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OUR SABBATH REST
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…rest unto your souls.” – Matthew 11:28,29b
OUR FORGOTTEN CREATOR
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…” Ecclesiastes 12:1
We live in a day where so many people are quick to have opinions. These opinions fill the airwaves with pop psychologists who try to analyze all the trouble and turmoil in the world. Yet, their analysis rarely comes from the authority of our Creator. We can be quick to put all the blame upon political correctness for denying our Creator, but that is not totally accurate. The obscure or little known truth of this denial is because previous generations have replaced our Creator with a man-made “theory.” Therefore this evolutionary idea that we all ascended from mud, molecules, and monkeys has actually taken full effect upon our recent generation. When young children are taught that they just came from a lower form of animals, why are we so surprised when we see them acting like animals without a convicted conscious? “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7. So if they actually believe in animalistic evolution in their heart then they will naturally act according to what they have been taught.
We have a generation that has forgotten that God is our Creator and that everyone is responsible to Him. This generation is so far separate from our Creator that they don’t know Him so as to listen to Him. Therefore we need God to come in a miraculous way to modify the minds and hearts of multitudes.
When I was a little boy around the age of ten, I was given a cheap set of walkie-talkies. Something I enjoyed. Then one day I removed the battery and took a 9-volt electrical hook up from a cassette tape player and connected it to one of the walkie-talkies. Also the antenna was broke in half, so I took an old fashion metal coat hanger and attached it to what was left of the antenna with some aluminum foil. When these modifications were made, this cheap walkie-talkie was amplified to where I could pick up a CB transmission. The signal was weak, but if I listened closely I could hear the truckers talking their CB jargon.
The world is loud about prosperity and pleasure, while the devil softly strokes our pride with the thought of “You deserve it!” As a result we have a, “I want mine” society and they are blind to the fact that we are now reaping “survival of the fittest.” All of our social, moral, and spiritual ills are all wrapped up in the philosophical lie of evolution.
As Christians we have been modified to listen to God our Creator. Therefore, we must pray and engage this generation and the generation to follow so that they would be purged from every other voice and give our Creator a hearing. Only then will their walkie-talkie be modified to hear and remember their Creator in the days of their youth.
(Published in the Marshall County Tribune)
David C. Hale, pastor
New Life Community Church
1001 Easy Street
Lewisburg TN 37091
Is Evolution a Scientific Fact?
There are two basic kinds of science in the whole spectrum of the study of science. They are “operational science” and “historical science.” Defining which of the two sciences one is discussing can prevent much confusion and conflict. Operational science involves observation and experimentation, while historical science is the study of past events. Yet, the conflict between science and religion occurs in historical science, not in operational science. When it comes to working out what happened in the past,
historical science is limited because experiments on past events and history cannot be repeated. Experiments done in the present that relate to the past require a great deal of guesswork. Therefore, the theory of evolution is based upon belief, NOT SCIENCE! Belief, like faith and hope, is not a scientific term but a religious one. For example, there are many varieties of dogs and cats, but there is no physical evidence of an animal intermediate between a dog and a cat. Once we get past the “artist’s” interpretation of pictures, charts, and graphs of supposed evidence that we are bombarded with, there is no physical evidence of whale evolution either. No, not even between an ape and a man! Similarities, yes, but that does not constitute evolution. A pick-up truck and a farm tractor both are made with four wheel, an engine, gears, drive shaft, and a steering wheel, but they are not the same even though they both may be found on a farm. That is what all evolutionary propagandists do. They twist the similarities to make them out to be the same. To believe there is an intermediate between apes and humans is a matter of “faith,” not scientific fact based on observation and experimentation! If evolution were really true, it would be impossible for biologists to develop any kind of classification system because all the divisions of species would run together. The Bible clearly teaches in the books of Genesis and 1 Corinthians that there are differences!
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21,24,25) KJV
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. (1 Corinthians 15:39-41) KJV
One needs to be aware that what may be presented as science, regarding the past, may be the scientist’s own personal world view. Understand that evolution is a man-centered world-view, or philosophy, attempting to explain the world apart from a Holy God and His Christ.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8) KJV
Why is the world full of immorality, violence, hatred, war, terrorism, pain, suffering, disease, and death?
This question in the eyes of many people is an enormous question to ask. The answers given can be anywhere from, “it could be the environment that a person was raised in” or “it was the parents fault due to the lack of attention given the child.” These answers still does not give us the reason “WHY?” These answers and many others are just symptoms of a much larger problem. Yet, the Bible calls such acts as the sinful “works of the flesh” which proceed out of the “heart of men” (Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 3:10-19; Mark 7:21-23). Evolution, and New Age philosophy explain such things, including death, as the “natural process” of life. In Genesis chapter 3, Satan, or the Devil, comes as a serpent to tempt man to sin against God. As a result of Satan’s work, sin was introduced to mankind. This power of sin brought with it d
isobedience, which in turn effected broken fellowship with God. Thus, through the power of sin, the human race and God’s perfect creation were corrupted (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:17-19,24). The world one sees today with all the violence, hatred, wars, and immorality is a result of SIN in the heart of man. Yes, the world in all its grandure and beauty still reflects, to a small extent, God’s original creation, but it has been corrupted by SIN. This power of SIN is so dominate that it is passed down from generation to generation. Simply put, due to Adam’s sin, all of his descendants, including you and me, “were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) KJV
Genesis 6:11 states that, “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” The reason immorality, violence, hatred, war, terrorism, pain, suffering, disease, and death comes upon us is because of SIN! This is not a popular answer nor is it a pretty picture, but there is no other reasonable explanation. All other explanations are just symptoms of a much deeper issue. The root cause is SIN in the deep dark corners of the heart of all mankind, and if man is left to himself all these sinful evils will come out and express itself in one corrupt sin or another.
The truth is that we live in a sinful world, and the power of sin has “reigned unto death” (Romans 5:21). Common sense tells us that life and death are exact opposites, not the “natural processes” of life. In fact, the Bible specifically calls death the “last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death is a constant reminder that “all have sinned” and are in need of God’s grace in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-26). As long as one is in this world, there will be sin related miseries. The only way one can escape these miseries is to run to the One who is life eternal, Jesus Christ (John 1:4; 3:36; 6:35; 11:25; 14:6).
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) KJV
How Do We Explain the Different Races?
From the beginning of creation it was God’s will for man to populate the whole earth, but in Genesis chapter 11 we read the historic account that human society was of one language and determined with one mind to stay together (Genesis 11:4). Due to their disobedience to the LORD, He confused (or confounded) their language, so that they could not understand one another. In doing so, the Lord “scattered them upon the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:5-9). As a result of the different languages, people married those whose language they could understand. This arrangement produced separate INBREEDING groups.
Over a few generations these inbreeding groups produced specific characteristics, including different eyes, ears, noses, and shades of skin color. Despite different characteristics and different languages, nevertheless, we all have blood flowing through our bodies, we all are given a soul, and we all are created in the image of God according to (Genesis 1:27).
As foreign as this may seem to this generation, “racial barriers” are broken down by the preaching of the gospel, and not by political correctness. In fact, there are many Biblical examples of racial barriers being broken by the simple preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Acts chapter 2, Jews from every “nation” believed. In Acts chapter 8, there is the bringing in of the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch into Christianity. Acts chapter 10 records the preaching of the gospel to many Italians in the house of Cornelius. While in Acts 17:16-34, the gospel is preached to the Greeks in Athens. Therefore, if any racial barriers are to broken down it will come through the church of Christ being BIBLICALLY CORRECT. The truth is that, the original manuscripts of the Bible do not use the word “race” to describe different people. Rather, God uses the words “NATIONS, TRIBES, KINDRED, TONGUE, and PEOPLE.” The concept of “race” was purely invented for convenience in biological and anthropological studies. Such concepts led to the pseudo-scientific belief that one race is superior to others. Evolutionary scientists may not all be racist in their personal philosophies but, like it or not, this humanistic philosophy can be traced throughout history as promoting racism. The Bible teaches that there is only “one blood” or one race of men upon the face of the earth – the human race (Acts 17:26).
“And (GOD) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” Acts 17:26
Can a Christian believe in Evolution?
This question is often debated. If evolution were defined simply as a change, or variation within a kind – (for example, the growth of a tadpole into a frog) – everyone would agree with evolution. However, the theory of evolution is that all life forms come from the same origin and the basic principle of life is a continual development from simpler elements into living organisms (for example: mud, molecules, monkey, to man). Therefore, evolution is actually a complete world-view (or philosophy) that explains the origin and the meaning of life without the necessity of a personal God who created and upholds all things. For a professing Christian to hold on to the complete and whole framework of evolution means bringing their faith and their understanding of the word of God into serious doubt! Christians may differ with another regarding the understanding of the Bible, but so do evolutionary scientists in the area of evolution. Why is it that the authority of the Bible must come into question and not evolution? Evolution is so widely taught and accepted as “fact,” Christians are often tempted to accept the compromised position of “theistic evolution.” Theistic evolution, views God as using the method of evolution as the means of creation. Is it possible for a Christian to believe in some aspects of evolution? The answer is, yes! The Bible teaches in Romans 10:13 that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” NOT “whosoever does not believe in evolution.” Nevertheless, the real question is: SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION? The answer is, NO! A Christian’s desire is to be taught of the Lord (Psalm 119:26-28; John 6:45). This means that the Christian is to take God’s word by faith whether or not it agrees with his preconceived ideas and regardless of what the Christian has been taught in the past. Let it be understood that no one has all the answers. Every Christian may disagree on certain minor teachings in the Bible. This has resulted into many different Christian denominations. Even so, certain central or foundational teachings in the Scriptures are essential to the Christian faith. To modify the creation account of the Bible weakens these essential teachings. These essential teachings are the Holiness of God, the origin of sin, mans need for a Savior, the person of Jesus Christ, and the hope of the resurrection. The Christian should be ready, at all times, to compare scripture with scripture (Isaiah 28:9-13), and to interpret the meaning of life according to the Holy Bible. It is very dangerous to accept or attempt to harmonize any form of evolution with God’s infallible word. God is the God of order and purpose. To believe that He used the means of “survival of the fittest,” which involves death, bloodshed, confusion and cruelty, is inconsistent with the other attributes of His character as presented in the Bible. To accept the theory of evolution as a means of creation is to be inconsistent with the plain teaching of God’s Word (Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 33:6-9; Isaiah 45:18).
REASONS 4 BELIEVING 