are common, but not legitimate. Dissecting and refuting such accusations against the Bible's authority is like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle, according to James J.S. Johnson, J.D., Th.D. We can trust the authority and authenticity of the entire biblical account, and can defend it honestly and intellectually with poise. Read Johnson's "Tackling Charges of Biblical Inconsistency: Putting the Pieces Together to Form the Big Picture" here.

Science and Faith in the Bible are not contradictory to eachother. The website "Creation vs Evolution" looks at the details of the controversy from each perspective: atheist, evolutionist, theist, Christian, and more. It provides a unique apologetic with useful resources to further engage in the debate and understand the nature of the evidence thereof.
 
 
Phot Credit: Ruthann Brown
Photo Credit: Ruthann Brown

As Christians, our walk in the Faith is not always easy. In fact, it rarely is. But rather than be discouraged by the hardships and difficulties we face, we should embrace them humbly in complete obedience - and submission - to God. The willingness to follow Jesus regardless of the outcome is not a light-hearted commitment. Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). But what does that actually mean?
 
Freedom 07/02/2010
 
An American flag flies outside a farmhouse that was destroyed by a tornado, over the weekend, in Lake Township, Ohio June 7, 2010. Tornadoes and thunderstorms tore through the Midwest on Sunday, killing at least seven people in Ohio and triggering the automatic shutdown of a nuclear power plant in Michigan. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook (UNITED STATES - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

As we near July 4th, Independence Day in the United States of America, the Institute for Creation Research has published an excellent article detailing our nation's roots in our Creator. In "Christian Heritage of Liberty" by Henry Morris IV, the reader is invited to gaze into the history of the American nation and perceive its Faith in the Judeo-Christian God at its founding. As the article states, "True freedom--true liberty--can only be secured by faith in Christ's saving work. For 'if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed' (John 8:36)." Important and meaningful words indeed.

Read the article here.

Also read "Celebrating Our Freedom, Honoring Our Creator".

Source:
Morris IV, H. 2010. Christian Heritage of Liberty. Acts & Facts. 39 (7): 21.
 
 
406024 19: (FEATURE STORY- SALVATION MOUNTAIN- 19 OF 23) Sunset silhouettes a cross on top of Salvation Mountain May 30, 2002 near Niland, CA, east of the Salton Sea. 70-year-old Leonard Knight has been painting and repainting Biblical messages on his spiritual hill for 17 years, using an estimated 100,000 gallons of donated paint. The state once tried to declare it a hazardous waste site and have it destroyed but Knight prevailed and it now attracts the attention of journalists and folk art lovers worldwide. The Folk Art Society of America has declared 100 foot-wide, three-story tall painted hill a national folk art shrine and a leading folk arts scholar is petitioning Congress to recognize Salvation Mountain as a national treasure for permanent protection. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Can we trust the canon of the Bible? How do we truly know that the books that were meant to be there (like the sixty-six present today), are the right ones? It is a volume that has spanned over 1,500 years and 40 authors. It is a topic answered with clarity and completeness in Brian H. Edwards' "Why 66?".

Edwards proves the reliability of the Old Testament canon by first examining the Jewish history surrounding the Torah. The Torah was made up of the first five books of our modern Old Testament, and was known as "the Law". The Jews then considered the next set of books as The Prophets, which included Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other prophetic books like Lamentations. All else were gathered under The Writings. For the Jews, the canon was never seriously disputed, because each of the books were written very near to the time they cover. Edwards quotes the Jewish historian Josephus of A.D 90.: "For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another [as the Greeks have] but only twenty-two books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine."

In "Why 66?", Edwards also describes the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls, since they included all of the current Old Testament canon (excluding Esther), and none of the "Apocrypha", or other non-canonical books that critics attempt to charge were part of the original.

After examining other evidences for the authenticity of the Old Testament, Edwards then turns towards the New. According to Edwards, the Muratorian Canon of A.D. 150 represents the first known list of the New Testament canon. This canon included all four gospels, thirteen Pauline epistles, Jude, two of John's letters, and Revelation. The list claims that these books at the time were accepted by the "universal church". Omitted from this Canon, yet present in our modern bibles, was Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and James. Origen from Alexandria in A.D. 240 was using all the 27 books of our present-day canon - no others - and calling it the "New Testament". Considering how near these "lists" were compiled to the original dates of each book's composition, the reliability of our New Testament today is remarkable, particularly when one considers that the books were most likely considered "scripture" before being subject to a list.

Edwards then answers the natural objection: Even though the dates are close to the originals, why did it take so long to compile a list? He provides six reasons:
  1. "The originals were scattered across the whole empire."
  2. "No scroll could easily contain more than one or two books."
  3. "The first-century Christians expected the immediate return of Christ."
  4. "No one church or leader bossed all the others."
  5. "The early leaders assumed the authority of the Gospels and the apostles."
  6. "Only when the heretics attacked the truth was the importance of a canon appreciated."
Each reason is expressed and defended in detail by Edwards in "Why 66?"

Finally, Edwards examines the criteria which determined whether a writing would be considered "scripture" or not. These five test points were employed to decide whether the writing in question was: Apostolic, Authentic, Ancient, Accepted, and/or Accurate. Like his "six reasons", each is elaborated on in the article.

Brian H. Edwards' research provides compelling evidence for the authenticity and reliability of the Bible's canon. By examining the history of the volume, Edwards has shown that we can trust that the "right books" of the Bible are found in our modern texts, and their acceptance can be found right from the beginning.

Read Brian H. Edwards' full article "Why 66?" by clicking here.
 
 
Autumn Weather Reaches Germany

"Why I Believe in God" by Christian apologist Cornelius Van Til is superb. In it, Van Til crafts a hypothetical conversation with an unbeliever regarding the existence of God. With such a powerful premise, Van Til provides a comprehensive defense of the Faith in genuine love with the utmost ease. The language is simple and concise - every line delivered with purpose and poise. Van Til shows why the existence of God isn't just probable or "more likely" than other belief systems - it's an essential truth.

Read "Why I Believe in God" by Cornelius Van Til by clicking here.

For more articles by Cornelius Van Til, visit Vantil.info.
 
Around the Web 05/27/2010
 
Bonny Face

New research proves infants can distinguish between good and bad. The research, conducted by Yale professor Paul Bloom and his team discovered that infants and toddlers were able to differentiate between "good" behavior and "bad" behavior, a feat that contrasts sharply with evolutionary humanists, including the likes of Sigmund Freud. Read more about the study and its results at the Institute for Creation Research.

Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is outlined clearly and completely in a new resource compiled by DefendingGenesis.org. It serves as an excellent source to reaffirm the accuracy of the event and become equipped with answers to defend the Faith. Read "Resurrection Apologetics" by Rev. Tony Breeden by clicking here (file is in pdf format).

The Universe is winding down. The first and second laws of thermodynamics confirm this. Read the excellent article "The Law of Entropy and the Resurrection of the Jewish Messiah" for a detailed commentary about how entropy supports the Bible over at the Notmanynoble blog.

Global Warming is covered extensively by the media, but what about the Church? Check out the latest Answers Research Journal addition, "A Proposed Bible-Science Perspective on Global Warming" by Rod J. Martin for an in-depth  research article examining the science from a biblical worldview.

Venter's "synthetic life" is still making headlines through news and media outlets, but the notion that life has been created in a lab is still false. The Institute for Creation Research gives their thoughts into the striking research by the J. Craig Venter Institute. Click here to give it a read.

Stop by Creation Conversations and engage in the new community website's forums and blogs. This "social-networking" site for Christians intends to bring like-minded biblical Creationists together to discuss the wonders of God's Creation. It's a fun place to visit, and even more enjoyable to contribute. Better still, it's free, and a profile can be created in just minutes. Visit CreationConversations.com today and get started!
 
 
Eiffel Tower

"Why Should Anyone Believe Anything At All?" is a new piece posted over at TakingEveryThoughtCaptive.com, and it's asking a serious question. Pastor Chris Strevel's sermon displays why only the biblical worldview can provide the foundation to know anything. Fans of presuppositional apologetics and Dr. Greg Bahnsen will enjoy this excellent first part of a three-part series. To give it a read, click here.

For a great collection of presuppositional apologetics articles, including those by Dr. Greg Bahnsen, Douglas Wilson, John Frame, and, of course, Cornelius Van Til, visit Vantil.info. Not sure what presuppositional apologetics is all about? We recommend Greg Bahnsen's excellent lectures, now online on YouTube, starting with "The Myth of Neutrality".