CREATIONISTS' CORNER

PROMOTIING CREATIONONTHEWEB.com

2010-06-08T08:21:00.004+10:00

Dear readers I have come to realise that all I really know about the creationist scene is pretty small. Therefore I am changing my personal approach, in order to present more important aspects of Creation, in the scientific realm, while endeavouring to keep it simple.

I will therefore present articles that are proudly creationist from people who know what they are talking about but are also personally involved in study, research, promotion and advocacy of the Young Earth Creationist and Evangelical Christian points of view.

First I would encourage you to look regularly at the CREATIONONTHEWEB.com website and read for yourselves the articles that are regularly presented. Secondly I would encourage you to become a subscriber to the Creation Magazine ($25.00 per year) which has very readable and easily understood articles. Thirdly what Creation Ministries International at 8mile Plains has available in books, charts and DVDs. To get all the details just log on to the Creation On The Web site and get the details.

Now even us oldies can be better and reliably informed of what evengelical believers have believed for decades about God's wonderful creation but have not had any more to help us than the Scriptures themselves, but of which many are uncertain. The Magazine and articles help us to see, as well as to believe, as the things of God's creation are explained.

Yours Aye

Roy

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN ?

2010-05-22T05:51:00.004+10:00

Evolutionists say that man is 'part of nature' and 'has emerged as a result of a continuous process. So where do they draw the line between humans and animals.?

In an article in CREATION magazine Vol 32. No.2. 2010 Tas Walker writes." The Bible says man is distinct from animals,created supernaturally by God." "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living being" Genesis 2:7.

What makes us human? How we answer affects us profoundly: the way we view ourselves, how we treat others and the laws of our land.

If we emerged through a continuous process then what qualifies us to be human? The Spanish Parliament wrestled with this in June 2008 when their environmental committee approved rights and freedom.... for great apes...rights previously restricted to people.

In April 2008 a conference of scientists, philosophers and academics discussed this question for two days in Los Angeles. Does our humanness come from our capacity to communicat,our artistic skills, our poetry or our tool making? Is it our ability to laugh and cry?

These evolutionary ideas about superior skills, superior abilities and the struggle to survive have led the world into (numerous conflicts) and when Charles Darwin observed the limited abilities of the indigenous people of South America he found it hard to believe they were fellow humans see article by Russell Grigg in same CREATION MAGAZINE page 42 "Darwin and the Fuegians" (ask me for a copy)

A humanity decided on ability is a shaky foundation indeed. When do babies who cannot speak or feed themselves, qualify? What about those who are handicapped, by an accident, say, or with Down's syndrome? Do they miss out?

With the rise of evolutionary philosophy in the West, the sanctity of human life has been unravelling. In 2001 the Netherlands was the first country to legalize "euthanasia" ...the medical killing of the terminally ill. In 2008 the Dutch doctors preside over more than 3200 deaths including 550 deaths "without request." Now there are calls to allow physicians to euthanize"defective" or "unwanted" newborns"

Creation affirms we are descended from Adam and Eve, whom God made in His own image. Our humanity does not depend upon our abilties but upon our heritage. We are human from the moment we are conceived. So human life must be cherished and children raised to know the Creator.

Some dismiss the story of Adam and Eve as myth. But the scientific evidence supports the biblical account, not the idea that we are related to apes. Respect for human life comes from the Christian view of man's origin. People are valuable because we bear God's image, as God stressed to Noah after the Flood." Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning."

"Whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man." Genesis 9:6. Noah's Flood is not a myth either, as massive amounts of evidence reveals to any who are willing to read and discover. More next time

Yours Aye

ROY

AFFIRMING AND DEFENDING SCRIPTURE

2010-05-08T09:22:00.002+10:00

One of the most common caricatures made of Creation Science is that, because it begins with the Bible, it has nothing to do with Investigative Science. Science asks questions, they say, then looks for answers. So if you start with answers how can you do the science?

However we are obviously not claiming that God has revealed all possible knowledge in His Word. We do claim,though, that where he has clearly revealed certain facts relating to reality (science, history) these are true as opposed to untrue. This has nothing to do, incidently, with 'wooden headed literalism,' 'bibliolatry', or a 'failure to appreciate the nature of the literature.'

Creation Ministry websites have already published evidence that virtually all top Hebrew language scholars at world class universities (some non believers among them) understand that the meaning of Genesis (ie.the obvious intention of the writer) is to give us a simple yet factual account of the origins and history of man and the universe. Just as is it obvious to any straightforward reading by even a child. Holding to the recent creation by order or decree, in six earth days, having a globe covering Flood etc. is not peculiar invention of any 21st century movement but inevitably results from an honest scholarly dealing with the text itself.

Such matters merely give us the outline, the corner posts as it were, for a framework of understanding within which to interpret and correlate the facts of the real world. They do not give us all the answers. Rather they prevent us wasting time looking in the wrong direction while trying to establish the fascinating subjects of man and his world.

While the evolutionist and anti creationists, accuse the biblical creationists, of having to remain within their biblical framework.They tell everyone that they are open minded and are objectively searching for the truth. NOT SO. There are rigid rules in evolution/science.

While you may openmindedly discuss and consider all possible mechanisms of evolution you are only allowed to conclude with explanations that, 'matter,' is responsible for its own order and complexity. That is, that there has never ever been any supernatural creation . So much for openmindedness and objectivity.

In all of this we must remember that (origin science) of whatever flavour is inherently different from (operation science ) which covers how the universe presently works -gravity, physics, chemistry, etc. becasue we cannot directly test, or observe stories about the past.

Because of these misunderstandings it is vital that we consider carefully which are the fundamentals of the biblical origins framework. The clear unmistakable issues which demand no compromise (e.g. global Flood ) must be carefully separated from issues of a secondary construct upon which we must be prepared to, 'hang loose' if necessary. An instance of which is the idea of a pre-flood vapour canopy, which is not a direct teaching of scripture, but is only implied and while solving some problems, creates more. Another is the deep frozen mammoth' scenario which is popular but not biblical They are not worth the anguish and are best held 'lightly'.

So 'softly softly' on the indirect teachings of the Word but full affirmation and defence if necessary of the fundamental truths of scripture. (Thanks to Dr Carl Wieland CMI'Hanging Loose')

Yours Aye

ROY

SOAR WITH EAGLES FLY WITH ANGELS

2010-04-20T09:01:00.004+10:00

Soon the first copy of the Booklet entitled Soar with Eagles Fly with Angels will be distributed to members of the Wynnum Gospel Chapel Qld. The purpose of the booklets, of which there will be five, is to assist ordinary evangelical Christians to look upon the Scriptures and affirm their historical integrity.

The Booklets will cover the first eleven chapters of Genesis but will be presented in such a way that they deny and defy the atheistic and evolutionary propositions which are opposed to God as our Creator and Jesus Christ as our Saviour

They are written for ordinary Christian believers and do not purport to being from a base of intellectual, philosophical or academic premise, but are a direct historical record of eyewitnesses who are not accorded that recognition by the present world view of humankind's development.

My contention is that Jesus Christ gave unconditional acceptance and support to all that Moses recorded and spoke from the records Moses obviously had in his possession. It was only c2500 years from Creation. God in His Creative Acts gave Man all he needed to write and record his generations. From Adam to Noah from Noah's Sons to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, to Moses.

Regrettably we live among many who name the name of Jesus but who deny, either or both,
His Divinity or humanity, also his spiritual conception, death and bodily resurrection necessary for any one's redemption. Our children are forbidden to receive Special Creation teaching in many schools and many are at pains to rid our world of the 'godbotherers' who love and serve Him.

Well, remnant though we may be in Australia, we must not give the atheists and evolutionists what they so 'religiously' claim is,, 'scientifically proved' concerning Humankind's History.

Besause they have not, and it is, not.

Yours Aye

ROY

ENCOUNTER WITH A SAMARITAN WOMAN

2010-03-31T07:20:00.004+10:00

John began his Gospel with an affirmation that "The Word was God" (1:1) but went on to affirm that "the Word became flesh." (v 14) Now he illustrates from an encounter with a Samaritan woman how vulnerable that humanity was. It was about twelve noon when Jesus and his disciples reached Jacob's well and the sun was at its hottest. Jesus was tired after his morning's walk, so he sat by the well to rest. He was hungry so he sent his disciples to the neighbouring village to buy food. He was also hot and thirsty, so he asked the Samaritan woman for a drink.Thus Jesus was no superman immune to the frailty of ordinary mortals. He was an authentic human being.

The other characteristic of Jesus that this story highlights is his attitude to tradition. He was conservative in relation to Scripture, believing it to be the Word of God, but radical in relation to tradition, knowing it to consist of only human words. A radical is someone who is critical of all traditions and conventions, refusing to accept them merely because they have been handed down from the past.

Now the Samaritan woman had a threefold conventional disability. Firstly she was a woman, and it was not done for a man to talk to a woman in public. But Jesus did what wasn't done.
Secondly she was a Samaritan, and Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Thirdly she was a sinner,having had five husbandsand now cohabiting with a man to whom she was not married.
But respectable people like rabbis did not mix wit sinners like her. Thus three times over Jesus did what was not done. He deliberately breached the social conventions of the day. He was entirely free of gender discrimination, ethnic prejudice, and moral priggishness. He loved and respected everybody and shrank from nobody.

Thus Jesus was both conservative ( in relation to Scripture) and radical (in relation to culture)
at the same time. It seems to me we need a new generation of 'RCs,' now not for Roman Catholics but for Radical Conservatives.

Yours Aye

Roy

THE ENCOUNTER WITH NICODEMUS

2010-03-15T10:05:00.003+10:00

Jesus declared 'I tell you the truth, that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

Nicodemus is a supreme example of a sincere example of a seeker after truth. If only there were more Nicodemuses in the world today-men and women who are prepered to lay aside apathy,
prejudice, and fear and seek the truth with an honest and humble spirit. 'Seek and you will find,' Jesus promised. (Matt 7:7)

Jesus must have startled Nicodemus by telling him that he must be born again. What did he mean?

Obviously he was not referring to a second physical birth or an act of self reformation. Nor can Jesus have been alluding to Christian Baptism, since it was not instituted until after the resurrection. To be sure baptism is the sign or ordinance which seals the evidence of new birth, but we must not confuse the outward sign with the inward thing signified. Baptism is a visible public dramatisation of the new birth, which is itself an invisible and secret work of God, by which he gives us new life, a new beginning.

Moreover ( Jesus said ) we must be born again. Without the new birth we can neither see nor enter God's kingdom. Nicodemus was religious, moral, educated, respectable and courteous. He even believed in the divine origin of Jesus. But all this was not enough. He still needed to be born again.

So how does this new birth take place ? From one point of view, it is entirely a work of God. No one has ever given birth to himself. So the new birth is a birth, 'from above,' a birth of the 'Holy Spirit'. But from our side we have both to repent and to believe. Nicodemus could not bypass John's baptism of repentance. This surely was what Jesus meant by being born 'of water' Then he must believe putting his trust in Jesus the Messiah, who was the Saviour he needed.

Notes from 'Through the Bible through the Year' John Stott.

Yours Aye

Roy

JESUS THE GIVER OF LIFE

2010-03-06T07:18:00.003+10:00

John tells us that his ultimate purpose in writing his Gospel was that his readers might receive life through Jesus Christ. In order to receive life from Christ, they must believe in Christ, and in order to believe in Christ, John has selected certain signs that bear witness to Christ. Thus testimony leads to faith, and faith to life .

Indeed, John sees his gospel primarily as testimony to Christ. It is almost as if his Gospel were a court scene and Jesus Christ were on trial. A succession of witnesses is called, beginning with John the Baptist, and the trial continues with seven miraculous signs, each of which is a dramatised claim.

1. Jesus turned water into wine, claiming to inaugurate a new order.

2. and 3. Jesus performed two healing miracles, claiming to give new life.

4. Jesus fed five thousand people, claiming to be the Bread of Life.

5. Jesus walked on water, claiming that the powers of nature were under his authority.

6. Jesus gave sight to a man born blind, claiming to be the Light of the World.

7. Jesus raised Lazarus from death, claiming to be the Resurrection and the Life .

Yet there is another side to John's witness to Jesus. The seven signs recorded in the first half of his Gospel, are signs of power and authority. In the second half of his Gospel, however, John records signs of weakness and humility-first in the washing of the disciples feet and then in the cross which John sees as the glorification of Jesus.

To sum up, John's Gospel is in two halves: part 1 is the Book of Signs, and part 2 is the Book of the Cross. But in both, throughout the Gospel, John is bearing witness to Jesus in order that his readers may believe in him and so receive life from him.

Yours Aye

Roy

JESUS THE LIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS

2010-02-23T09:18:00.004+10:00

Many people are troubled by the apparent remoteness of God. He seems to them distant, aloof , and unreal. They cry out with Job, 'If only I knew where to find him' (Job 23 :3)

It is this image of an absentee God that John smashes to smithereens. In the prologue of his Gospel he writes of three comings of God into the world in Christ.

Firstly, he was coming into the world. It is a great mistake to suppose that the first time God came into the world was when he was born into it. No, He made the world and has never left it. 'He is the true light that gives light to every man' who, ' was coming into the world' (John 1:9) Thus long before he came he was coming, giving to all both light and life. So that everything beautiful, good, and true in the world we claim for Jesus Christ. People may not know this, for usually he retains his incognito, but he is 'the light of men' (v4) No human being is plunged into total darkness.

Secondly he came into the world 'He came to that which was his own' (v11) He who had been coming to all people now came to his particular people He who had been coming ingognito now came in person, openly and publicly. The eternal Word became a human being. The tragedy is the world did not recognize him.

Thirdly he still comes. He He comes now by his Spirit, and to thos who receive him he gives the right to become God's children, born of God (v12)

A fourth coming could be added, although John does not mention it here. But later records Jesus's promise.' I will come back and take you to be with me (John 14 :3)

So here are God's four comings .He was continuously coming as the light and life of all human beings. He came on the first Christmas Day. He conme still,waiting for us to receive Him and He will come on the last Day.

Yours Aye

Roy

JESUS THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

2010-02-15T14:58:00.003+10:00

Last time we considered Luke as a historian this week we will see him as a theologian and evangelist. What is his message? It is that Jesus is the Saviour of the world, the reaching out to everybody, irrespective of race, nationality, rank, age or sex. So Luke deliberately places near the beginning of each of his volumes a statement of universality. Quoting OT prophets he says.

Luke 3:6 'And all mankind will see God's Salvation'

Acts 2:17 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people'

And throughout his Gospel he goes out of his way to show Jesus including those whom society often excludes.

Being a doctor it is understandable that Luke should emphasize Jesus's compassion for the sick and suffering. But he also cared for women and children, the poor and the needy, tax collectors and sinneres, and especially Samaritans and Gentiles. In each case Luke's emphasis is stronger than that of the other evangelists.

Being a Gentile himself Luke was a man of wide horizons. He never calls the water of Galilee a sea, for he himself has sailed on the Great Sea ( the Mediterranean) and by comparison he calls Galilee only a lake.

In the Acts Luke chronicles the three pioneer missionary journeys undertaken by his hero Paul, indicating the occasions when he himself was present as Paul's companion. The Acts records a triumphal progression from Jerusalem, the capital of Jewry, to Rome the capital of the world .
Wherever they went they proclaimed salvation (comprising forgiveness and the Spirit) as available in Christ to all people. And Luke records the apostle Peter's affirmation.

'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved'. Acts 4:12

Yours Aye

Roy

Luke part 1 - Jesus the Historical Figure

2010-02-07T15:02:00.002+10:00

Luke wrote the two volume work on the origins of Christianity, namely his Gospel and the Acts.
In his preface which covers both Books, he emphasises the reliability of what he is writing. For he is absolutely clear that Jesus was no myth but a historical figure. So he sets out his case in five logical stages. (vv 1-4)
First certain "things ....have been fulfilled among us "(v 1) These were the events of Jesus's ministry
Secondly; these events were seen by eyewitnesses who "handed down"what they had seen,to others. (v 2)
Thirdly, Luke who was one of these,"carefully investigated everything from the beginning" (v 3)
Fourthly Luke wrote down the result of his research, giving an orderly account" of it. (v3)
Fifthly, there would be readers,including Theophilus,his distinguished patron, who would find in Luke's Gospel solid grounds for his faith.

But when did Luke pursue his investigations ? For he was not one of the Twelve or an eyewitness. He later enjoyed a two year residence in Palestine while Paul was imprisoned in Caeserea (Acts 24 ;27). How did he occupy his time ? We can only guess. Surely he travelled the length and breadth of the, gathering material for his Gospel and for the early Jesusalem-based story of the Acts,visiting the sites associated with Jesus's ministry, familiarising himself (as a Gentile) with Jewish culture, and interviewing eyewitnesses. These must have included the Virgin Mary by now an elderly lady. For Luke tells Mary's story including the intimacies surrounding Jeus"s birth.These can have come only from Mary herself. All this establishes our confidence in the historical reliability of Luke's writings. (Through the Bible Through the Year )
John Stott.

Yours Aye

Roy

JESUS THE SUFFERING SERVANT

2010-01-25T07:30:00.005+10:00

The centre of Mark's Gospel is the Cross of Christ. Once the twelve grasped who Jesus was and had confessed him as the Messiah, he began to teach them about the Cross.It was a turning point in Jesus' ministry and so also in Mark's Gospel. Before this time Jesus had been made much of as a preacher and healer. But he had not come to be that kind of Messiah. So from now on he taught his disciples openly about the necessity of his sufferings and death Mark 8:31. Mark records on three more separate occasions Jesus solemnly predicted his death. Indeed one third of Mark's Gospel is devoted to his passion (suffering).

The evidence of Jesus' teaching is found in the statement that "The Son of Man must suffer" Why must he suffer? What is the origin of his sense of compulsion? It is because the Scriptures must be fulfilled. Why then the Son of Man"? By using this Hebraism for a human being, Jesus was referring to Daniel 7. In this vision "one like a son of man" (that is, a human figure) comes on the clouds and approaches the Ancient of Days (GOD). He is given authority and sovereign power so that all people will serve him, and his kingdom will never be destroyed. (Dan 7: 13-14)

Jesus adopted the title (Son of Man) but changed his role. According to Daniel all nations would serve him. According to Jesus he had come to serve, not to be served. In fact Jesus did what
nobody else had done : he fused the two Old Testament images, Isaiah's servant who suffers and Daniel's son of Man who reigns. First Jesus must bear our sins and only then rise and enter his glory from whence he will rule and reign until his Second advent when he will come in power and great glory, to call all Men to account.

Yours Aye

Roy

Jesus the Internationalsit

2010-01-11T07:23:00.005+10:00

Last time we saw that Matthew portrays a Jewish Jesus.Indeed he proclaims him as the long expected Messiah.The evidence for this Jewishness is indisputable. Jesus was steeped in the Old Testament. He saw himself as the fulfillment of all Old Testament Prophecy.

More than that, Matthew records two occasions, which are not paralleled in the other Gospels, in which Jesus appears to be guilty of nationalism or ethnic prejudice. Firstly referring to his own ministry, Jesus said, "I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel" Matt 15:24 Secondly,referring to the ministry of his disciples, he said to them,"Do not go among the Gentiles....go rather to the lost sheep of Israel." Matt10: 5-6.

This however as we see in later scripture is only an historical limitation. Jesus was giving Israel a last chance. But he added immediately that later his disciples would be "witnesses...to the Gentiles" (v18) And the same Matthew who recorded these sayings about Israel's "lost sheep" also recorded that at the beginning of his gospel the visit of the Gentile Magi, and at its end the great commission to "go and make disciples of all nations" (28:19)

So although Matthew's picture of Jesus is the most Jewish of the four pictures, it would be impossible to represent Jesus as guilty in any way of ethnic pride or prejudice. On the contrary, Jesus made it clear that the renewed Israel would be an international nation.

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" Matt 8:11

Yours aye

Roy

Through the Year in the Four Gospels-Devotional

2009-12-28T06:49:00.010+10:00

As we begin a New Year, that is still full of promise, let us consider Jesus who is the Christ (Messiah)

Matthew the writer of the first Gospel presents Jesus to us as the long expected and awaited Saviour. His favourite formula which occurs eleven times in his Gospels is some variation of this. "Now this took place that what was written in the prophets might be fulfilled."

It is appropriate therefore that Matthew should begin his Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, in which he traces the royal line and specifically emphasizes Abraham, the founding father of Israel, and David, the ancestor of the Messiah, who would be, "the son of David"

The theme of fulfillment is most clearly seen in Jesus' inauguration of the kingdom of God. All four evangelists write that he proclaimed the kingdom, but Matthew had his special emphasis.

In deference to the Jewish reluctance to pronounce the sacred name of God, Matthew uses instead "the kingdom of heaven" (about fifty times) He also grasps that the kingdom is both a present reality and a future expectation.

One of Jesus' remarkable sayings was recorded by Matthew, and also by Luke.

"Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, but did not see it and to hear what you hear and did not hear it" Matt 13:16,17

In other worde the Old Testament prophets lived in the time of anticipation; the apostles were living in the time of fulfillment.Their eyes were actually seeing and their ears actually hearing, what their predecessors had longed to see and to hear. So Matthew does not portray Jesus as another prophet, one more seer in a long succession of the centuries, but rather as the fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew also sees Jesus as confronting Israel with a final summons to repent and as already begining to create a New Israel, his twelve apostles complementing the twelve tribes of Israel.

So we see that Matthew portrays a Jewish Jesus. Indeed he proclaims him as the long expected Messiah.The evidence for this Jewishness is indisputable. Jesus was steeped in the Old Testament. He saw Himself as the fulfillmentof all Old Testament prophecy.

More about Jesus soon, keep abreast of the Creationists Corner, Blog

Notes from Through the Bible through the Year by John Stott.

Yours aye Roy (editor)

CREATIONISTS CORNER

2009-11-16T06:25:00.003+10:00

Creationists Corner exists to provide accurate historical information that presents to the Christian believer a [platform of certainty],as to how ? why? when and where? God did His Creative work.
There can be no compromise with any of the ideas, philosophies made by Man and passing for Reason or Science which contradict the Holy Scripture. It is always to be understood that if God said it, He also did it and that Moses as the editor of the first five Books of the Bible did so from the records afforded him by previous generations. They are called the "toledoth" and are records from the time of Adam's generation onward

There have been a rash of Charles Darwin films and documentaries exalting this pathetic man who among many others have helped to destroy, delude and desecrate Holy Scripture. We cannot even consider attempting to argue our case against them. What we can do is set the record of God's Word to Man and for Man, as being of precise and accurate history from the day of God's Creative work.

We need to begin by charging those who oppose the Scriptures and conclude them to be myths. Myths are a distortion of real events and are usually crowded with characters part human part divine but always self centred and often seriously mischievous. In this manner the world came to the view that there was no Supreme God and Creator but that all that is was recorded in Scripture came under this mythical form.

From the Beginning God speaks the world in to being and Man into life and living. There is no such thing as Prehistory. God begins all things and will accomplish all things. The world as we know it is but some six thousand years old and the record is above all things accurate and truthful.