February 28, 2009

Absolute Authority

Kip the Dip said: You say you're an anarchist, but I believe Paul (the apostle, not Ron) fundamentally disagreed with your political views:
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves." - Romans 13:2-3

CodewordConduit said: Should this apply if a woman is married to a wife-beater? A child molester?

From the essay Ethical Choices: A Case For Non-Conflicting Absolutism by Robert V. Rakestraw:

In this regard, it is helpful to recognize two categories or kinds (not "levels") of absolutes with regard to the locus of authority. Some absolutes require obedience directly to God, without human intermediaries, while other absolutes involve obedience to human beings whose authority has been delegated to them by God. Examples of the first category include prohibitions against lying, murder, adultery, and the commands to be patient and kind to others. The second category includes such matters as obedience to parents, governmental officials, and local church leaders.

Moral dilemmas often arise when an absolute from one category appears to clash with an absolute from the other category. When a child is told by her father to lie on the telephone, or, far worse, to submit to his advances, the resulting sense of conflict can be intense. In such cases the human authority must be disobeyed, but this is not an exception or an exemption to an absolute, for the absolute is defined in such a way that obedience is to be rendered only when human commands do not violate clear scriptural prohibitions and instructions.

God's moral absolutes never truly conflict, and that all of them are binding in any given situation, with the power of God present for their fulfillment.

bit.ly/AbAuth

February 27, 2009

Christians are Misogynistic?

freddies_dead said in that last post called Woman Boss (bit.ly/womanboss):Wow .. just wow .. the misogyny is almost palpable.

My friend Eric just today said on his Facebook page that his "faith is pure and his pimp hand is strong."

But seriously, we are called bride of Christ for a reason, God loves woman. Yes, women submit to the husband, and husband submit to God. See, we are playing the role of the marriage that will happen in heaven with Jesus and his believers. Stay loyal in Christ and you will understand how exalted you will be in heaven.

Many women don't like what the Bible says because it calls wives to "submit to their husbands."

However, submission is not limited to wives submitting to their husbands. We are told to submit to God, governmental authorities, our boss, and leaders in the assembly. We are also told to submit to one another in love, which includes men serving women and vice versa in love in unity of mind. God is a God of order. In a sinful world, submission to those in authority is the only way to maintain order. Romans 13 as a fine example.

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Traits from man and woman equally make up the "image of God"

What about Genesis 2:18 where it says it is "not good" for man to be alone.

How did God treat women? Remember story of Esther?

You then have to ask, How did Jesus treat women? Like the woman at the well or Mary Magdalene or even the prostitute about to get stoned.

As it was said in the last post, "The women described in the Bible are not always homemakers and mothers. Obviously, the biological function of women is to produce children. However, Deborah was both a judge and leader of Israel.(Judges 4:4) Other women were involved in ridding Israel of her enemies.(Judges 4:21) Quite a number of women are described as being prophetesses.(Exodus 15:20,2 Kings 22:14,Luke 2:36) Other women in the Bible were involved in teaching the Word of God(Acts 18:26)"

Countless other verses point to Jesus holding high regard for women.

God's people are referred to as female, not male. In the Old Testament, God's people are the "daughters of Zion." The Body of Christ (including us men) is referred to as the "bride" of Christ and God is said to be our "husband." Whenever referred to by sex, the assembly is described as "she" or "her." (Ephesians 5:25,27)"

In conclusion we have one verse that sums it all up: Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." We all have our roles as the body of the Christ head.






 


bit.ly/misogynistic

February 26, 2009

Woman Boss?

Women as bosses in the workplace are great. They know what they want, they understand how to persuade people. They battle for the right things and are, for the most part, ethically sound. They fit into the role quite well. Sometimes it's they're company, CEOs & Owners.

The women described in the Bible are not always homemakers and mothers. Obviously, the biological function (role it plays for its genetic success) of women is to produce children. However, Deborah was both a judge and leader of Israel. (Judges 4:4) Other women were involved in ridding Israel of her enemies. (Judges 4:21) Quite a number of women are described as being prophetesses. (Exodus 15:20,2 Kings 22:14,Luke 2:36) Other women in the Bible were involved in teaching the Word of God. (Acts 18:26)

Personally my own wife is an accomplished Lead Graphic Designer and won, or helped win, 18 advertising awards and a television award. We made an agreement that whoever can earn the most money would work, the other would raise the children. I lost, now I am homeschooling our four, soon to be five, kids and wouldn't trade it for any amount of career money. It took a couple of months to later realize that I actually won the deal.

Even if I am still head of the house, she still submits to my authority as head of the house, I hold my wife elevated with respect and love. The gift she gave me that allowed me to truly enjoy my children is greatly appreciated. We still hold our roles Biblically though.

It all started with Eve. When Eve disobeyed God by transgressing His Law She brought things onto herself. (1 Timothy 2:14) She basically put "self" as her god. Eve placed God on trial as a criminal. She listened to God. She listened to Satan and weighed the two. Adam followed Eve instead of God. Autonomy was the oldest sin.

Now look at these two verses
(Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:6-7)
See the similarities?

In referencing the woman: "and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

In referencing sin: "And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him"

Metaphorically, the temptation of sin wants to have control over, or consume, Cain, and it did. By nature, because of the fall, the woman will seek to rule over the husband. Also, because of the fall, there is a natural tension that takes place in the family and there is a struggle for headship. "Woman wears the pants in the family" is a result of the curse. We are to resist sin and control from the woman.

So the Women desire to rule over men, because of the fall, falls naturally into the position of authority, because of her desires. This is why, I believe, that desire was so great they burned their bras and protested in the recent past to increase their role in the workplace. In a Holy setting though (Church, Government, Family) we are not to allow the woman to usurp that authority.

Don't stop here though, now go read bit.ly/misogynistic for a complete thought on Women and their role with God.

bit.ly/womanboss

February 25, 2009

Darwin Day Debate- Dan Barker and Kyle Butt





Since, debating seems to be happening quite often here, I guess that can even be debated, I have an eye out for good debates and I found a few. Until the Comfort/Dawkins debate comes to fruition we will have to settle on what is already out there. This one is a debate between an Atheist Dan Barker and a Christian Kyle Butt. Due to the location of the videos, to watch the "next clip" you will have to click below and be redirected to the original location.

Next Clip

If you prefer the Mp3 of the Debate our friend Brian was able to locate it. You can either click on the photo or go to his blog called Apologetics 315.

February 24, 2009

False Religions

OK the picture has nothing to do with this post but I liked it, so up it went.

Some Atheists try to claim the validity of other religions and other books (as if they are even on an equal plane), so let me attempt to show you the difference.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is contradictory to the Bible and claims cohesiveness. There is a fine example of law of non-contradiction right there.

Some quoted examples:

Joseph Smith: "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 5).

Brigham Young: "There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it . . . " (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, page 247; see also, Vol. 4, pp. 53-54, 219-220.)

Brigham Young: "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, page 269).

Also, "Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 266).

Which is in direct contradiction to the Bible. Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6, Mark 10:8, 1 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 5:31, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:12, Titus 1:6

Who do you trust Man or God?

Brigham Young: "I say now, when they [his discourses] are copied and approved by me they are as good Scripture as is couched in this Bible . . . " (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 264; see also page 95.)

Mormonism teaches that it is the true church, that God used to be a man that lives on a planet called Kolob, that he has a goddess wife, and that you have the potential of becoming a god. In the heavens, god and his goddess wife produced offspring. The first born was Jesus then we were all born as spirit children in heaven afterwards. We then inhabited human bodies at birth. Is that anything close to what the Bible says? Nope. False religion.

How about the Qur’an?

John Rhue said: "Koran is unchanged. It is the revelation. It can never be changed."

The Bible was penned by over 40 different authors, from 1500 B.C. to about A.D. 100, on three continents, and in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. These men wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). They wrote not in words of human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13).

The Qur’an, on the other hand, was written approximately 600 AD, nearly 300 years after the Bible was compiled in its current form. The Qur'an was written by individuals familiar with both the Bible and the Torah. (Something borrowed, something blue.......) but from what I understand the Qur'an was written after Muhammad's death. There were many versions floating around. The third Caliphate (Caliph Uthman) had all existing versions gathered and burned. He has his scholars rewrite the Qur’an to his liking. Then he distributed his new version. This is the version of the Qur’an that exists as the ‘original’ today. But he could of burned the wrong version and no one knows if the QUr'an is the correct version today. If it is not of God then it is of the Devil and we can all agree that Islam is demonic. Just click on the link that has the number of Islamic terrorist attacks on this blog to find out more.

Qur’an claims to be the succession to the Bible and the Bible is truth. Surat Al-Baqarah 2:136 states the Bible is true. Qur'an states the Bible is truth, that none can alter the words of God (Surat Al-'An`ām 6:34) and if the Bible is truth the Qur'an is certainly false.

Besides the Bible being supernatural, the Bible has some 300 prophecies that came true that are provable by history. 135 prophecies came true in Daniel alone. From the beginning even as far back as Genesis 3:15 the Bible speaks of Jesus. Read Isaiah 53:1-12 and you will see that it was written about Jesus and was written almost 700 years before Christ was even born. Not the Qur’an or any other book in the world can prophecy even once like the Bible did 300 times and that is evidence that it was written by God.

CARM adds: "The Bible was penned by over 40 different authors, from 1500 B.C. to about A.D. 100, on three continents, and in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. These men wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). They wrote not in words of human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13)."

It is quite obvious that these, as well as all other religions, do not compare to Christianity and the only Salvation we could have is through Christianity alone.

tinyurl.com/FalseReligions

February 23, 2009

Confident Christianity

In reading things about Mary Jo Sharp, I noticed many links on her facebook page that I wanted to examine more. So as a convenience to myself, and hopefully a great resource to all of you, I am posting them for future reading.

http://www.confidentchristianity.com
http://www.rzim.org
http://www.dwillard.org
http://www.tektonics.org
http://www.4truth.net
http://www.carm.org
http://www.leaderu.com
http://www.paulcopan.com
http://www.garyhabermas.com
http://www.williamlanecraig.com
http://www.reasonablefaith.org
http://www.irr.org
http://www.CrossExamined.org
http://www.csntm.org
http://www.leestrobel.com
http://www.comereason.org
http://www.normgeisler.com
http://www.answeringinfidels.com
http://www.bethinking.org
http://www.origins.org
http://www.str.org
http://www.withallyourmind.net
http://www.selflessdefense.com
http://www.risenjesus.com
http://www.reclaimingthemind.org
http://www.christian-thinktank.com
http://www.aomin.org
http://www.reasons.org

WELL WORTH THE TIME TO VISIT

http://www.damaris.org
http://www.apologetics.com
http://www.apologetics.org
http://www.problemofevil.blogspot.com (debate with John Loftus)
http://www.thinkagain.us
http://www.impactapologetics.com
http://www.crossexamined.org
http://www.internationallegacy.org
http://www.jewsforjesus.org
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org
http://www.soulation.org
http://www.answersingenesis.org
http://www.creationontheweb.com
http://www.skepticalchristian.com
http://www.christiancadre.org
http://www.reformed.org/apologetics
http://www.internationallegacy.org
http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com
http://www.peterkreeft.com
http://www.sbtexas.com/evangelism
http://www.ChristianWorldview.net
http://www.proofthatgodexists.org (Rock Star)
http://www.prshockley.org
http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/Religion.swf
http://www.answers101.org
http://www.standfortruthministries.org
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com
Interpreting ancient manuscripts
Apologetics315.blogspot.com

February 21, 2009

Crisis of Credit Visualized

Josh showed me something interesting. This has nothing to do with DA but I liked it so much I wanted to share. Maybe I can relate it to how mankind is burying themselves with always doing the wrong things, especially when it comes to money. The righteous will prevail because God designed the universe that way.

Without Christ who is righteous? ...no one. (Romans 5:19, 1 John 2:29)


February 16, 2009

The Privileged Planet Hijacked

We were given the ability to observe, study and carry out experiments in order to gain a better understanding of our environment, our future, ourselves, and God. Unfortunately the Lab Coatauthoritarians have hijacked out system for study. We must take back the process to discover our environment. Seek God and you will find the truth, seek truth and you will find God.



The presuppositions of the secular scientific community are obvious and sad when faced with truth. They will twist the truth to fit their belief structure no matter how contorted the truth looks afterwords.

The Privileged Planet has a beautiful and compelling argument why we are exactly here, in this exact spot, for the exact reason to be able to study our universe. Imagine the odds? (Acts 17:24-26,Psalm 115:16,1 Corinthians 15:41)

February 12, 2009

Lying for Science?

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)


Speaking of Ray, I guess I should add this link also.

I was going to write an article/theory explaining about Darwin losing his Mom very early in life and then losing his three children (two as infants and one at age 10), thus possibly grudging against God, yada yada yada. But I have changed my mind. I am so fed up with the lying for science that is going on these days, I though I would just let things implode within itself. Instead, with minimal effort on my part, I will post a previous article about this day and hope that people will come to their senses. Since evilution has been exposed for what it is...a lie.


The Gospel According to Darwin

"There is scant reporting on the anti-religious zeal with which many atheists promote Darwinism.

February 12 used to be known in classrooms across the nation as Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. But over the last decade, an increasing number of schools and community groups have decided to celebrate the birthday of the father of evolution instead.

The movement to establish February 12 as “Darwin Day” seems to be spreading, promoted by a evangelistic non-profit group with its own website (www.darwinday.org) and an ambitious agenda to create a “global celebration in 2009, the bicentennial of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origins of Species.”

Darwin Day celebrations provide an eye-opening glimpse into the world of grassroots Darwinian fundamentalism, an alternate reality where atheism is the conventional wisdom and where traditional religious believers are viewed with suspicion if not paranoia.

Promoters of Darwin Day deny that their activities are anti-religious, but their denial is hard to square with reality.

According to the Darwin Day website, the movement’s inspiration was an event sponsored by the Stanford Humanists and the Humanist Community in 1995. Since then the honor roll of groups sponsoring Darwin Day events has been top-heavy with organizations bearing such names as the “Long Island Secular Humanists,” the “Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin,” the “Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists,” the “Humanists of Idaho,” the “Southeast Michigan Chapter of Freedom from Religion Foundation,” and the “San Francisco Atheists.” The last group puts on an annual festival called “Evolutionpalooza” featuring a Darwin impersonator and an evolution game show (“Evolutionary!”).

Given such sponsors, it should be no surprise that Darwin Day events often explicitly attack religion. At a high school in New York a few years ago, students wore shirts emblazoned with messages proclaiming that “no religious dogmas [were] keeping them from believing what they want to believe,” while in California a group named “Students for Science and Skepticism” hosted a lecture at the University of California, Irvine, on the topic “Darwin’s Greatest Discovery: Design without a Designer.” This year in Boston there is an event on “Biological Arguments Against the Existence of God.”

A musical group calling itself “Scientific Gospel Productions,” meanwhile, mocks gospel music by holding annual Darwin Day concerts featuring such songs as “Ain’t Gonna Be No Judgment Day,” the “Virgin of Spumoni” (satirizing the Virgin Mary), and my favorite, “Randomness Is Good Enough for Me,” the lyrics of which proclaim: “Randomness is good enough for me./ If there’s no design it means I’m free./ You can pray to go to heaven./ I’m gonna try to roll a seven./ Randomness is good enough for me.” The same group’s website offers for sale a CD titled “Hallelujah! Evolution!”

The original “honorary president” of Darwin Day was biologist Richard Dawkins, author most recently of The God Delusion. Dawkins is best known for such pearls of wisdom as “faith is one of the world’s great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate,” and “Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.”

The Darwin Day group’s current advisory board includes not only Dawkins but Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education (an original signer of the “Humanist Manifesto III”), philosopher Daniel Dennett (who praises Darwinism as the “universal acid” that eats away traditional religion and morality), and Scientific American columnist Michael Shermer (an atheist who writes that “Science Is My Savior” because it helped free him from “the stultifying dogma of a 2,000-year-old religion”).

Perhaps in an effort to revise the image of Darwin Day as merely a holiday for atheists, last year a professor from Wisconsin urged churches to celebrate “Evolution Sunday” on or near Darwin Day. But the fact that some liberal churches have now been enlisted to spread the Darwinist gospel cannot cover up the anti-religious fervor that pervades the Darwinist subculture.

Darwin Day celebrations are fascinating because they expose a side of the controversy over evolution in America that is rarely covered by the mainstream media. Although journalists routinely write about the presumed religious motives of anyone critical of unguided evolution, they almost never discuss the anti-religious mindset that motivates many of evolution’s staunchest defenders.

On the few occasions when the anti-religious agenda of someone like Dawkins is even raised, it is usually downplayed as unrepresentative of most Darwinists.

What Darwin Day shows, however, is just how ordinary the anti-religious views expressed by Dawkins are among grassroots Darwinists. Far from being on the fringe, Dawkins’ views form the ideological core of mainstream Darwinism.

Not that this should come as a shock. According to a 1998 survey of members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), nearly 95 percent of NAS biologists are atheists or agnostics. A look at the major critics of the theory of intelligent design reveals similar views. Barbara Forrest, co-author of the anti-intelligent design harangue Creationism’s Trojan Horse, is a long-time activist and board member with a group calling itself the “New Orleans Secular Humanist Association,” although she fails to disclose that fact in her book, and reporters studiously avoid asking her about her own religious beliefs.

The anti-religious outlook of many of Darwin’s chief boosters exposes the hypocrisy in current discussions over Darwin’s theory. The usual complaint raised against scientists who are skeptical of Darwin’s theory is that many of them (like the vast majority of Americans) happen to believe in God. It is insinuated that this fact somehow undermines the validity of their scientific views. Yet, at the same time, defenders of Darwinism insist that their own rejection of religion is irrelevant to the validity of their scientific views—and most reporters seem to agree.

Of course, in an important sense these defenders of Darwinism are right. Just because leading Darwinists are avowed atheists or agnostics does not mean that their scientific beliefs about evolution are wrong. Scientific propositions should be debated based on their evidence, not on the metaphysical beliefs of those who espouse them.

But if Darwinists have the right to be debated based on evidence, not motives, then scientists who are supportive of alternatives to Darwin’s theory such as intelligent design should have the right to expect the same treatment.

If Darwin Day helps expose the blatant double standard about religious motives operating in the current evolution debate, then its evangelistic boosters will have performed an invaluable public service—however unintentionally."

—John G. West author of Darwin’s Conservatives: The Misguided Quest.

February 9, 2009

Labcoat Authoritarians

Speaking of Labcoat Authoritarians AKA Liars for Science, John Cleese is clueless in a funny but very sad way.



Dr. David Berlinski is right, I think it's time to go after these so called Labcoat Authoritarians.



UPDATE:

Froggie,

Trying to demonize science merely trivializes your faith based worldview. You should know better than this. Science is science

Nice try to misrepresent my position. Get this straight once and for all. I LOVE SCIENCE!!!

What I don't like is the presuppositions and biased for a god that the SECULAR scientists have, called naturalism. They are trying to strangle hold simple common sense and hijack our educational system to teach false things. The Secular Scientists are liars for science. They do not represent the objectivity of science, they represent the common subjectivity of man hence the name Labcoat Authoritarians.



bit.ly/LabCoatauth

February 8, 2009

Who was the Rich Man?

In discussing Luke 16:19-31, I heard a viewpoint that was compelling and though I would share from WotM.

Most people think the rich man is just a rich dude in hell for not feeding Lazerath. Is it a picture of the way to salvation? If so, it's totally inconsistent with every other Biblical reference to deliverance from death. The symbolism the author is making is very important.

First, why did the rich man end up in hell? What was his sin? Obviously, it was his failure to feed Lazarus. If that is the case, then he could have earned salvation. If a non-Christian wanted to earn his way into Heaven, should he then give food to the homeless? How much food would merit eternal life? No since salvation is "by grace through faith,... not of works"(Ephesians 2:8-9), the rich man's sin could could not have been a mere failure to give Lazarus free food.

On the other hand, what did Lazarus do to merit salvation? Did suffering in the life appease the wrath of God and gain him entrance? If so let us seek suffering instead of the Savior.

If this is a picture of the way of salvation, then Eternal Justice can be perverted, God can be bribed, and the sacrifice of the wicked is not an abomination to the Lord.

The story , therefore, MUST have another meaning .

So who is the rich man? Let's establish several principles of Biblical interpretation that will unlock the meaning of the story.

1. Purple is the Biblical color of royalty (Esther 8:15)
2. Fine linen represents the righteousness of the saints (Rev 19:8)
3. The Church is referred to as the "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9)
4. The tabernacle was made of fine linen and purple (Exodus 26:1)

I believe the rich man is a type of professing Church, and the leper (Lazarus) is a type of 'the sinner'.

The rich man's thoughts are only for himself. He is filled with his own ways. We have built for ourselves big beautiful buildings with cool clear acoustics and colorful carpets, as cozy Christians we sit on padded pews, living in luxury while sinners sink into Hell. We say that we are rich, but we are poor, blind, wretched, miserable, and naked. We have lavish luxury on the lifeboat, while mass people drown around us.

bit.ly/RichMan

February 5, 2009

Push Towards Governmental Atheism and Socialism



UPDATE: Maybe I should add something else to make my point clearer. Although this video was made by a man that does not believe in God, we do share the same beliefs about our current government.




Karl Marx, in Manifesto of the Communist Party (1848), posited that socialism would be achieved via class struggle and a proletarian revolution and would represent the transitional stage between capitalism and communism.

From the words of Dr. Cornelius Van Til, "Believers themselves have not chosen the Christian position because they are wiser then others. What they have they have by grace alone. But this does not mean that they accept the problematics of fallen man as right...Fallen man does in principle seek to be a law unto himself. But he cannot carry our his own principle to its full degree. He is restrained from doing so...In spite of what he does against God, he can and must work for God; thus he is able to make a "positive contribution" to human culture. (A Christian Theory of Knowledge, 1969 pp. 43-44)

January 26, 2009

Civic Duty


Serious case ahead and I cannot say any more. This will take at least a couple of weeks. I cannot read anything about this case, courts, or jury duty as I was instructed.

Stan said Since you're poised to sit in a jury box, perhaps you should be more aware of just what the laws of this country stipulate.

Stan, I stopped reading everything past this point. First because I can't stand your arrogant smugness right now and second I don't want my virgin eyes to be affected by anything for this case. I will read it after we reach a verdict.

Have a good couple of weeks all. Two weeks without atheists? Is this Heaven?

Speaking of judgments...How would you fair in God's Court?

January 23, 2009

Defending the Christian Faith

I may have to go to jury duty for a long case so this may be my last post for a while. I will know more Monday.

To allow a continuation of the discussion about worldviews this post is relevant. More accurately though, this post is a ode to Dani' El from discussions I have had with him, also since he is currently reading the book "Always Ready- Directions for Defending the Faith" by the late great Dr. Greg Bahnsen. (my copy is on it's way). I so love this man's mind.

I thought you would find it interesting to be a fly on the wall as he is lecturing to us Christians. Atheists, if you want to be shoved back against the wall gasping for breath just listen to some of this brilliant teaching. Does the evidence of God, or lack of, place atheists in a neutral position? Listen for the answer by Dr. Bahnsen.





UPDATE: Hendrik van der Breggen did an article on Moral relativism and tolerance that would be worth the read. The comment to froggie was brilliant.

January 21, 2009

Adams Rib?

Speaking of proper hermeneutics…

I heard something early in the morning from a local preacher that gave me pause. He was discussing Adam's rib and the proper translation that was compelling.

In Genesis 2:21 God took one of Adam’s ribs to create Eve.

and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof” KJV

he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.” NIV, NASB

And it appears that all of the translations say this. Is that what it really said in the original Hebrew manuscripts?

According to Strong's Hebrew Lexicon the word rib, Hebrew צלע 'tsela' (Strong’s 6763) , side or rib from the primitive root word of צלע 'tsala' (Strong’s 6760) which means curve, limp in the sense of bowing, to arc, as in pray.

So what does this all mean? Well what if the translation was indeed wrong and that it was in fact “tsala“(Strong’s 6760) they did not understand that God took from Adam’s curve. So they extrapolated (assumed) that it meant rib. God said Adam’s curve. In other words from Adam’s Double Helix (Curve) DNA.

Understandably, back in 1611 we had it wrong. We had no clue what a curve from Adam was. The very exact Hebrew word צלע could mean rib or curve. The implications of this is huge, Howard huge.

Remember this was written 3000-4000 years before mankind had any clue as to what DNA was. This shows, once again, the supernatural aspect of God’s Word. The Bible is fully and completely inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. No man can convince me otherwise.

So, should we trust man with the various translations to make decisions about the fallibility and in turn question the reliability of the Bible? Of course not. Should we trust the preserved Word of God with our entire lives? Definitely!



bit.ly/Adamrib

Rhetorical Adjuration

January 19, 2009

A Paradigm for Design

"I have not heard of any scientific theory about a creator... God should be considered part of nature, not separate from it, and thus the subject of scientific inquiry"



If you have noticed the original video has been removed and replaced. The Original was titled: Bacterial Flagella: a Paradigm for Design please keep an eye out for it! We cannot be silenced.

Before it is written off so quickly or if anyone introduces Ken Miller, watch this rant.

January 18, 2009

The Theory of Evilution is a Myth


Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five





This five part series should show anyone who is open to the truth, the very obvious reason that the Myth of Evolution is being imposed on the evidence, lacks falsifiability, and has become a part of the contemporary worldview.

January 10, 2009

Christ’s New Covenant Church Kingdom

CwC asked: Dan, what stops you from obeying the Mosaic Code?

For those of us who are saved, if it's in the Old Covenant it has been nailed to the Cross by Jesus, as fulfilled, and the New Covenant has continued it. The only time you would follow the Old Covenant of the nation of Israel, is if it is repeated in the New Covenant, for the saved. 

You won't find anything repeated about keeping the Sabbath in the New Covenant, for example, because Jesus is our Sabbath rest. So the 4th Old Commandment had been fulfilled for the saved. (Hebrews 4:9-10, Matthew 11:28)

Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:7-8,13, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 9:11-15, ,Hebrews 1:1-14, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Hebrews 10:16

I can stop here and point you to Hebrews 10:9-10  that clearly spells it out, but I'll flesh it out further. I am sure you are fully aware of this, but it's worth repeating for the discussion. We need to make a distinction between the three types of laws in the Old Testament for the nation of Isreal.

The first type is ceremonial. These are the laws governing the temple worship and the way the Jewish were to approach God. They have to do with the layout of the temple, the ways a person must be purified, the sacrificial system. We don’t sacrifice animals today because, for one they were for Israel, and two Jesus has come, the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God. He, in his death on the cross, fulfilled the ceremonial law. They only apply as Christ has fulfilled these, to those that are saved in Him.

The second type is judicial, civil law. These laws covered the specific laws for the nation of Israel. These still apply to given a proper Godly way to run a government, I believe. They are about not taxing, no police force fining it's citizens for infractions, and more about restitution and capital punishment, instead of prisons, as a much better way to governing it's citizens. The civil law has been fulfilled by Christ in that God’s Kingdom, extended to all nations, transcending national identity as a better way to run a government with the headship of Jesus Christ.  

The third type is moral law, the Ten Commandments fall into this category. These are laws that transcend the civil and ceremonial laws. Yes, Jesus fulfilled the moral law, just as he did the other two, but we are now free to follow this Law. They are still in effect, because they are a reflection of God’s moral character, and that does not change. We, as the saved, are not held to the Law as a Covenant.

On a side note, the dietary guidelines in Leviticus 11 are still "in effect" I want to believe. Even if it's repeated and continued in the NT for Israel, while Christ was still around, they have been fulfilled and no longer apply under the New Covenant. But, the fact that 'clean' and 'unclean' foods haven't changed, gives us a guide. But again, you're made clean through Christ, not from anything we're doing, or ingesting. It's just good to not ingest unclean animals that were created to ingest death and the refuge of the world. God's wisdom gave us very good nutritional, and preparatory, guidelines. Following them just makes sense still. It just will not get you to heaven by doing so. These days we have more options to continue to follow the practices even. We even have beef bacon!

Galatians 3:11-13 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

Jesus, at the time before the cross, was an Old Covenant prophet (Old Covenant Messianic Kingdom of David), after the cross he became the High Priest (Christ’s New Covenant Church Kingdom)

In order for there to be a change in the LAW, there had to be a change in the Priesthood. Jesus did NOT become High Priest of His New Covenant Kingdom until He was Resurrected from the dead. If Jesus, before the Cross, had given NEW Covenant Law, there would have been NO New High Priest to Mediate it. When He was alive we were still under the Old Covenant Messianic Kingdom of David.

Hebrews 7:12 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."

Romans 7:5-7 "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

All people will face God under one of two covenants. Either Adam, or the second Adam named Jesus Christ. It's that simple. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Which Covenant are you going to meet God under?

bit.ly/Cncck

January 5, 2009

Shadowy Prophecies

[Click inside picture for links to Messianic Prophecy list]
In the OT there were many shadowy prophecies for the NT.

For example baptism:

1 Pet 3:20-21 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

Another example is the sacrificing of a lamb to cover the sins in the OT to the sacrificing the Lamb of God for forgiveness of sins in the NT.

The sacrificial lamb during Passover referring to Jesus our Passover Lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7) The blood of the lamb over the door to save your first born and the Lamb of God, His first and only begotten son, shed His Blood to save everyone.

From Sabbath as a day in the OT, to Sabbath is Jesus Christ in NT; Jesus is our Sabbath Rest is another shadowy prophecy.

The reason why Jesus said "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) was because of the fulfillment of the prophetic explanation of Himself dying on the Cross in Psalm 22. In verse 15 "they pierced my hands and my feet" hundreds of years before Crucifictions were invented as a form of death penalty.

Read Isaiah 53 1-12 and you will see that it was written about Jesus and was written almost 700 years before Christ was even born.

My all time favorite is The Ten Commandments are like the ten camels that carried Abraham's servant in search of a bride for his only begotten son, Isaac (Genesis 24:10-20). When the servant arrived at the city, Nahor I believe, he had his ten camels kneel down outside the city before the well at the time the woman go out to draw water. He prayed that the bride to be would be evidenced by the fact that she would have consideration for the camels. When Rebekah saw the camels, she ran to the well to get water for them.

God, the Father, sent His Spirit to search for a bride for His only begotten Son. He has chosen the Ten Commandments to carry this special message.

The Holy Spirit knows that the primary reason the bride draws water from the well of salvation is to satisfy the ten thirsting camels of a holy and just Law. If the Law didn't demand death for sin, we wouldn't need a Savior. The true convert comes to the savior simply to satisfy the demands of a holy Law.

The espoused virgin has respect for the Commandments of God. She loves God's Law because of what it is (an expression of His holy nature) and what it does (show us our need for mercy). She isn't a worker of lawlessness. [taken from WotM]

We must keep in mind some of these prophecies were listed 1000 years before it happened. Logic will tell you that the Bible is supernatural unless you want to fulfill another prophecy of the Bible, by denying Him and His truth. (Proverbs 30:9, 2 Timothy 2:12, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Titus 1:16, 2 Peter 2:1, Jude 1:4)

bit.ly/ShadowPro

January 3, 2009

Scientific Consensus?

Objections to Intelligent Design continued from a previous post

ID Violates the Scientific Consensus

Scientific consensus is highly problematic because it has been notoriously unreliable. For example in 1960 geosynclinal theory was the consensus explanation for mountain formation. It was "one of the great unifying principals of geology" according to authors of 'Geological Evolution of North America.' Geosynclinal theory was utterly abandoned after ten years of declaration and replaced with plate tectonics.

Even in a recent conversation it was get_education who poignantly said: "Actually, all scientific theories are "dubious" in the sense that further data might contradict the current theories, and thus we would have to come to different conclusions."

To which Dr. Van der Breggen complemented it with: "I think that we can agree that we should let a scientific investigation of the evidence of the world arbitrate our disagreement and that we should let the investigation do so unfettered by either an atheistic or theistic philosophy which might unfairly force our conclusions one way or the other."

Darwininism, today, is touted so widely as fact. We need to understand though that Darwin's theory at the start of the twentieth century was rejected by most all biologists. In the 1930's Darwinism revived when a handful of scientists merged Darwin's theory with Mendelian genetics, now known as Neo-Darwinism.

We can all agree that Darwinism remains the scientific consensus, but that consensus is shrinking. Dissent from Darwinism continues to grow in the scientific population. More would sign the list if their livelihood and reasearch would not be threatened by challenging Darwinism.

Michael Crichton, Medical Doctor, said it best: "I regard consensus science as an extremely pernicious development that ought to be stopped cold in its tracks. Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had.

Let's be clear: the work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus.

There is no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. Period.
"

January 2, 2009

Intelligent Design/Evolution Debate


Let's kick this year off right with a knock down drag out fight between truth and perceived truth. We will let this 8 part debate be the opener.

ID Proponents: William F. Buckley Jr., Phillip Johnson, Michael Behe, and David Berlinski.

Evolutionist: Barry Lynn, Eugenie C. Scott, Michael Ruse, and Kenneth Miller.

I am not a huge fan of this debate and it did go on tangents at times. I will say I enjoyed Berlinski and his confident arguments. Since he is not a Christian no one can claim his "Christian Propaganda". I was amazed that Scott said that ICR frustrated her because they always claim that (x) didn't happen and it then takes much longer to explain that (x) did happen. So her frustrations are that we don't take it on faith of mankind about evilution, plus that is the very same thing done by atheists and (x), in that case, is God. At least the sides do seem to be balanced where you have a professing Christian who believes in evolution (Lynn) and a non believer who rejects evolution (Berlinski).



Since I am not satisfied with the results of the closing arguments, and since this is my arena, I will allow Berlinski an additional 5 minutes as a closing:




Once again atheists have sought to silence christian opinions by taking down this video. Ah, who will have the last word? ...God.

This clip was part of a 22 part interview that I recommend as part of a journey towards truth.

tinyurl.com/IDFalsifier

December 31, 2008

Prince Caspian and Exceeded Expectations

I was contemplating a way to introduce a Narnia Story witnessing website since the Prince Caspian Blu-ray came out. Then our good friend Dr. Hendrik van der Breggen, who wrote that great article "Reasonable Skepticism about Radical Skepticism", added an article to his blog that exceeded all expectations that I had about just highlighting a website.

The doctor included evolution into the post that I found brilliant on his blog called Apologia. The post of his was so well done I suggest you go read it directly since I could not do it's proper justice to emulate the argument here without a shameless c/p.

I would love to hear the evolution promoters at this blog opinions on his article. In my opinion it's just another two points in the slam debunk that has been made about evolution. How much of a pummeling are you going to take before your logic kicks in?

Here’s the argument made by C. S. Lewis (modified by University of Notre Dame philosopher Alvin Plantinga)"Evolutionary theory on the assumption of an unguided, unplanned process of genetic mutation and natural selection guarantees at most that we behave in ways conducive to immediate survival."

So how does one explain how we seek to know much, much more than what’s required for mere immediate survival? Time, effort, and energy is being spent way beyond an atheistic evolutionary theory. If it "is true, then our beliefs about logic (beyond rudimentary logic) and mathematics and science—especially deep scientific theories—should be, very probably, dubious."

In quoting Lewis, Dr. Van der Breggen slams it home with this nugget: "But now an epistemological (knowledge) problem arises for atheistic evolution: It is a deep scientific theory, which, if true, very probably shouldn’t be believed to be true.

Go figure."

Plus, that Narnia Story website that I wanted to to highlight is appropriately called NarniaStory.com I suggest you listen to it before the drunks are on the road tonight. This may be your last chance. Stay safe!

December 29, 2008

The Jesus Project

The Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion (CSER) is a research division of the Council for Secular Humanism and endeavored to do the Jesus Project. Someone named Charlie on a blog said about the project "As if any group sponsored by the CFI -- notorious atheist apologetics -- can be trusted to deliver accurate, balanced, and even remotely unbiased conclusions." Never the less, they claim a secular approach/viewpoint to religion. Their mission, or I would say mantra, is to promote that nature is all there is and all basic truths are truths of nature. Keep in mind that "Science is an attempt to understand the natural world in a natural way. Science then in that sense is restricted to natural explanations for natural phenomena. If a natural explanation is inadequate then science stops." (D’Souza)

I am not sure how many have heard of the endeavor to find the truth that is Jesus. Although, in review of its predecessor called The Jesus Seminar, I will not be holding my breath. The "seminar" was a colossal fail. The Christian Arsenal accurately depicted the Jesus Seminar as a tool of Satan, meant to undermine Biblical beliefs. What else could be the purpose of it, I would ask?

The Jesus Project claims a different approach, but how different could it be with the same data and the same secular worldview? I digress. They claim that they are "the first methodologically agnostic approach to the question of Jesus’ historical existence." This description did spark my attention since I have had many conversations with people asking for this exact thing, that the events can be extra biblically corroborated. Although, it does beg the question as to starting with doubt in scripture. I am only 'curious' as to the results, and will be pleasantly surprised for confirmation of the Bible. If they conclude that there indeed was a Jesus and that Jesus was God himself, would it sway anyone to reconsider the Bible?

I do believe that Atheists would make some the strongest Christians, if there is such a thing, once convinced/enlightened. I denied Christ for years until that very special time in my life. Since Atheists are looking for evidence, would a positive conclusion as to the validity of the Bible's teachings from this project suffice as ample empirical evidence? In the past, the case was made that understanding through the intellect is a futile endeavor, but I wonder would this get Atheists to rethink the subject?

So when they admit that Scriptures are reliable and trustworthy historical documents and the Bible is a valid historical record then we can go to the next point, realizing that Jesus Christ claims to be the unique Son of God and that He bases this claim on His forthcoming resurrection from the dead.

Next, we examine the evidence for the resurrection contained in this historic document and find that the arguments overwhelmingly support the contention that Christ has risen from the dead. If this is true, then He is the unique Son of God as He claimed to be. If He is indeed God, then He speaks with authority on all matters.

Since Jesus considered the Old Testament to be the Word of God (Matthew 15:1-4, 5:17, 18) and promised His disciples, who either wrote or had control over the writing of the New Testament books, that the Holy Spirit would bring all things back to their remembrance (John 14:26), therefore we can insist, with sound and accurate logic, that the Bible is God's Word. This is not circular reasoning. It is establishing certain facts and basing conclusions on the sound, logical outcome of these facts. The case for Christianity can be established by ordinary means of historical investigation.

If you must trust man for evidence of the Bible, you will have to wait four more years for the results of the Jesus Project. So what do you do until then? All I ask is that you don't die before the findings. Have a safe New Year!

December 26, 2008

We Are Born Evil!

We all are wretched and evil and without God we would have an unlivable world. This is for the simple fact that "All Men Are Born Evil."



"When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma,  He said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground  because of man, even though man’s inclination is evil from his youth.  And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done." ~ Genius 8:21

Ray has an analogy: "A little girl was once watching a sheep eat grass and thought how white it looked against the green background. But when it began to snow she thought, "That sheep now looks dirty against the white snow!" It was the same sheep, but with a different background. When we compare ourselves to man's standard we look pretty clean, but when we compare ourselves to the pure snow-white righteousness of God's standard—His Law, we can see ourselves in truth, that we are unclean in His sight. That Law is the holy standard by which humanity will be judged on Judgment Day."


bit.ly/BornEvil

December 23, 2008

Debunking Atheists Still

So here we are, towards the end of the year and I am getting slightly sentimental. As for Debunking Atheists, we have seen some friendships blossom, and we have seen a great deal of spirited discussions. Humbly, I have learned quite a bit about Atheists. We also had some sacrifices along the way to get God's Word out.

In the past 6 months we had over 100 posts with many comments, one thread with 1000+ comments. We have welcomed close to 11,000 visitors all over the world with over 25,500 posts viewed. One thing that I have learned from this little experiment is, that I love atheists more then ever. I want nothing more for people to understand what is the cost of turning away from God. So, what's the real purpose of the Debunking Atheists blog? Well...



Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and Blessings from the Marvin Family.

December 20, 2008

Silly Atheistic Elitist Logic

My friend Josh and I had a nice discussion about the future. He was teasing me because I had so many children and linked to this video:

Here is the beginning of the movie, that will probably be taken down soon. Rated R, bad language and Adult subject matter:



I posed the question, "How can someone believe in evolution if we're seeing humans becoming dumber?" in relationship to the clip. "Especially since you believe we have been around for 100,000 years. We must of really been smart that many years ago."

Josh said that "we are working opposite of evolution because we are VIOLATING nature by being human" and that "Man DOES have influence, but the laws are the same what man does does not always benefit nature or mankind, but the long run, nature's laws win."

So according to the movie "the dumb" are the predominate species. They are the ones that were thrown back into the proverbial ocean as the Heike Crab (because of the superstition that Japanese fisherman had about it looking like a Samurai's face.)

Josh said that "the "smart" people have put their minds and work to themselves and not considered the survival of mankind as an importance." Josh also threw out this gem during the conversation "[I]f we were a responsible society, we'd embrace eugenics, and encourage self reliance, and not feed those who can't feed themselves. Hitler knew this damn well"

I concluded with "future smart people will be dumb by default since they failed to evolve and maintain heritage" and "so then the smart people of today are the dumbest of tomorrow" The Ignotheists, Atheist "intellects", portrayed in this video are in fact the not so smart ones. If evolution is truth (we all know the contrary) then, as in eugenics, to render one self's genetic line extinct is not very smart, in the evolutionary model that is. So then "smart" is subjective, and its the "dumb ones" that are portrayed in this video that are the true smart ones.

To which Josh agreed

December 18, 2008

Psychological Questionnaire

Andrew highlighted a personality test that I found interesting. Patty took this earlier at her work and I found it uncanny how accurate it was pointing her personality out by just a few questions. During the conversation with Andrew, I also was considering how interesting it would be to understand each others personalities, if you feel comfortable to share that is. This may be some horoscope Ouija thing so I appologize, if it is, to my Christian friends but it may be fun. To be accurate, take the test once and give that result, as I have. You can tell me if you agree with the results or not. So to pave the way of ridicule and embarrassment I will share my scores.

First here is the test:



Second Here is how I scored:

I faired as a ENTJ

ExtravertedIntuitiveThinking Judging
Strength of the preferences %
3350126


I did chuckle at the trademark:

"TRADEMARK: -- "I'm really sorry you have to die." (I realize this is an overstatement. However, most Fs and other gentle souls usually chuckle knowingly at this description.)"


They called it the Fieldmarshal

Career choices: Management in Business or Education, Military Education, Politics, Law, Counseling, Engineering, Industrial Management & Manufacturing Management, High School Education, Computer Programming.

Famous people with same traits: Napoleon, Franklin D. Roosevelt , Dave Letterman, Sean Connery, Jim Carrey, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Carl Sagan.

WIKI had some interesting things about it. Now, I think it would be a fascinating study to find out how many of your profiles relates to my own. It explains the type of relationships for ENTJs. Some people I get along with and some I buck horns with. So lets see if this typology test is accurate or not. Here I stand, naked before you.

December 15, 2008

Evolution(ists) gets OWNED!!!


Evolution is refuted by Evolutionists.



Also, here is a case built against Evolution: