https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3753
Defending the Truth on the Campus of the University of Alabama
| by | Kyle Butt, M.Div. |
On Tuesday, October 19, I was invited by the Tide for Christ campus
ministry, in conjunction with the Northport church of Christ campus
ministry, to be involved in a multimedia presentation refuting atheism
and defending New Testament Christianity. Several days prior to the
event, approximately 15 students from Heritage Christian University in
Florence, Alabama, in conjunction with several of the students involved
in the campus ministries, blanketed the campus, inviting students and
handing out literally thousands of flyers about the event. Trae Durden,
the campus minister with Tide for Christ, originally organized the event
in conjunction with the AAA (Alabama Atheists
and Agnostics). Trae worked with them to make sure that several atheists
and agnostics on campus were in attendance so that the atheistic
position would be well-represented. In all, some 150-200 people were in
attendance.
Trae originally wanted to set up a debate with Sam Harris (one of the
nation’s leading atheistic writers and speakers), but Harris required
$50,000, making his presence cost prohibitive. Instead, several video
clips were shown of the world’s most well known atheists expressing
their atheistic points of view. I then responded to the assertions, and
presented evidence confirming Christian theism. Questions from the
audience were then taken. Several students from the AAA
and the school’s philosophy department attended, and asked questions or
made statements regarding their beliefs. The question and answer
session lasted over an hour. The questions raised were mostly from the
atheistic point of view. Each question was answered with solid biblical,
historical, and scientific information. The truth was defended, God was
glorified, and atheism was refuted.
In addition, the Northport church of Christ and the Central church of
Christ contributed $500 dollars so that a host of books and materials
could be given away free to all those in attendance. Those who attended
and received the books seemed extremely grateful, and it was exciting to
be able to see atheists and agnostics leave the event with materials
that could potentially save their souls. It was also thrilling to be
able to review the plan of salvation, knowing that it may have been the
first, and possibly only, time that some had heard, or will ever hear,
the truth on the subject. I was thrilled to be a part of God’s
activities on the campus of the University of Alabama. We pray that many
more such events will take place across the country and that the
borders of God’s Kingdom will continue to spread. Please visit our
Facebook page for pictures of the event.
Dawkins’ Indirect Scientific Inference by Kyle Butt, M.Div.
https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3788
Dawkins’ Indirect Scientific Inference
| by | Kyle Butt, M.Div. |
In his latest book, The Greatest Show on Earth, Richard Dawkins declares that “the ‘theory’ of evolution is actually a fact—as incontrovertible a fact as any in science” (2009, p. vii). He wrote the book because he noted that in his previous books he “realized that the evidence for evolution itself was nowhere explicitly set out, and that this was a serious gap” that he “needed to close” (p. vii). In his failed attempt to close that gap, Dawkins delineated the kind of “evidence” that he would be relying upon. He noted that much of the “evidence” for evolution is necessarily not direct, eyewitness evidence. He stated:
Obviously, the vast majority of evolutionary change is invisible to direct eye-witness observation. Most of it happened before we were born, and in any case it is usually too slow to be seen during an individual’s lifetime.... With evolution, as with continental drift, inference after the event is all that is available to us, for the obvious reason that we don’t exist until after the event. But do not for one nanosecond underestimate the power of such inference (p. 16).
Along those same lines, Dawkins wrote: “I shall never again be tempted to give eyewitness testimony an automatic preference over indirect scientific inference” (p. 15).
The important point to notice in this regard is that often the creationist is criticized by the evolutionary community for suggesting that creation at the hand of a supernatural Creator is a scientific idea. We are told that since scientists cannot touch, see, taste, hear, or smell the Creator directly, here and now, then that “hypothesis” simply cannot be considered scientific. Yet such an assessment of Creation is inaccurate. Creation is simply, in the words of Richard Dawkins, “inference after the event” that deserves as much or more credit, according to Dawkins, as “eyewitness testimony” (cf. Butt, 2007).
In fact, the biblical explanation of Creation clearly defines the concept almost exactly as Dawkins has defined acceptable evidence. Romans 1:20 states: “For since the creation of the world His [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” A cursory look at the verse shows that (1) people in Paul’s time (as well as our own) were not around to directly observe the act of Creation, (2) the evidence available to Paul’s readers (and modern people) is enough to positively infer the concept of Creation and the existence of a Creator, (3) improper scientific inference from the available evidence would result in a complete misunderstanding of the origin of the Universe.
Dawkins is exactly right that real scientific inference based on indirect observation is an excellent way to arrive at facts and knowledge. Sadly, he is woefully incorrect in his assessment that such inferences substantiate evolution. The fact of the matter is, all properly formulated scientific inferences based on factual scientific evidence establish the conclusion that a supernatural Creator designed our amazing Universe.
REFERENCES
Butt, Kyle (2007), “Indirect Observation,” http://apologeticspress.org/articles/3243.
Dawkins, Richard (2009), The Greatest Show on Earth (New York: Free Press).
"THE GOSPEL OF MARK" Feeding The Five Thousand (6:32-44)
"THE GOSPEL OF MARK" Feeding The Five Thousand (6:32-44)
INTRODUCTION
1. One of the better known miracles of Jesus is "Feeding The Five Thousand"...
a. With just five loaves and two fish
b. With twelve baskets of fragments left over!
2. It is the only specific miracle performed by Jesus recorded in all four gospels...
a. Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17; Jn 6:1-13
b. We will let Mark's account be the starting point for our study
[Many lessons can be gleaned from this miracle. What I found striking is first...]
I. WHAT IT REVEALS ABOUT JESUS
A. COMPASSION...
1. He wanted His disciples to rest, but compassion moved Him to serve - Mk 6:34
2. Compassion that moved Him to send the apostles out earlier - Mt 9:36; 10:1
3. That later moved Him to feed the four thousand - Mt 15:32-38
4. That qualifies Him to be a perfect High Priest - cf. He 4:14-16; 5:1-2
-- This miracle reveals the wonderful compassion of our Lord!
B. POWER...
1. The power to feed 5000 men with five loaves and two fish - Mk 6:38-44
2. 5000 men, besides women and children (possibly 10,000?) - Mt 14:21
3. With twelve baskets of fragments left over - Mk 6:43
4. The sort of power that provides more than one needs - cf. Ep 3:20
-- This miracle reveals the overwhelming power of our Lord!
C. ORDERLINESS...
1. Jesus arranged the multitude in groups and ranks - Mk 6:39-40
2. Such orderliness is typical, evidenced by His creation - cf. Col 1:16; Ps 19:1; Ro 1:19-20
3. He desires it in the organization and worship of His churches - 1Co 14:33,40
-- This miracle reveals the careful orderliness of our Lord!
[Jesus' compassion, power and orderliness can be gleaned from Mark's
account of this miracle. From John's account in his gospel, we can also learn...]
II. WHAT IT REVEALS ABOUT MAN
A. MISUNDERSTANDING...
1. Their initial reaction was correct
a. That Jesus was the Prophet who was to come into the world - Jn 6:14
b. As foretold by Moses and confirmed by Peter - cf. Deut 18:15-18; Ac 3:18-26
2. But their desire to make Him king reveals their misunderstanding
a. They wanted to make Him a literal king - Jn 6:15
b. His kingdom was not to be a literal kingdom - cf. Jn 18:36; Lk 17:20-21
3. Today, we should not presume to know what is God's will
a. His ways and thoughts are often much different than our own - cf. Isa 55:8-9
b. Thus we should be quick to hear, rather than presume - cf. Ecc 5:1-2
-- The response to this miracle reveals man's ability to misunderstand God's will!
B. MATERIALISM...
1. They sought Jesus for the wrong reasons
a. They wanted the physical food He provided - Jn 6:26
b. They should have sought food that endures to everlasting life - Jn 6:27
2. He wanted to give them true bread
a. That gives life to the world - Jn 6:32-33
b. The bread of life, given to those who believe - Jn 6:34-35
2. Today, people often choose churches for the wrong reasons
a. Entertainment, youth programs, etc.
b. When they should be looking for spiritual things - cf. Ro 14:17
-- The response to this miracle reveals man's tendency to desire material things
C. DULLNESS...
1. They complained about Him
a. Because of His claim to be bread from heaven - Jn 6:41
b. Because they saw Him only as the son of Joseph and Mary - Jn 6:42
2. They struggled over His sayings
a. Taking Him literally - Jn 6:52
b. Even many of His disciples left Him - Jn 6:60,66
3. Today, many demonstrate a similar dullness
a. Unwilling to stay with Jesus (unlike the apostles) - Jn 6:67-69
b. Unwilling to make use of their time to learn and apply - cf. He 5:11-14
-- The response to this miracle reveals man's propensity to spiritual dullness
CONCLUSION
1. The miracle we have studied offers insight into the person of Jesus Christ...
a. His compassion for the souls and bodies of mankind
b. His power to provide for every need of man
c. His orderliness in the work He sets out to perform
2. The reaction to this miracle reveals insight into the propensity of man...
a. To misunderstand the will of God
b. To seek after material things of the world
c. To be dull of heart, which leads to the first two
3. What will be our response to this wonderful miracle...?
a. Let our spiritual dullness to take it lightly, or ignore it altogether?
b. Let it increase our faith in Him who provides our every need?
Jesus' intention was to draw men to Him as the Bread of Life which
nourishes our souls. May we not be so blinded by the materialism that
we fail to labor for that which leads to everlasting life (Jn 6:27)... Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016
A Sexless, Unconventional Marriage by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
https://thepreachersword.com/2018/01/18/a-sexless-unconventional-marriage/
A Sexless, Unconventional Marriage
New York socialites Quentin Esme Brown and Peter Cary Peterson got married last weekend in Las Vegas. But it’s not a typical, traditional marriage.
“He has always been my soulmate in every sense of the word and we felt mutually that Vegas was the place to finalize our commitment to partnership,” Brown posted on Instagram. “Peter and I are not romantically involved — in fact we are still dating others and will continue to seek love in all forms.”
According to an article on Yahoo Lifestyle, Brown and Peterson have been best friends for years, and have taken what Peterson said, “a progressive step towards what we believe marriage should be.” According to the report, “they’re planning to make theirs a sexless, open marriage” as they both date others.
Susan Pease Gadoua, a licensed therapist and co-author of The New “I Do,” admitted she didn’t know anyone else with this kind of marriage but believes it fits fine with people’s new views about relationships needs.
“We don’t need to get married for any of the reasons we used to,” Gadoua tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Once you’ve got everything else in place, it is like the cherry on top.”
Brown also put a statement on Instagram, saying, “I am confident my husband and I will break some walls down,” she wrote.
‘To me, it seems like they’re creating a family out of two people;” Maryland-based psychologist Samantha Rodman told Yahoo Lifestyle. ”It’s a family member you can always count on,”
Furthermore, Gadoua opined that this polyamorous arrangement might be a better alternative to divorce. However, “Where the complications are going to come in is when people outside their relationship look at it like, ‘I don’t want to get involved in that,” she admitted. It’s going to make it a little bit more complicated for them to find partners who understand.”
So, let’s get this straight. Brown and Peterson are best friends and now legally married. They want to enjoy companionship, the benefits of marriage minus a sexual relationship. And, of course, each enjoy romantic interests outside their marriage.
What will people think of next to circumvent God’s plan for the family and marital relationships?
In the beginning, when God made man, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.” Nothing in the animal kingdom was appropriate, so God made woman. Eve became Adam’s wife. The Bible says “the two became one flesh” referring to their sexual union. They “were both naked and felt no shame’ (Gen 2:18-25).
The nuclear family is not something created by culture, but ordered by Divine decree. Jesus affirmed the Father’s arrangement of the home as one man for one woman for life (Matt. 19:4-6). He said God joined them together. “And the two shall become one flesh.”
In that relationship a husband and wife enjoy companionship, commitment, support, security, affection and sexual fulfillment. The Bible instructs that to avoid sexual immorality “each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband” (1 Cor 7:1-4). Indeed “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled (Heb 13:4).
The wise man counseled his son to enjoy the pleasures of marriage with his wife. “Rejoice with the wife of your youth…may her breasts satisfy you always and may you ever be intoxicated with her love” (Prov 5:18-19).
In this intimate relationship, children are to be born, raised and nurtured by a father and mother who love them and train them in the way of the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4).
Sadly, our society is constantly seeking other outlets to replace God’s perfect plan for the home, family and raising children. All other arrangements will ultimately fail.
The Brown-Peterson marriage model is not only unconventional, it’s unscriptural.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
GOD'S WORD VERSUS BAPTIST DOCTRINE by steve finnell
https://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/01/
GOD'S WORD VERSUS BAPTIST DOCTRINE by steve finnell
God's Word: Hebrews 6:4-6 4 For it is impossible......6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance.....(NKJV)
God's Word: Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (NKJV)
God's Word: 1 Timothy 4:1...some will depart from the faith...(NKJV)
Christians can become lost.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baptist Doctrine: Water baptism is not essential for the forgiveness of sins and is not essential in order to be saved.
God's Word: Acts 2:38 ....and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.....(NKJV)
God's Word: Mark 16:16 ....and is baptized will be saved...(NKJV)
God's Word: 1 Peter 3:21 There is an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism...(NKJV)
God's Word: Acts 22:16...Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins...(NKJV)
God's Word: Colossians 2:12 -13 buried with Him in baptism...13...having forgiven you all trespasses,(NKJV)
God's Word: Ephesians 5:25-27 ....Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it 26 that He might sanctify and wash it with the washing of water by the word,(NKJV)
God's Word: Romans 6:4-7 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death.......7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.(NKJV)
God's Word: John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.(NKJV)
Being immersed in water is an essential part of the gospel plan of salvation.
Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (NKJV)
The apostles did not preach Baptist doctrine, they preached the word of God.
Denominations were not formed so they could preach the apostles' doctrine. Denominations were formed so they could change the apostles' doctrine. If all denominations preached only God's word, there would be just one church, the church of Jesus Christ.
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