"7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave"

A few weeks ago my good friend Norm gave me a copy of 7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave. Since I knew I was soon flying to India, I also knew that I would have some travel time to read. During my time in the air and on the ground I completed and greatly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

The author, Dave Breese, looks at the lives, influences, and writings of seven men whose ideas still rule much of today's thinking around the world, especially in the West. The seven men are Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Julius Wellhausen, John Dewey, Sigmund Freud, John Keynes, and Soren Kierkegaard. Each of these men has, in his own way, deeply impacted the culture in which we live; this despite the fact that all seven have been dead for decades.

This book reminds us that ideas have consequences. For example, Marx's flawed view of human nature, government, and economics directly led to the murder of many millions of people in the Soviet Union and communist China. Freud's thinking on human sexuality directed the path to the "sexual revolution" of the 1960's. Wellhausen, one of the first German biblical critics, destroyed high education's view of the truth of scripture. Dewey is in large part responsible for the travesty that has become the public school system today. Many of President Obama's decisions today descend directly from Keynes, who was one of the first proponents of bigger government.

As for Charles Darwin, his thinking reigns supreme at all education levels in our society today. To even mention biblical creationism is to be laughed at and scorned.

I would wager that most Americans know little to nothing about most of these seven men. However, most Americans' worldviews and thought patterns are directly affected by what these men thought and taught. Why is our society like it is? Read these men and you will know.

The only negative about this book is that the author speaks positively about Christian fundamentalism. However, this does not impact his views of what these seven men have written. Therefore, it is not a significant issue.

I highly recommend this book. It is well-written, well-researched, and interesting. Most importantly, it helps us understand the culture in which we live. The title of the book could not be more accurate. These seven men still rule.

God's Not Dead

During the July 4th holiday I actually purchased and began reading a book. Amazingly, I found a good one as I was looking around a Barnes and Noble. My wife and I went there to get coffee. As I was trolling for something to look at I came upon God's Not Dead.

The book's subtitle explains well what it is all about, "Evidence for God in an age of uncertainty." The author, Rice Broocks, penned this excellent book in apologetics. He argues in a straightforward manner for the existence of God based on a number of reasons including life having meaning, the reality of good and evil, the fine tuning of the universe, the start of the universe, Jesus' resurrection, the witness of scripture, and the change in the lives of Jesus' followers.

This book has enough depth to make it worth the time, but is it not heavy or boring. Broocks includes numerous personal anecdotes that make it fairly easy to read. I highly recommend God's Not Dead for all Christians and anyone wondering about Jesus Christ.

Evolution is a Slippery Word

(I include the above photo simply for fun.)

The word "evolution" is a slippery one. I'm referring to the fact that it is used in a variety of ways by various people. This often leads to lack of actual communication and accompanying consternation/frustration for everyone involved.

In general "evolution" means change. We've all seen change, both good and bad, occur in almost uncountable ways in our lives. For example, the technological evolution just during the past thirty years is immense. I can remember when we bought our first microwave oven. Nowadays we can't live without the internet. These are significant changes.

When it comes to the world's beginnings, we must be clear in what we are talking about. Darwinian evolutionists demand that macro evolution occurs through processes of natural selection, mutation, and random chance. They state unequivocally that no higher intelligence is behind it. No discussion/debate on the issue is tolerated (especially within secular universities).

This is fascinating because the positive changes we've experienced in this world occur through much planning and intelligence. The evolution we have seen in technology has come from many smart techno-folks logging long hours to create software, computers, cell phones, flat screens, etc. None of these types of changes have happened through people simply sitting around waiting for something to happen by chance.

Evolution, when simply meaning change, can be a positive thing only when intelligence is behind it. On the other hand, evolution apart from intelligence and planning leads only to a big mess or worse. A great example of this is the state of my kids' bedrooms. I've blogged about this before, so I'll simply say here that order does not stem from chance. Their bedrooms only become clean through much effort and planning.

This is not to say that God controlled evolutionary processes to bring this world into existence. That is simply not the case. Genesis 1-2 makes it clear that God crafted this world in a highly organized, step-by-step process.

Changes do, however, occur in this world. Evolution, meaning simply change, even happens within species over time. However, it never happens at the macro level. Species tend to remain the same, not change from one to another.

Let's be careful in our definitions. Statements such as "I don't believe in evolution" are not helpful because they are not precise enough. In order to have intelligent conversation on this issue, we must define what we are talking about.

There was no evolution in the creation process.

There is evolution (meaning simply change) in the world as we know it. Positive change only stems from intelligence and planning.

Changes that come from lack of order or planning are only negative ones. Order never comes as a result of disorder.

As followers of Jesus we must be clear in what we are talking about as we engage the world on these issues.

"God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything"

God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything is a significant text by noted atheist Christopher Hitchens.  After its release in 2007 it was a best seller for quite some time.  This book has contributed mightily to the rise of the New Atheism within this country.

Because of its impact, I decided to give this book a try.  Since I'm obviously a theist, I knew that it would be a challenge to read it.  Let's face it: it's always easier to read someone you agree with than someone you don't.

Not wanting to add to Hitchens' already full wallet, I checked this one out of a local library.

I must admit that I selectively skimmed this book.  The reason is that I have no interest in Hitchens' discussion of world religions outside biblical Christianity.  My interest was two-fold.  First, how does Hitchens interact with biblical claims?  Second, what does he propose as the best belief system?

Three Questions for Atheistic Evolutionists

I realize that not many atheistic evolutionists read this blog. Despite this, I still want to ask a few questions. In doing this, I'm differentiating between atheistic evolutionists and theistic evolutionists. Although I strongly disagree with theistic evolution, I also believe that a person can be a theist (and even a Christian) and hold this position.

Now to the three questions. These are, I believe, fair questions that need to be answered by atheistic evolutionists. Frankly, I'm curious. So here they are:

1. Does your life have meaning?

2. If you answered "Yes" to question number one, why?

3. If you answered question number two with something like, "Because I give it meaning," would you please elaborate on that?

I'm asking these questions because atheistic evolutionists are becoming an increasingly loud minority voice in our society (especially on secular university campuses). If people are going to hold this position, then they need to answer some significant philosophical questions.

It strikes me that the logical outcome of holding an atheistic evolutionary position is one of utter despair. If life began as a cosmic mistake, and we are simply part of that, then that means that my life personally is a mistake. Therefore, it holds no inherent meaning. If life has no meaning, then what is there to live for?

Creation, Resurrection, Evolution, and Biblical Interpretation

I've heard a number of Christians say that it doesn't really matter how we interpret Genesis chapters 1-2 as long as we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. While I agree that salvation does not directly depend on what we believe about the first two chapters of the bible, I profoundly disagree with the idea that "it doesn't really matter." It matters a great deal because it tells a lot about how we interpret scripture, what our ultimate authority is, and whether or not we are being consistent in how we read the bible.

A simple reading of Genesis 1-2 suggests a literal six day, 24 hour creation. If we hold to the bible as our final authority, then we will come to this conclusion. Since I believe all of the bible is true, I am a young earth creationist.

Christians who are theistic evolutionists may say that they believe the bible is true. However, they look to secular science as their authority on how the universe came to be as it is. Therefore, they believe that God used some form of evolution to bring about His creation. This conclusion cannot come from scripture. Genesis 1-2 does not even hint at this. Therefore, theistic evolutionists force scripture to fit into what secular science says.

We see, then, a significant difference. When it comes to how things are, creationists look to the bible as their final authority while theistic evolutionists look to secular science.

Let's now turn to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a core doctrine of our faith. If you reject the truth of the resurrection, then quite simply you are not a follower of Jesus Christ.

Creationists, like myself, read in the bible that Jesus rose from the dead. The bible says it and I believe it. Despite the fact that secular science rejects the idea that a dead man can rise from the dead three days later, I still believe it is true. This is a literal interpretation of scripture. This view believes the bible is the final authority.

This is where theistic evolutionists who claim to be Christians have a significant problem. By embracing evolution, they have shown that secular science is their final authority. Therefore, the bible is not. Secular science rejects the resurrection. The bible proclaims it. Which will they choose?

Christian theistic evolutionists obviously agree with the resurrection of Christ. By definition they have to. In doing this, they claim that biblical truth supersedes secular scientific theory on this issue. The clear problem is this: theistic evolutionists are completely inconsistent in what their final authority is.

On the issue of creation, they reject the bible in favor of secular science (they would not say this, but listening to them force scripture to say things it doesn't further proves the point). On the issue of the resurrection of Christ, they reject secular science in favor of what the bible teaches.

As the saying goes, "You can't have your cake and eat it, too." Theistic evolutionists cannot fairly claim different sources of authority. Either the bible is true in all aspects or it should be rejected.

When we look at the issue this way, we see how clear it becomes. The position of theistic evolution is one that all Christians must reject. Even many ardent atheistic evolutionists despise the theory of theistic evolution because of its inconsistency. At a basic intellectual level, it is an embarrassing position to hold.

We must be consistent with what we believe is true and why we believe it. The resurrection of Jesus matters, but so does the account of how the world began. How life began is absolutely critical. It is one of the most fundamental questions we can ask and answer. To reject the bible's answer to one of these questions but then embrace the bible's answer to the other is inconsistent and dangerous.

If we are to be consistent in how we read and interpret the scriptures, the only fair conclusion we can come to about creation is that God did it in six 24 hour days, just like it says in Genesis 1-2.

One "Little" Issue

One of the great things about Christianity is that God has answered all of life's important questions for us. He has spoken clearly to us in the bible.

I find it both fascinating and sad that secular evolutionists are lacking the answer to a very important question related to their worldview. Evolution answers, so they believe, how life transforms over time. However, evolution does not answer how life began.

Secular evolutionists would like this to seem like a ''little issue." Their difficulty is that it is a very significant issue. They do not know anything about the very beginning of what they believe. They don't know how it started. This is a basic, fundamental, foundational issue for any belief system. When it comes to what began the evolutionary process, some will say that it all started with a "Big Bang". However, a bang, no matter how big, needs something to start it. Secular evolutionists have no idea what started it.

I enjoy watching Ben Stein's movie Expelled. In this film, Stein discusses the problem that within the secular university system any discussion of anything other than evolution (such as Intelligent Design) has basically been outlawed. In the movie, Stein interviews several prominent university professors who are secular evolutionists. I will never forget Stein asking one of them how life began here on earth. The professor, with a straight face no less, told Stein that life began "on the backs of crystals." I'm not making this up.

Stein was incredulous. So am I. That answer amounts to a non-answer.

The reality is that secular evolutionists want to avoid this question because they understand its significance. If they have no answer, then the remainder of their belief system crumbles. They have been building a house of cards.

I'm thrilled that God has told us very clearly how life began. He answers this basic, profound question in Genesis 1:1, saying, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." That is an answer that makes a lot of sense. It is actually quite easy to believe that an all-powerful being created things as they are. In fact, it is the only logical answer.

God goes on to further explain His creation in the remainder of Genesis chapters 1-2. He answers all the questions we need to know. He leaves nothing out that is important.

Let's be thankful that God has provided us with answers to life's basic questions. Let's live in such a way that others will want to know why we believe what we believe. Then we may give them the answers God provides.

No Mention of God

Yesterday I was listening to the radio while driving. I came upon a talk show on NPR where the host was asking questions of a couple of scientists. They were discussing whether or not we should transmit radio waves into space to try to contact alien species. It was actually an interesting discussion because the people involved really took it seriously. They were concerned about any small group of people deciding what would be transmitted because, "Who has the right to speak for the entire human species?" They were also concerned about aliens coming here because they would have much more advanced technology than we do (they had been listening to a worried Stephen Hawking).

The most fascinating aspect of the discussion was that both of the scientists are convinced that aliens exist. They never doubted this for a second. The entire conversation was based on the assumption that they do exist, even though, as they admitted, there is no evidence for this at the present time. One of the scientists briefly discussed Darwinian evolution, saying that we "know how life evolved." However, he also admitted that they do not know how life began (a fairly important thing I would say).

While talking about earth, alien life, space, communication, etc., there was something significant missing. What was missing? God was missing.

Although these scientists (who are clearly secularists) do not know how life began and have no evidence that aliens exist, they still believe they exist. Meanwhile, they refuse to believe that God exists despite obvious evidence in creation for His existence. Throughout the conversation, it was clear that existence of God is not even considered in their worldview. They have ruled Him out.

What is so interesting is the scientists' lack of consistency when it comes to belief and evidence. They believe in alien life despite no evidence for it. At the same time, they do not believe in God despite evidence for Him.

This is a classic case of believing what we want to believe. These scientists want to believe in alien life because it will make their jobs much more interesting. Also, aliens will place no moral/ethical/ spiritual demands upon their lives.

They don't believe in God because they don't want to surrender to His sovereign rule as King. They do not want the constraints that someone else will place upon their lives.

This is just another example of secular scientists do not looking at actual evidence/data to come up with their worldviews. Instead, they believe what they want to believe about the world and then set out to prove it under than name of "science."

Unless we get prideful in looking at this, let us remember that but for the grace of God, we would be just like these secular scientists. So, how do we reach them with the gospel? It won't be from arguments from scripture (at least not at first). The first thing to do is to love them unconditionally and sacrificially in a way the world won't. That will get their attention. Once our love for them piques their curiosity, then we will have an open door for the gospel.

I Would Certainly Hope So

According to this story, "top home-school texts dismiss Darwin and evolution." I would certainly hope they do. After all, both the biblical account and the scientific data show that God created this world in an orderly manner. Although Darwinian evolution is promoted by materialists, the reality is that true science does not support it.

My Kids' Bedrooms Disprove Evolution

During the normal course of our homeschooling lives, our kids' bedrooms gradually move from neat to messy during the week. Sometimes this transformation is sudden (such as when a friend comes over to play), but most of the time it is gradual. By Saturday, their rooms have often descended into "dump status." At that point, either my wife says, "Children, you need to clean up your rooms," or I say, "Kids, pick up your dumps." Alice is a bit more eloquent than I am.

What we see during the week in the bedrooms is movement from order to disorder. As the business of the week moves along, the rooms transform from organized places to disorganized messes. When no effort or intelligence is placed into keeping things ordered, disorder reigns supreme.

There have been a few occasions where, for whatever reason, we have not asked our kids to keep their rooms clean for a longer period of time. The result is predictable (and typical and frightening). Their rooms, if they place no effort in cleaning them, turn into a completely wretched combination of clothing, wrappers, toys, shoes, stuffed animals, cups, etc. At times we joke that roaches would not want to live in their rooms.

The point to all this is that over time, order naturally descends into disorder. When no effort is placed into keeping things orderly, gradually increasing disorder is the order of the day. For order to be restored, someone with intelligence has to step in and re-order things. My kids rooms have NEVER become more orderly on their own. Oh how I wish they would!

One of the basic assumptions behind evolutionary theory is that, given enough time, disorder will (through mutation, natural selection, etc.) lead to order. This is how one-celled organisms can, according to evolutionists, transform over millions of years into human beings. Increased order is demanded, but it must come about through random chance, with no intelligence allowed to be a part of it.

It fascinates me that evolutionary theory rests on an idea (order coming from disorder apart from intelligence) that we never see in life. I can look at my kids' bedrooms. I can look at traffic. I can look at garbage pick-up. I can look at Wal*Mart.

In life, we never see order just happen randomly. Life as we know it rapidly descends into disorder when intelligence is removed. Just watch what happens at an intersection when the traffic light goes out. Semi-chaos erupts.

What we see in taking a casual glance at life is that order never comes naturally from disorder. Instead, disorder comes from order. What restores or brings about order? Someone from the outside with intelligence restores order. In the case of the traffic light, when a police officer arrives and directs traffic, order returns to the intersection.

Evolution depends directly on an idea that does not exist in life. For order to exist, an intelligent being is required. In order for life on earth to exist, an extremely intelligent being must exist - God.

One Thing Atheists are Good For

Atheists by definition believe that God does not exist (here's an example). Because of this, they look at the world from a very different perspective than theists do. In particular, they see through an extremely different lens than Christians do.

I disagree with atheists on almost all issues, whether they be spiritual, moral, educational, political, etc. This makes sense since the atheist sees the world as ultimately meaningless. Followers of Jesus Christ should see the world as having great meaning because God Himself created it.

Atheists offer little that is of value to this world. If they hold to a consistent worldview, then they must believe that their lives have absolutely no significance.

However, atheists are good for one thing: they stand for the existence of absolute truth.


Atheists not only believe that God does not exist, but they also believe that this is absolutely true. It is objectively true. It is true for everyone. It is, as evangelical apologist Francis Schaeffer famously said, "true truth."

Atheists strongly believe this. They argue for it. They have reasons (faulty, of course) for why they believe what they believe. They want everyone to believe what they believe. Atheists believe that if everyone would just reject the existence of God, then the world would be a better place.

While Christians should obviously disagree with atheists' conclusions, we can agree with them that absolute, objective truth exists. We can agree with atheists that God either exists or He does not. We can agree with atheists that God cannot be true or real for some people but not for others.

We can stand with atheists against today's scourge of postmodern thought. Postmodernism is a worldview that says that objective reality does not exist. What one person sees may be valid and real for him, while it may be completely different for others. No one can know anything for certain about all things.

Postmodernism stands against Christianity, but is more insidious than atheism. The reason for this is that a postmodernist will not argue with a Christian about the existence of God. He will simply say something like this, "It's fine for you if you believe in God. That's true for you. However, what is true for me is that... (fill in the blank)."

Postmodernists stand firmly against the existence of absolute truth. In fact, the only absolute they adhere to is that absolutes do not exist. Yes, there is irony there.

If there is no objective truth, then there is no room for discussion of anything that matters. If there is no objective truth, then there is no Christianity.

However, Jesus said that He is the truth (not the truth for only some people).

Therefore, we as Christians should agree strongly with atheists that absolute, objective truth exists. We must stand against postmodernism at all costs. This is what atheists are good for.

We must then sit down with the atheist next door and politely discuss the scientific facts - all of which point to biblical creation.

What the Other Side Thinks

It is no secret that one of my favorite ministries is Answers in Genesis.

There are those who couldn't disagree with me more. Many secularist-evolutionists literally hate the idea that God has created all that exists. They therefore despise any ministry or organization that stands for biblical creation. One of those organizations/websites is named, and I am not making this up, No Answers in Genesis!

No Answers in Genesis! is troublesome because much of its website amounts to nothing more than name calling. Much of this is directed at Answers in Genesis. For example, if you look at the website, you will see the following words used to describe those who believe in a biblical creation: "ignorance," "a repository of the absurd," "pseudo science," "deception," "howlers," and "frauds."

Additionally, the No Answers! website portrays the debate as science versus Christianity. In reality, the debate rests between naturalist-secularism and biblical creationism.

Let us also remember that all objective scientific data supports a literal interpretation of Genesis 1-2.

Because real science does not support evolution, the secularists are left with nothing more than calling names and shutting their ears.

More Evolutionary Nonsense

Here we go again. The BBC today is reporting the following, "The earliest footprints showing evidence of modern human foot anatomy and gait have been unearthed in Kenya." These footprints are reported to be 1.5 million-years-old.

At least the report was honest about one thing, saying, "Exactly how that more ape-like foot developed into its modern version has remained unclear." As with the rest of evolutionary theory, much remains unclear. This is, of course, because it's not true.

To read this "news," click here.

Evolution Leads to a Meaningless Life

In this 200th year after the birth of Charles Darwin, it is helpful to ask what evolution, if it were true, would lead us to. If life is nothing more than random chance, natural selection, survival of the fittest, and a series of meaningless biochemical interactions, then what do we have to live for?

If Darwin's theory is correct, then we are absolutely alone in this universe. If he is correct, then life has no higher meaning. If Darwin had life figured out, then life has no meaning whatsoever. We are a mistake that begins when we are conceived and ends when we die. Our lives have no significance at all.

If Darwin is right and life is meaningless, where does this leave us? When our circumstances are going well and life is relatively easy, then we might be able to ignore the insignificance of our existence. But what about when things go badly?

When our lives take a turn for the worse and we lose our job, a loved one dies, we get sick, our spouse runs away with someone else, we go bankrupt, etc., what then? If Darwin was right, then we have no hope outside this world. Evolution automatically demands that we are living a meaningless life. This is a life that has no hope of getting any better based on the influence of any higher power. Therefore, at the most basic level, when things go badly for us we have no hope of things getting better unless someone here rescues us. What do we do if we have no one here who is powerful enough to help?

The combination of the meaninglessness of life and the lack of hope should logically lead to abject despair. Abject despair ought to logically lead to suicide. This may sound like an overstatement to some readers, but it appears to me to be the logical endgame of evolution.

Evolution is part of a worldview that has no hope.

As Christians, we have hope. This hope is based not on desire or dreams, but on fact. The fact is the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our hope also rests in the fact that Jesus is going to return. Titus 2:13 tells us, "...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

Let us continue the discussion with evolutionists. May we proclaim the truth in love. We have the facts on our side.

We also have hope.

Death Before Sin?

With this being the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, there will undoubtedly be much discussion this year (there already is) of his impact upon modern society. Since 2009 is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species, Darwin will be difficult to ignore.

It does not surprise me that secularists in general and atheists in particular believe in evolution. It only makes sense that people who do not know Jesus Christ will also hold faulty views about the beginnings of the universe.

It does surprise and trouble me that some Christians believe that God used evolutionary methods to bring His creation into existence. I've heard this many times from people who I have no doubt are followers of Jesus Christ. I believe that these Christians mean well. They are trying to in some way reconcile the differences between Christian theism and secular-naturalistic beliefs about the beginnings of the world.

Despite their good intentions, Christians who believe in some sort of evolution (macroevolution, not microevolution) have a big theological problem on their hands. The big problem is this: in their view, death MUST come before sin. If plants and animals existed for millions of years prior to the first humans, then there must have been a great deal of death before any humans walked the earth.

Romans 5:12 makes this clear. Paul writes, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned..." (ESV)

The bible tells us that death is a consequence of sin. Death comes from sin. In fact, this is what we see when we give a literal reading to Genesis 1-2.

A related problem for Christians who hold to evolution is this: if death comes before sin in Genesis 1-2, then to be consistent it seems that death must still exist in Revelation 21-22. Is the Christian/evolutionist ready to say that death will exist after sin is done away with by Christ? We certainly can't believe that this will be the case.

It saddens me that many Christians are willing to sacrifice theological truth on the altar of secular scientific theory. Christians must realize that evolution today is pushed and promoted by secularists. It is secular scientists who are trying to force their beliefs on our culture. On the other hand, many scientists who are also Christians believe that the objective scientific data corresponds closely with a literal reading of Genesis 1-2.

It is a great biblical truth that death only came after sin. We also know that after sin is gone, death will be gone as well.

I have never once heard a good answer from a Christian/evolutionist as to how death can come before sin.

I'm still waiting.


(For a great deal of excellent information on Creationism, go to AnswersinGenesis.org.)