Trying to make nice with the world is not our mission

This morning we have, courtesy of the USA Today opinion pages, another sad example of someone who professes to be a believer trying to make Christianity compatible with the religion of the world. The essay by Karl Giberson (who is a professor at Eastern Nazarene College), Atheists, it's time to play well with others is ostensibly supposed to be a chastisement of atheists for not being nice to Christians who have capitulated to evolution but ends up being a personal attack on Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis.

This is incredibly encouraging. A conservative evangelical seminary has just hired someone who has warned that Christians who deny scientific facts are in danger of becoming a "cult." This might suggest that Ken Ham and his Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., are becoming less relevant, as they speak for — and to — an increasingly smaller band of hyperconservative biblical literalists. Ham's followers, ironically, are exactly what Waltke warned us about — a cult, with their own separate science.

Actually, Answers in Genesis is pretty widely accepted among a wide swath of evangelicalism. Far from a secretive cult, they are quite out in the open about what they believe and their beliefs run to the mainstream of evangelical thought. They are something of a one-trick pony but the organization is hardly cultic and the suggestion that they are is venomous and juvenile. The danger in the church is not people denying “scientific facts”, it is teachers in the church who claim that “science” trumps Scripture and then cry foul when haters of God are not willing to play nicely in the sandbox. Christianity is not just one worldview among myriad other competing worldviews in the sandbox of ideas. Christianity is the truth of God revealed to man. There is no sandbox. You either have that truth or you don’t and where you come down has eternal consequences.

This essay by Karl Giberson just demonstrates the foolhardiness of trying to find acceptance among the world. The world is not interested in compromise and consensus because it hates the One who has declared Himself through creation, through His Word and in the person of the Son. This is not an issue of evolution vs. creation, this is an issue of those who hate God and those who love Him. I can sort of understand why some believers are so desperate to be liked and approved by the world. It can be hard to be ridiculed and an outcast but the truth of the matter is that it comes with the territory of being a follower of Christ. God did not give us an expectation that the world would like what we have to say nor that it would embrace us as messengers. Just the opposite, the world is going to hate us and revile us because it hates the One we declare. Why would someone who is a professor at Eastern Nazarene College want to make the message of the Bible more palatable to appease unbelievers? I for one would rather face the ridicule of the world and persecution even to the point of death than to surrender to the world.

Mammals that evolved from single-cell organisms don’t need a Savior because they would not be substantively any different from a cow or a monkey. Human beings, created in the image of God as humans, need a Savior. If man was not created as man, then there was no garden. There wasn’t a Fall and there is no need for salvation. If you want to chuck the Garden and the Fall, you might as well toss the cross and the empty tomb.

Atheists acting badly

It seems like some of our atheistic fellow citizens took it upon themselves to visit the Creation Museum in Northern Kentucky. Apparently some 285 self-described atheists came to the Creation Museum and unfortunately a small minority of them caused a ruckus, were disruptive, were mocking the exhibits and events and generally being rude. This is not much of a surprise because it was apparently their goal to cause a ruckus. Read the article above regarding the disruption the group from the "Secular Student Alliance" caused. A number of times members of this group had to be asked to not disrupt other visitors and one person was escorted off the property after being repeatedly warned. Keep in mind that the Creation Museum is private property. Read this account of some of the chicanery going on:

Other incidents (but which were probably not disruptive for our guests, except for those driving into the property at the time) … The prof and a few dozen of his followers walked off the grounds and held a rally in front of the museum entrance. There, a ram’s horn was blown (I suppose this was borrowing from Joshua 6 when a ram’s horn was blown, signally that the walls of Jericho were to come tumbling down. I guess it was their “statement” that the SSA had “conquered” the museum, but I did not hear what was said). Also, our security staff indicated that a mock communion service was held out front where crackers with cheese were served.

Apparently, this sort of stuff is what passes for intelligent discourse. It is pretty telling that a "professor" was leading this circus for students. I wonder who has the more honest and open position, the Creation Museum which tries to explain it's position in a polite and intelligent way or a circus atmosphere of mocking something like the Lord's Supper? I will let the discerning reader make their own decision here. You can also read the accounts of this trip and the planning beforehand and see just exactly what sort of deep thinking, open-minded people you are dealing with on the Secular Student Alliance webpage.

Contrast this with the outrage shown by many people on the Left that citizens are expressing themselves at town hall meetings.

There is of course a big difference between tax paying citizens expressing themselves at a public forum that is supposed to be a forum for citizens to express themselves to their elected officials and people disrupting families that spent their own money to visit a private museum. Many families travel great distances, at great expense to voluntarily come to the Creation Museum and enjoy themselves. It is a sign of the general coarseness and rudeness of our society that these atheists saw fit to try to disrupt through overt actions and mockery what was intended to be a family experience.

You can also read about the incident at ABC News here.

Wildly successful!

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Creation Museum will host it's 100,000 visitor at some point today. Keep in mind it has been open less than 2 months. I doubt the pace will continue at this torrid rate but if they get 100,000 visitors every two months that tallies to 600,000 for the year (which is more than the Underground Railroad Museum Freedom Center has brought in over it's several year tenure looming over the Ohio River). Even more encouraging is that attendance is picking up rather than slowing down:

"The crowds have just been getting bigger every day since opening," Zovath said. "... We're pretty pleased with the response."...The first two Saturdays in July had more visitors than previous Saturdays, Zovath said. He expects about 3,500 people to come through the museum today, about 500 fewer than on opening day.

The only problem is a good one, not enough parking!

More spaces are needed to accommodate the cars, buses and recreational vehicles coming to the museum. Answers in Genesis, the ministry that runs the museum, has asked Boone County Planning Commission to approve about 650 more spaces. The museum currently has about 500 spaces.

I pray that God continues to bless this ministry and that many more people have the chance to see the truth of the Bible exhibited. I grow more excited all the time about our trip down to Cinci to visit the museum. The only questions is whether we go September 7th or the 28th. The Brewers are in town the 7th and the Cubs the 28th, and I want to catch a Reds game while we are there. So go see the Cubbies play, which is always fun in Cinci because so many Cubs fans show up and we can watch Soriano play or the Brewers, to watch Prince Fielder and rookie phenom (and fantasy baseball stud!) Ryan Braun. Not that the Reds don't stink, but just for nostalgia sake. I went to the first ever game played at Great America Ball Park, an exhibition game against my Indians and I went 5+ times a season while we were there, so it would be fun to take the kids again.

The Creation Museum is open!

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports some 4,000+ visitors went through the Creation Museum on opening day, Monday May 28th. That means that four thousand people saw God's truth presented in a fashion to rival secular museums, and presented God's truth in a way that they may never have seen it displayed before. The demonstrators on hand were, well, less than imposing:

Beyond the gates, several dozen protesters staged a "Rally for Reason," arguing that the museum's central tenets conflict with scientific dating techniques.

So much for this huge outpouring of anger. Evolutionart theory: several dozen, God's truth several thousand. I guess it is easier to sign a letter rather than have to face someone who is armed and ready to show that evolution is NOT a closed issue.

People came from all over:

The museum opened at 10 a.m. with about 500 people in line and with license plates from 31 states and two Canadian provinces in the parking lot of about 600 spaces.

How great is that! I loved the contrast here, let's see who sounds like the person engaging in reasoned, thoughtful and open debate:

"The guests were very happy with the museum experience," (spokesman Mark ) Looy said. "Of course, we had some naysayers come through and engage us in conversation, and that's fine - we want them.

"We want skeptics and non-Christians to come here - we encourage that," Looy said...

"It's really impressive - and it really gives the impression that they're talking about science at some point," said critic Lawrence Krauss, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University.

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being best, "I'd give it a 4 for technology, 5 for propaganda," Krauss said. As for content, "I'd give it a negative 5."

I would give it a negative five on a scale of one to five? This guy is a scientist? Maybe he can call Ken Ham a doodiehead, that would be an equally devastating critique. I can't wait to plan a trip to Northern Kentucky with my kids!

The Response of the "Scientific" Community to opposing views?

Dialogue?

Open-mindedness?

Nope! Protests!

As the Creation Musuem approachs it's opening on Memorial Day, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that a number of groups will be on hand to protest:

When the gates of the new Creation Museum in Petersburg open Memorial Day, several groups will be inside - and outside - waiting to see what all the fuss is about.

Many of those people will be followers of the creationist faith, believing in the literal
Bible. They think the world is about 6,000 years old, that dinosaurs and man
co-existed and Noah built an ark to save God's creatures from a massive flood.

Others will be there to protest the museum and its ministry, Answers in
Genesis. Some will have religious and political agendas, while others do not
believe in God at all. Some are concerned the museum's teachings will warp children, while others say the ministry uses bad science.

Some quotes from these self-appointed high priests of evolution:

The Campaign to Defend the Constitution, a national group that opposes the religious right, drafted petitions against the museum. (note: The Campaign to Defend the Consitution? By protesting people excercising their constitutional rights to practice their religious beliefs?)

They claim Answers in Genesis markets its unscientific ideas to children, much in the same way R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. used its "Joe Camel" cartoon character to promote Camel cigarettes. The group says so far 3,000 people have signed its petitions.

"We agree they can build this museum and believe what they wish," said Clark Stevens, co-director of the Washington-based group, which claims 125,000 members nationwide and 7,000 members in the region. "But we feel they can't try to convince children that this is true." (note: I am glad that we have your permission to believe what we want, thank you Mr. Stevens!)

Atheists and those Christians who are not creationists could be standing side-by-side Monday, and for once they will believe the same thing: that the Creation Museum is bad for the area.

Edwin Kagin, a Union lawyer and the national legal director of American Atheists, is urging members of his group to walk through the museum.

"We want to let the world know that most rational people do not share the primitive world view of creationists that the Earth is only a few thousand years old, and that humans and dinosaurs existed at the same time," he said. "Various groups, representing both religious and secular orientations, will join together to protest this destructive world view."

Note the use of scare langauge: "most rational people", "primitive world view", "destructive world view". The message: we think we are smart and if you disagree with us you are a fool, so join in lockstep with us or face our derision. The irony is so rich, that those who complain the loudest about the closed mindedness of creationists are responding with protests, in an attempt to shout down or intimidate those who hold to a Biblical view of creation. Perhaps they will sneak into the museum and try to lure away children who are being led astray by their awful parents. Perhaps these groups will demonstrate their rejection of fundamentalism by burning Ken Ham's books and AiG brochures, or perhaps even appointing a Grand Inquisitor. After all, we certainly need the evolutionist community to save us from ourselves, or at least save our children from us!

One way or the other, I am going to get down to Northern Kentucky with my kids, and whatever other families I can, to help instill in them an appreciation of the Biblical doctrine of creationism, and help them to truly appreciate the creation and, more importantly, the Creator.

(here is an ABC News clip about the Creation Museum, pretty fair and it cited an interesting stat, that despite years of public education, 60% of Americans believe in a literal six days creation)

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."(1Co 3:18-20 ESV)

In the beginning...

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 ESV)

One week from now the Creation Museum opens in Northern Kentucky, the brain-child of Ken Ham of the Answers in Genesis ministry. AiG is dedicated to recovering the Biblical doctrine of creationism, in the literal six day sense rather than the man-pleasing doctrines of the framework hypothesis, allegory or any number of other explanations other than what God has laid down in His Holy Word. This has been years in the making, and I am planning on a trip to Northern Kentucky this fall to visit our old stompin' grounds and show our kids this exhibit. The Cincinnati Enquirer has a large section in today's edition focusing on the impending opening of the Creation Museum, which is expected to draw enormous crowds of Christians from the Midwest and all over the country and the world. It is causing quite a stir and drawing a great deal of attention:

Just a week from opening, a new museum on 42 rural acres just off Interstate 275 has drawn the interest of residents, tourism officials and the international media. Already, NBC's Brian Williams, CNN's Anderson Cooper, PBS' Jim Lehrer and journalists from the BBC, Newsweek, the New York Times and the Washington Post have made trips here to Petersburg, Ky.

It is also drawing opposition of the nastiest sort, from all manner of "open-minded" people:

In an emotionally charged negative article against the Creation Museum, a scientist who has not visited the Museum, has not read any of the teaching signs, nor seen any of the videos, wrote an opinion piece for the Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper, in which he used the following terms regarding the Creation Museum exhibits: “scientific fraud,” “lies,” “a travesty,” “false,” “misguided,” “misinformation,” “colossal unreason,” “hypocritical,” “misrepresent,” “bad science,” “manifestly false,” and “religiously motivated fraud.”

The evolutionist who wrote this vitriolic piece was Lawrence M. Krauss, Director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Case Western Reserve University, as well as the Chair of the Forum on Physics and Society of the American Physical Society.

As is typical of many professors at secular universities, he tries to scare the public against creation scientists by using emotionally charged language. This shows clearly the bias of such scientists against the Bible. They don’t care what scientific research/facts AiG’s PhD scientists have included in the Museum exhibits—because the Creation Museum is set up to tell people the Bible’s history in Genesis is true, Krauss, because he only allows naturalistic explanations in science for the origin of life, will not even consider anything creation scientists say or write. Maybe the students Krauss is in charge of at the university should write their research papers the same way Krauss has researched the Creation Museum teaching exhibits! Of course, if they did that, they would fail! But their professors can get away with such
an unscientific approach when used against Christians.

So much for the high minded intellectual purity of the academy.

Here is another "wellreasoned" response from an evolutionary disciple:

"Fact is, that for a long time, this museum will be a severe detriment (to) our region's reputation. It will be mentioned in the same breath with the Cincinnati race riots of 2001," says Hubert Kirchgaessner of Hebron. "If anything, this museum is a monument to human gullibility. As a Christian, I take offense at people who are belittling the role of God in the creation of the universe by rejecting reality and compartmentalizing the miracle of evolution into a few Disneyesque episodes that they claim to derive out of the Bible."

This from a man who claims to be a Christian, just one who doesn't believe in God's Word unless he likes what it says, and one who claims that this will be "a severe detriment to our regions reputation" A man who compares this museum to race riots! I wonder what miracles in the Bible Mr. Kirchgaessner finds palatable? Water into wine? Red Sea parting? Jesus being resurrected? Any of that? Does he even believe in Christ rising from the dead? Or is believing that "gullible"?

Ken Ham's response? No doubt something crazed, frothing at the mouth, because that is the kind of people we are! Or not...

"We invite those who don't agree with us to come to the museum and see what we are saying," says Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis and the museum. "We welcome everyone here."

Those tricky Christian fundamentalists, being friendly and open! Curses!

Answers in Genesis has a slogan, and it is a great one: "Prepare to believe."

Amen to that!