Creation Museum Part 2
I want to make a follow up post to my original creation museum post found here. There is a great article in the Salon about the museum. Not great because the writer was a Christian, or even believed anything proposed at the museum, but great because the writer exposed a couple of things and, seems to me, didn’t even know it. Let me give you a couple of examples.
In the next scene, after the fall from grace, Adam and Eve, looking far less happy than before, are standing next to two lambs they have slaughtered on a sacrificial stone table. The sacrifice has a practical value — the original couple are now wearing lambskin suits and the lambs are skinless — and a spiritual one; the lambs are sacrificed, a visitor explains to me, in partial payment for the debt incurred by Adam and Eve for eating the fruit of knowledge. I tell the visitor it seems unfair for the lamb to pay for their mistake. “Well, it wasn’t enough,” he says. “God had to send his only Son to pay the ultimate price for their sin.” When I tell him that sounds kind of extreme, he looks at me and shakes his head slowly a couple of times before moving on.
Gordy (the article’s author) is exactly right, Jesus Christ dying on the cross was extreme! Don’t you think the sinless son of God paying the penalty for sinners is extreme? Gordy, its called extreme love. And it makes me want to make much of a God who loves that much.
Next,
After the flood, Noah’s descendants multiply again on Earth, but not quickly or broadly enough to satisfy God, who then introduces a slew of new languages to drive people apart, resulting in their dispersal around the globe. The ensuing C-for-Confusion theme is represented through a gritty and menacing back alley postered with newspaper headlines about the rise in abortion, drug use, homosexuality and teen suicide.
The entire exhibit, in fact, is awfully grim. A montage slide show of fetuses, starving kids, swastikas, tourniquet-bound arms ready for the needle bombard the wall in a room with a soundtrack of blaring sirens, boots marching in unison, and crying kids.
Perhaps some of us need a “grim” reminder of the fact that evil and sin reign in the hearts of man, and that the only thing that can do anything about it is the extreme sacrifice of Jesus. Really good article, I recommend it. I would love to hear what you think, and what else you would have told Gordy Slack (is that a cool name or what?)
Athiest Authors – What’s their deal?
“Athiest Authors Grapple with Believers” – L.A. Times
Snip:
The Rev. Douglas Wilson, senior fellow in theology at New Saint Andrews College, a Christian school in Moscow, Idaho, sees the books as a sign of secular panic. He says nonbelievers are finally realizing that, contrary to what they were taught in college, faith is not dead.
Creation Museum
The Answers in Genesis Creation Museum opened yesterday with fanfare, including walking and flying protestors. What is the Creation Museum you might ask? (that is, if you haven’t clicked on the link already). Here it is from their website.
The Creation Museum presents a “walk through history.” Designed by a former Universal Studios exhibit director, this state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot museum brings the pages of the Bible to life.
A fully engaging, sensory experience for guests. Murals and realistic scenery, computer-generated visual effects, over fifty exotic animals, life-sized people and dinosaur animatronics, and a special-effects theater complete with misty sea breezes and rumbling seats. These are just some of the impressive exhibits that everyone in your family will enjoy.
I can’t wait to go! For some further takes on the museum, I highly recommend this article from Russell Moore, “Closed Minds at the Creation Museum”. Here is a snippet,
I suspect, in the end, that the humility of the Creation Museum’s presentation is precisely what worries some Darwinists. Some previous generations of creationists have spoken in ways that made it seem that the scientific data is on our side, that the debate can be won using the very same playing field as naturalism itself with an appeal to raw general revelation. The Creation Museum exhibits offer very little triumphalism of this sort. The exhibits quite often ask the questions “what if” and “could it be.” The exhibits honestly acknowledge that every viewpoint rests on some authority, with this viewpoint interpreting the data through the authority of divine revelation. The Museum designers also seem to understand that the debate with Darwinism will not be won ultimately with brute facts, but with an alternative narrative, a narrative that rings truer than the Darwinist story of a nature accidentally but perpetually red in tooth and claw.
I think this may be a point that we, as Christians, miss most of the time. While our society clamors for the next thing to occupy their time, the next movie to grab and soar their imaginations, or the next thrill to move their heart, we have the person, story, and excitement that they are missing. His name is Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. But we have got to get around to telling them about Him, not just why their stories are wrong. To see another article about the Museum that is somewhat funny to me, because the author’s bias is not too hidden, check out this article in the Times UK. Happy Dinosaur hunting!
Wednesdays Web!
- Pastor Driscoll gives some updates on the preparations for the Gospel Coalition Conference and asks for intercessory prayer for Pastor Piper as he finishes his book on justification and NT Wright’s views on said subject. Here ya go.
- Alex Chediak gives us a heads up on a new book by Voddie Baucham. The book is “Family Driven Faith” and is about “the crucially important role of parents in raising godly children with a view to multigenerational faithfulness.” You can purchase this book here.
- Here are a couple of articles about Pastor Falwell’s funeral yesterday. The Washington Post article is here, and the Baptist Press article is here.
- Joe Thorn talks about needing a new confession(s). Key up Huey Lewis and The News “I Want a New Drug” theme song. Good thoughts and I agree with Joe, but still love and subscribe to the old confessions.
- Bob Kauflin talks about suffering and the cross. I have been thinking about this theme lately and loved this part of his post.
- The cross assures us that our suffering is not purposeless, blind, unfair, or random. God has taken the most horrific event in all of history – the savage crucifixion of the Son of God – and transformed it into the supreme display of his glory and grace – the redemption of countless undeserving rebels. I tried to capture that thought in the song “Glory of the Cross.”What wisdom once devised the plan
Where all our sin and pride
Was placed upon the perfect Lamb
Who suffered, bled, and died
The wisdom of a sovereign God
Whose greatness will be shown
When those who crucified your Son
Rejoice around your throne.
Copyright 2000 Sovereign Grace Praise.Christ’s suffering means all our suffering now has profound meaning. We can rejoice in our trials because we know God is using them to prepare us for the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). We can be comforted that our sufferings have caused us to run to God for strength. We can thank God that our sufferings demonstrate God’s love for us, rather than contradict it (Rom. 8:35-39). We can be encouraged by the fact that we worship the One who has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Forever.
- The cross assures us that our suffering is not purposeless, blind, unfair, or random. God has taken the most horrific event in all of history – the savage crucifixion of the Son of God – and transformed it into the supreme display of his glory and grace – the redemption of countless undeserving rebels. I tried to capture that thought in the song “Glory of the Cross.”What wisdom once devised the plan
“Revenge of the Conscience”
Tim Challies is correct, this is a must read. What is? Today’s commentary by Dr. Mohler titled “Revenge of the Conscience”. Dr. Mohler takes a quick look at some recent articles in some mainsteam media mega-outlets, The L.A. Times, NY Times, and Washington Post.
Profound mega-snippet:
Have we now reached a point of no moral return? Mundy’s article forces us to face the fact that we have become a society that considers “selective reduction” just part of what is necessary, given the power of new reproductive technologies. We will become killers even as we become givers of life. A needle is inserted into one baby in order to kill, another needle in yet another baby in order to save.
The cold, clinical, calculating nature of the decisions reported by Liza Mundy takes us to the heart of the human problem. The essence of sin is the ambition to be as God.
The appearance of these articles, published in major American newspapers in a span of mere days, tells us something important. So does the fact that each of these articles reflects a sense of moral disquiet. Mundy reports that many women develop intense moral disquiet and persistent depression after undergoing the procedure. A source cited by Mundy explained that “psychoanalytic interviews with women who underwent [selective reduction] describe severe bereavement reactions including ambivalence, guilt, and a sense of narcissistic injury, all of which increased the complexity of their attachment to the remaining babies.”
Professor J. Budziszewski of the University of Texas describes this pattern as ”the revenge of conscience.” God has made us so that conscience emerges even when we attempt to shut it out and hide from it. As Budziszewski explains, “We do not lack moral knowledge; we hold it down.” It does not stay down.
I think we need to continue to push this issue, that these “prenatal executions” are not about choice, or women’s reproductive systems, but about the life and death of human beings. Let us appeal to the human conscience. If it does stay down, let it stay down in spite of our strongest attempts to pry it up.
Around the Blogosphere!
- Josh Harris has alerted us to an interesting, but short, commentary on NPR concerning Jerry Falwell’s legacy. Did he blur Christianity and political conservatism?
- Baptist Press article on Michael Haykin’s appointment and duties at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I cannot imagine this seminary’s faculty getting much better than it already is.
- Denny Burk has another good post on “Prenatal Executions”. His choice of words, but a good choice I think. I especially like the acronym S.L.E.D. Can someone please call/email Neal Boortz and explain this to him?
- Next is a very interesting and informative post by Peter Jones over at The Resurgence. “The Renewed Question of Church and State”.
- Finally, Joe Thorn at his practical best, gives us part 3 of “What to Watch”. Good stuff. Check out parts 1 & 2 when you get there.
Vietnamese Christians
I am of the opinion that Christians who live in the United States, generally, take a myopic view of worldwide Christianity. We seem to put on our “USA” glasses before everything we do, whether it is reading the Bible, or thinking about the state of the universal church, or even eschatology. We think we have it bad or are being persecuted, but, at least for now, we still have it good.
With that in mind, I wanted to point out the plight of “Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan — both Christians — to prison terms for “conducting propaganda activities to harm the security of state.”"
According to this article, some of the United State’s foreign policies could have contributed to emboldening Veitnam to continue religious persection.
Diem Do, chairman of the Vietnam Reform Party, told caucus members that Vietnam has been emboldened by the State Department’s removal of Vietnam’s “CPC” designation (“countries of particular concern”) for particularly severe violators of religious freedom — as well as congressional approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations last December and its entry into the World Trade Organization in January.
Let’s at least be mindful of our brethren around the world who are truly finding their joy in Christ by suffering for His sake. Let’s determine how we can help our Christian family, no matter what country they were born in or what tribe they come from. There are many things we can do, not the least of which pray.
Hebrews 13:3
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
QOD
Founders’ Quote Daily
“To prevent crimes, is the noblest end and aim of criminal jurisprudence. To punish them, is one of the means necessary for the accomplishment of this noble end and aim.”– James Wilson (Of the Study of the Law in the United States, Circa 1790)Reference: The Works of James Wilson, McCloskey, ed., vol. 1 (441-43) [Sheehan (5:14)]
Weekly Roundup
Herod’s Tomb Found
Did everyone hear about this? Yes, it seems the Tomb of “Herod the Great, the ruthless ruler who is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew as governing Judea during the time of Christ’s birth and who also led a massive expansion of the Second Temple”, has been found.
Further reading on this: Denny Burk, Haaretz.com, Bible Places Blog, and you can see pictures here.
SBC Pres Sets Record Straight
Frank Page sets record straight on his education stance
CCM Redefines Christian Music
“This month marks a historic step for our magazine, and, as a result, the fans and the industry we serve,” said CCM Editor Jay Swartzendruber. “We’re going to start mixing indie and general market Christians such as The Fray, Mary J. Blige and Sufjan Stevens in with artists with traditional Christian label affiliation. Rather than define ‘Christian music’ just by its label or distribution, we’re now defining it as Christian worldview music. CCM Magazine has always taken its role as a leader seriously, and we believe this is the way of the future.”
You can read the whole press release here. I agree with Denny. Bravo! Friends, there is no such genre of music as “Christian”. Good job CCM.
Driscoll on Packer
Mark Driscoll gives us some good words on some good words he heard live from J.I. Packer. Read it.
Comfort/Cameron vs. The Athiests
Here is my initial post. Here is Nick’s post on it. Here is Justin’s post on it. Here is the debate. I haven’t watched it so I shan’t comment.
In The Womb
On “In The Womb” by Dr. Mohler. Check it out. Psalm 139 comes to life.
That is all I have time for. Enjoy the weekend, and to all the moms out there, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Q&A on the Federal “Hate Crime” Bill
Q&A about the federal hate crimes bill
Exerpt:
STOVALL: “Hate crimes legislation is really a Trojan horse. Essentially, everywhere that hate crimes laws have been passed, it inevitably and eventually leads to prosecution of speech and expression. There is one interpretation in reading the bill that would allow state attorney generals to ask the federal government to come in and take over the prosecution of an alleged state hate crimes offense. There are some states that already have hate crimes laws that effectively make it a hate crime to quote-unquote intimidate somebody on the basis of whatever the protected classes are, including in some instances sexual orientation. There was a case in New Jersey where a Muslim gentleman who worked for one of the state university schools asked another professor not to send him e-mails about lesbian issues and referred to it as a perversion. She reported him [to university officials] and said she felt threatened by his characterization of lesbianism as a perversion. His discipline was upheld basically on the grounds that under the New Jersey law, speech like that was not protected. [They said] it constituted a violation of the state discrimination law. So, it’s not hard to see [how this could happen under the federal hate crimes bill] when you cook it all together — and especially when you look at other countries, too, that are further down this path than we are.”
Stay at Home Moms..Priceless
Last week word hit the streets that,
If the typical stay-at-home mother in the United States were paid for her work as a housekeeper, cook and psychologist among other roles, she would earn $138,095 a year, according to research released Wednesday.
Check the short article here. I think stay at home moms are worth every penny. Not only are they the backbone of our society, but the benefit they have on their homes and children, is in my mind, priceless.
Upcoming…ahem…Debate
I came across something I think is blogworthy, but don’t quite know how to address it, so here goes. According to an article in The Christian Post, Christian author and evangelist Ray Comfort, along with actor/fellow evangelist Kirk Cameron, will be debating a couple of athiests on the existence of God. Here’s what the article says:
“Most people equate atheism with intellectualism,” explained Comfort in a statement, “but it’s actually an intellectual embarrassment. I am amazed at how many people think that God’s existence is a matter of faith. It’s not, and I will prove it at the debate – once and for all. This is not a joke. I will present undeniable scientific proof that God exists.”
Comfort and Cameron run a ministry called “The Way of the Master”, primarily equipping Christians to share their faith with unbelievers. My experience is that their ministry is somewhat controversial in that they have some solid elements to their teaching, i.e. they emphasize the use of the law to convict people of their sin and they really hammer easy believism and watered-down proclamations of the Gospel. At the same time, Comfort is known for street preaching/evangelizing which puts off some Christians and they are not reformed enoughed for others. Hence, they get criticized I believe from different quarters.
Now my church taught the Way of the Master class a while back, and while I wouldn’t agree with everything in it, I thought it had some very useful things and some good stuff to offer. The worst part of the study in my opinion was the apologetics sections. Some of the things they did made me wince. One example: calling an airline and asking if they could get a seat for a chimp. This was obviously a spoof of evolution. Well, on a similar vein they do this thing about a banana that is their version of some kind of teleological/design argument for creation. As a matter of fact, Steve McCoy slammed this pretty hard recently on his blog here.
So even though I am for the most part supportive of Comfort and Cameron’s ministry and encouraged by their zeal for evangelism, I am definitely apprehensive about their debate challenge and can’t really say I’m looking forward to it. The fact that he says it is not a joke does not make me feel any better. I hope (and pray) that I am wrong. We’ll see. What do you all think?
Speaking of…
Speaking of politics and religion the upcoming so called “Hate Crime Speech” bill is up for a vote soon. Check out Justin Taylor’s post and subsequently Robert Gagnon’s comments.
Since genuine intimidation and violence is already covered by the existing legal code, the ultimate purpose of such a bill can only be to intimidate those who speak out against the endorsement of homosexual practice and transsexualism. In the current political climate—obvious cases in point are repeated oppressions of any who dare speak against homosexual practice in Canada, England, and Scandinavia, to say nothing of sectors of the United States—one cannot assume that there is a common definition of what constitutes hate against homosexual and transsexual persons. Any public words against homosexual practice will be treated legally as words that incite others to violence and/or discrimination against homosexual persons, and thus subject to criminal prosecution.
Also, I’ve been told you can call the switchboard at the U.S. Capitol in D.C. and ask for your U.S. Congressman in order to voice your opinion on this bill. The number is 202-224-3121.
The Christian and Politics
Greg Koukl of STR (Stand to Reason) has a great article over at Townhall.com on the above mentioned topic: Political Passivity—Vice or Christian Virtue?
As I was reading up on this issue some time back, Greg caught my eye as a thoughtful and balanced observer of the (especially American) Christian’s responsibilities when it comes to political involvement.
He helped me see why the “laws don’t change people’s hearts” mantra is foolish and also why the “Jesus and the Apostle’s never politiked” is also foolish. They also didn’t have a web site: Is that wrong too?
This is a thought provoking article and I hope to hear your thoughts on it.
