Creation Museum Founder Says Nation's Foundation 'Shaky'

by Staff
February 18, 2010

PETERSBURG, Ky., (christiansunite.com) -- Biblical apologist Ken Ham, president and founder of Answers in Genesis and its world-renowned Creation Museum, presented his second "State of the Nation" address last night, encouraging Christians in the U.S. to know -- and defend -- what they say they believe about the Bible.

Carried live via webcast around the nation and the world and watched by a live studio audience inside the museum's theater, the address was also broadcast over several television and radio networks, such as the Cornerstone Television Network and CDR Radio Network. It will air later this week, tape- delayed, on the NRB Network on DirecTV and the Bott Radio Network.

Ham picked up where he left off with his first "State of the Nation" address last June, in which he stated that America is no longer the great Christian nation that it once was. He presented an overview of why so many young people leave the church, which largely stems from churches and Sunday schools not being able to understand and defend the Christian faith (including the Bible's account of Creation).

In this year's address, Ham pointed out that many Christians themselves don't know what they believe about Creation, and have compromised, allowing for evolutionary thinking to creep into their homes and churches -- even those in evangelical circles who claim the Bible as God's inerrant Word.

Ham shared the reason for this non-belief among our church leaders. "We have allowed millions-of-years thinking to enter into our teachings about origins. We say, 'We can believe in evolution, but that God did it.' We say, 'We can believe in the Big Bang, but that God did it.'

"This is what has undermined biblical authority," Ham said. "When we reinterpret God's Word, we undermine the foundation for all of our doctrine, and we undermine biblical authority itself by equating man's ideas with God's."

In addition, Ham pointed to cultural reminders that previously guided our nation, but which are disappearing. "Things like Bible verses engraved in our national buildings, prayer and Bible reading in the public schools, respect for marriage, respect for the elderly, and a respect for life, were all signs or memorials so that coming generations would be reminded of the faith of the majority of our Founding Fathers," he said.

Ham listed specific examples of these reminders being removed from the culture: "In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled school prayer unconstitutional; in 1963, Bible reading was removed from public schools; in 1973, we saw Roe v. Wade legalize abortion; in 1985, nativity scene displays on public property were ruled unconstitutional; we see increasing legislation for gay marriage; the president has said he is proud to be the first to appoint cabinet members who are openly gay, and that he wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. In the State of the Union address just last month, President Obama said he wanted to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' has de- funded abstinence education from the federal budget, and has said he wants to make preserving Roe v. Wade a priority."

Ham concluded with a challenge for Christians to once again impact the culture, and not be duped into believing that the so-called separation of church and state (which is not in the Constitution) should lead them not to engage society. He shared how they could do this through confidence in their own understandings about God's Word and origins, as well as what the Bible says about the issues of the day, such as abortion and gay marriage. "We need to restore the foundation on God's Word rather than man's word," Ham said.

"If we want to see reminders back in our culture for future generations, we need a reformation in the Church," Ham continued. "I would like to see people nailing Genesis chapters 1-11 to the doors of our Christian colleges, churches and seminaries. We need to change hearts and minds to influence the culture."

Following last night's live broadcast and webcast, the "State of the Nation II" address will be accessible online at www.answersingenesis.org.

Answers in Genesis is a biblical apologetics ministry and a nonprofit Christian organization dedicated to confirming the validity of the Bible from the very first verse. In addition to its acclaimed Creation Museum, which recently had its 945,000th visitor (since its grand opening in May 2007), AiG outreaches include about 250 teaching meetings each year, an award- winning Web site and magazine (Answers), and the "Answers" radio program airing on several hundred stations. Ham and the museum appeared on ABC-TV's "Nightline" program late last month.