Bible's Historical Accuracy Proclaimed as Conference Kicks Off in Florida
by Allie Martin
January 31, 2005
(AgapePress) - The president of Answers in Genesis says the Church needs to reclaim ground that has been lost in the debate over historical matters in the Bible. One way to do that, he says, is to make radical changes in Sunday school curriculum.Christians who want to sharpen their skills in defending against the false teaching of evolution are getting some tips this week at a conference in Florida. "Defending the Faith," sponsored by the Christian apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis and hosted by Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, is a three-day conference running through Wednesday (February 2). At the conference, Christian teachers, pastors, and authors are addressiong a variety of topics to help believers refute evolutionists and make solid arguments for creationism.
Kicking off the conference was AIG president Dr. Ken Ham, who said the debate over the accuracy of biblical history is the primary reason for the cultural crisis facing the Church today. Ham accuses the Church of essentially writing off such historical subjects as geology, biology, and anthropology, saying those things should be taught by schools and not in the church. Churches' attitudes that "we'll just cling to the gospel," he says, have left schools open to teaching a humanistic approach to the history of the world.
"Here's what I believe has happened," Ham explained. "Generations have been taught the history [of the Bible] is not true. And now we wonder why [people] are [asking] 'Why should we believe in the spiritual things? Why should we believe marriage is one man for one woman?'
"Here's the point," said the AIG leader. "Once you give up the earthly things, generations later will give up the rest."
According to Ham, churches in America have emphasized teaching Bible stories over teaching about the historical accuracy of God's Word. It is a fatal mistake, he said, to leave it up to public schools to teach sciences to children.
"The majority of kids from church homes go to public schools where they're taught a geology/biology/astronomy/anthropology that everyday says the Bible's wrong, the Bible's wrong, the Bible's wrong," he stated. "And they're taught the real history of the world, in their eyes, when they go to school and college."
Eventually, according to Ham, students who absorb such teaching begin to accept it as the real history of the world. And when they realize it contradicts the Bible, they begin to reject all parts of God's Word. "And then we wonder why 70 percent of them are going to walk away from the Church," Ham offered.
That is why Ham is calling for a radical change in Sunday school curriculum. "Now you might be [asking] me, 'Wait a minute. Are you saying we should study [such subjects as] geology, biology, astronomy, anthropology, physics, [and] chemistry in church and Sunday school?' My answer is 'absolutely' -- from the pulpits."
Ham said the Bible provides a complete picture of science and history. He provided the following example from the 38th chapter of Job, where God asked Job, "Were you there when I made the earth?"
"I like to teach children this," said Ham. "The next time somebody says to you [the earth has been in existence for] millions of years, just put your hand up and, in a nice way, say: 'Excuse me -- were you there?'"
The typical evolutionist's response, according to Ham, is that "No, we weren't -- but you weren't either." Ham offered this as a possible response. "You say 'No, I wasn't there. But I know someone who was and I have His Word -- are you interested?'"
"You see," continued Ham, "we know the One who's always been there, who knows everything, [and] who has recorded the true history of the world."
Ham also explained that the Bible can be used to explain dinosaurs, which often are equated with an "old earth" theory. But the AIG president says dinosaurs are mentioned throughout the Old Testament by eye witnesses. That is but one aspect of his organization's "Creation Museum," slated for opening in Kentucky in 2007.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
