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Watching the Mainstream Rush By

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Watching the Mainstream Rush By

Brian D. Dykstra, teacher at Hope PRCS in Walker, MI.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matt. 7:13).

Members of the Protestant Reformed Churches are accustomed to having various labels attached to them. We have been called Anabaptists and hyper-Calvinists. I recently came across another label which others would apply to us. We are “pseudo-scientists.” Because we are creationists and deny evolution, we are false (“pseudo”) scientists. Mainstream scientists place creationists in the same category as those who believe that the Apollo moon landings were faked, and in astrology, alien abductions and UFOs.

Philip C. Plait, who works for NASA, wrote an article in the May 2004 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine titled, “A Commonsense Guide to Cosmic Nonsense.” Plait devotes most of his article to giving advice to amateur astronomers in how to deal with the “cranks” who sometimes attend star parties hosted by amateur astronomy associations. While special attention is given to astrology, the Apollo moon landings, alien abductions and UFOs, what caught my attention was a table at the end of the article. The table is titled, “Web Sites Defending the Truth.” One of the topics listed in the table is “Creationism.” Plait offers this commentary, “Where to go when someone insists that the Earth is only 6,000 years old.”

The web site listed is www.talkorigins.org. This is a valuable web site. Its value is not that it is a place where the truths of God’s Word are carefully explained by fellow believers. Rather, its value is that we can prepare our young people for what they are to face if they continue their education past our own high schools. High school teachers and parents of college bound students might find it useful.

The web site contains scores of articles in many areas of study. Each article follows the same outline. Articles begin with a “false” claim and its source, which is then followed by a response and references.

Going to the heart of the matter but omitting two responses in the interest of space, Talk Origins says,

Claim CH100: God’s Word, the Bible, must be our ultimate authority. The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.
Response:
1.1 This claim is dogmatism. It suggests no reason for its conclusion. The views of others, that the Bible is not God’s word or is not an ultimate authority, have just as much validity.
3.1 In practice, this claim really means, “My view of the Bible is the ultimate authority.” (Since there are so very many different interpretations of the Bible, not to mention other religions, the claim would be meaningless otherwise.) In practice, then, this claim displays a great deal of arrogance, hubris, and close-mindedness. It says that the final word on how the universe operates depends on your personal decision of what to believe.
5.1 The Bible says several things that you probably don’t believe.
Slavery is acceptable.
You should kill your child if he strikes you [Ex. 21:15].
If you work on Sunday, you should be put to death [Ex. 35:2-3].
If you curse, you should be stoned to death [Lev. 24:14-15].
Happiness is smashing children upon the rocks [Ps. 137:9].
Women should be subjugated by their husbands [I Pet. 3:1-7]

What a tirade, consisting of anti-Christian philosophy and caricatures of biblical teaching, including ignoring the abrogation of the Old Testament and Mosaic civil law through the cross of Jesus Christ!

The visitor to the web site who wishes to participate in discussions is first encouraged to read an article which explains the basics of evolution. This will ensure an understanding of basic scientific terminology during discussions because, if the basics of evolution are not understood, your contributions will be met “with scorn.” It is interesting that evolutionists will first define God and His Word out of the debate!

We know, of course, that any debate which does not first understand that the Bible is the revealed Truth of the one, only God, will be futile. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb. 11:3). Faith is not, as is claimed by many, “I cannot prove it but I believe it anyway.” Faith is a living bond between the believer and the Lord. Faith is God’s gift to His adopted children in Jesus Christ. This living bond is the proof that God’s Word is truth.

In articles concerning evolution, and on this web site as well, I am struck by how often the “mainstream” is mentioned. It is as though the river of evolutionists is broad, mighty and irrefutable. The river of creationists, on the other hand, is but a shallow and inconsequential trickle. Is truth determined by popular vote? If so, would the evolutionists ever concede that the votes of the mainstream scientific world are infinitely outweighed by God’s one vote?

We know that in stepping into the mainstream of evolution, we would be swept away to destruction. We, by God’s grace, will stay in our insignificant trickle and watch the mainstream rush by.

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