An Appeal to the Reason of a Young Earth Worldview and the Corresponding Interpretations of Data
I claim that this may be one of the most important things you have ever read and ever will read in your life. Right now. It is your choice what to do with the information in this note.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe that everything I do should be primarily oriented towards him. On facebook, more and more have I found a place to share gospel truth with people that need it (we all do). I have come to realize that it is a great place to get word out to everyone, even my peers. I am most pastorally concerned about my immediate peers in the ministry program at MNU and am not afraid to say it.
This note is written because of pastoral concern stemming from my love of God and love of others. I want to help others believe God more, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). I believe that we (my peers, my professors, my pastors, my fellow humans across the world) are comprising elements of gospel truth in light of "higher" biblical criticism, what our professor's say, and what we think makes sense. Instead of taking the Bible (God's word) and the meaning of the Hebrew/Greek/Aramaic texts for what they mean in their context, we have settled for reading contemporary meaning into them to match current academics. Not to bash on those academics, but to say that our emphasis is in the wrong area.
As a wise man once said, "It is easy to be 'academically sound,' it is tough to obediently be a 'fool for Christ.'"
"If you wish to grasp the relationship between the physical world and God's governance of it, you must carefully study physics and astronomy." - Rabbi Maimonides, 12th Century
12th Century.
Many Christians (in my experience, predominantly those new to the faith and those extremely learned in the faith), are 1. afraid of science and do not thoroughly investigate it because it seemingly contradicts the Bible, 2. "Trust Jesus" and do not even look into the matter because it is "ultimately not important" or 3., compromise sound Biblicism with science and water down the word of God when they do not need to.
I am writing this note because I cannot possibly have this conversation with every one of you. I am writing this note first and foremost for your eternal joy, salvation, and livelihood. Secondarily, I am writing this note because I want you to be wise and shrewd in your knowledge of the Lord, so as to defeat the lies of the enemy. I am writing this note because I care about you and want you to be "fully equipped for every good work" (2 Tim 2:21, 3:17), especially those seeking maturity in Christ, (as he calls every single Christian to do), and move away from childish things and to spiritual food, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Heb 5:14), bearing in mind however, "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters" (Rom 14:1). I testify and will always do so that the mature Christian walk is the Christian walk filled with more joy, love, and livelihood than the beginning walk, and encourage you to seek the greater gifts.
Here is the claim. Science in no way "disproves" the Bible, but only supports the Bible, even the claims that sound outdated.
Dr. Jason Lisle, M. S. Astrophysics, Ph.D., Astrophysics (University of Colorado)
http://www.icr.org/jason_lisle/ (Reference for accuracy of information)
Nothing in the cosmological makeup of the universe discredits a young earth (near 6000 years) or the biblical creation account read as narrative history (though most likely not the intent of the author, being most likely a cosmic temple inauguration) , as written. In fact, all the scientific evidence actually points towards this conclusion as the most logical, evidence-based truth.
See Dr. Lisle on the topic at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=614p6H7evpY
Dr. Russel Humphreys, B. S. Physics, (Duke University), M. S. Physics, Ph.D. Physics, (Louisiana State University)
http://creation.com/d-russell-humphreys-cv (Reference for accuracy of information)
The creation account in Genesis 1, literally read (as temple inauguration view, whilst not disregarding historicity), aligns best with current scientific evidence concerning the origin of the universe. Literally, in exactly the way Scripture describes the creation of the universe, read in Genesis 1 as narrative history (though most likely not the intent of the author, as evidence points towards a cosmic temple inauguration text), is what the real, hard facts point to and declare. Dr. Humphreys also
Designed and theoretically analyzed thermonuclear fusion targets using radiation hydrodynamic codes.
Designed key high-voltage parts of Sandia’s 100-Terawatt Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator II and conducted fusion power experiments on it. Same designs are in use today on Sandia’s Z machine.
Research on low-temperature solids and studies on superconductors.
Nuclear weapons projects, including stockpile engineering for W87 firing set.
Helped design new inkjet printer component and shared patent on it.
Developed high repetition-rate neutron tube driver and gamma-ray spectrometer for borehole logging applications. Patent on high-voltage power supply for it.
Patents on wide-bandwidth electric field sensor and high-voltage neutron tube supply. Designed lightning current waveform recorder which won IR-100 Award.
Studied electric fields and ion currents under ultrahigh voltage DC transmission lines.
Theoretical studies of relativistic velocity dependence of nuclear forces.
+ Published over 20 articles in peer reviewed secular scientific journals
See Dr. Humphreys on this subject at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3XSz5TEInU
Dr. Jim Mason, B.Sc., Engineering Physics, (Queens University), Ph.D., Experimental Nuclear Physics, (McMaster University)
http://creation.com/dr-jim-mason (Reference for accuracy of information)
All geological/organic/radiometric oriented dating systems (such as carbon-14 dating or Uranium/Lead dating, for example), discredit an old age of the earth. Everything, in fact, points to a young earth as recent as 6000 years.
See Dr. Mason on this subject at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ3ffp0gdDs
Dr. Emil Silvestru, Ph.D., Geology, (Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania)
http://creation.com/dr-emil-silvestru (Reference for accuracy of information)
The facts of geology make more sense interpreted with the lens of Young Earth Creation. Geological anomalies (such as the "Beijing Anomaly" and paraconformity examples) are easily explained by catastrophe geology, and not uniformitarianism, the reigning atheistic and theistic evolutionary model. New breakthroughs in plate tectonics have revealed a more complex model than in the past but which, like most things in science, provide more questions than answers. However, Dr. Emil has constructed a theory in which a young earth and world-wide flood account for the appearance of the age of the earth. We all have the same facts and evidences, however, our interpretation of them is critical. Dr. Silvestru has published at least 48 peer reviewed scientific articles that I am aware of. Before moving into full-time creation ministry in 1997 Emil was the head scientist at the world's first Speleological Institute (speleology is the study of caves) in Cluj. All of the hard facts point towards an earth reasonably as old as 6000 years old, and in fact this interpretation of the REAL facts makes the most sense given the data, and point to a WORLDWIDE flood sometime around 4500 years ago.
See Dr. Silvestru on this subject at:
\http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAwkgIkzYpk&feature=g-high-c
Dr. William Lane Craig, B. A., Communications, (Wheaton College), M. A., Philosophy of Religion, M. A., Ecclesiastical History, (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), Ph.D., Philosophy, (Birmingham University), Th.D., (University of Munich). Dr. Craig earned his Th.D. under Wolfhart Pannenberg.
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/william-lane-craig (Reference for accuracy of information)
Though advocating an old-aged earth which disagrees with the most logical and majority of scientific evidence, Dr. Craig offers the best philosophical basis for Christianity that I am aware of. His area of expertise is communication, philosophy and theology. Dr. Craig is regarded as the no. 1 Christian apologist, most notably "scaring" Richard Dawkins, considered the world's no. 1 atheistic apologist, from even showing up to a debate at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre (Oct., 2011), perhaps the most prestigious center of debate in the world.
See Dr. Craig on the topic of philosophic evidence of Christianity at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP9CwDTRoOE
A young aged earth completely destroys an argument for abiogenesis and evolutionary theory in regards to origins. The real debate about evolution and the Bible is actually hinged on the age of the earth, which determines whether or not such evolution is possible.
The majority of all the possible evidence in the universe looks to point to what the Bible says, even scientific evidence. However, this can only be realized if you take the time to understand the Bible, and further to understand that it is God's special revelation to humanity that contains no falsehood (areas of so-called true contradiction are known and recognized to be copyists and scribal errors, and the foremost experts in the field know exactly where they are. There are an extremely low amount of these). Are you willing, as a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bend everything, even your understanding of science, to his will like he demands if you are to follow him? The result is, of course, deeper and resounding joy, as Jesus said, "To make your joy complete" (John 15:11).
The first inclination to sin comes from the doubt of God's Word. "Did God really say...?" (Genesis 3:1). Did God really say that His word is from Him (2Tim 3:16)? Did God really say that His word is infallible (1 Thess 2:13)? Did God really say that He created the universe in six literal days, and so that is the reason why we should rest on the seventh (Ex 20:11)? Did God really say that He never, absolutely never lies (Tit 1:2, Heb 6:18)?
The question remains: do you believe? Can you believe, in the face of all the majority evidence in the entire universe, that God's word is true as written? No matter what we find out as humans, we can never, ever, absolutely know something. We must believe. We can only believe because everything in the soul of man is based on evidence and probability. Everything must be believed. Even our laws of nature are based on the repeated, observable, and demonstrable reality's that they are the same day in and day out, unchanging. We believe that this is the case and will not change with the coming of tomorrow. We say we know, but really we strongly believe because not a single one of us, no one on the face of the earth, knows the future.You must believe all the truth that you really think you know. You will find, it is actually believed. Reality and the decisions you make are objectively based only on probability and likelihood. Why do you think that the message of the Christians is to believe in Jesus, not know Jesus? Could it be that God, the Creator, knows that the beings He creates operate on belief? The question remains: do you believe all the evidence that points to the soundness of God's word?
If you are aligned with all that is written, I encourage you to watch, sometime in your future, this video as a launching pad for what to do with your new truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHg9WEwqFM0
Finally,
"...this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God."
(Philippians 1:12).
I hope, in some way, to have led you to Christ, to have strengthened your faith, or, at the very minimum, to have caused you to question your reality.
Prayerfully and lovingly,
M. W. Beck
Oct. 26th, 2012
P. S.
There are many more and myriad evidences. : ) My aim was to address the most relevant. Please, make notes of your own, and please, share this note with other people. Only a body of persons can hope to accomplish anything.
(I have tagged all of my mentors in life to offer a word to me, if the need is felt. God bless your Christlike impact on my life.)TECHNICAL:
Walton, John H. The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009. Print.
(This work seeks to understand how the ancient mind would have most likely read Genesis 1. Penetrating and conclusive scholarship by Walton, in my opinion, officiates the text as teleologically related to an ancient cosmological temple inauguration. This is the view I take regarding the theological implications of the text of Genesis 1 at large, though I still view the text as correctly historical, as YEC's who regard "day" as literal (Hebrew yom) suggest through the validity of their credentialed, peer-reviewed scientific publications and theories regarding the origins of the cosmos. Special thanks to Johan Tredoux for the book, whose influence on my life and theological development are highly valued.)
