Author: John Page 148 of 167

I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

I Thes 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Proverbs 19:2 “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.”

Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”

Bible-believing Christians have strengthened the hands of secular scientists by our anti-intellectual spirit.  We have created a dichotomy between science and Christianity when we should see God’s word, God’s creation, and God’s laws of logic as complementary in their intent – to discover God’s truth.  In doing so, we have isolated ourselves in our own ivory tower and set up a division between those who value analytical thinking and those who value God’s word.  In part, we are labeled as ‘ignorant’ because we have chosen to isolate ourselves from science instead of engage with science.  Dogmatic opposition to strong scientific evidence regarding topics like climate change, on which the Bible is neutral, furthers the prevailing thought that we are zealots instead of thinkers.  The Bible wants us to be thoughtful as well as zealous.

Our minds were designed by God, and we are to use them to their maximum extent.  When we fail to do so, we demonstrate a lack of faith in God that His Christianity can stand up to evidence and logic.  God’s word is 100% true, and God doesn’t want us to avoid analytical thinking because we fear that it will overwhelm His truths.  It won’t.  By separating ourselves from science, we illustrate a profound lack of faith to an unbelieving world that is eager for us to answer them.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD EMBRACE AND NOT FLEE FROM AN INTELLECTUAL SPIRIT.  God wants us to prove all things, both to ourselves and to an unbelieving world.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Hebrews 11:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

On February 4^th, Ken Ham and Bill Nye debated the origins of the universe and humanity.  During the debate, Mr. Nye’s most overblown argument was highlighted through his multiple claims that the innovative ability of our nation and our entire economic future hinge on this one issue.  According to Nye and others, those who don’t believe in the prevailing scientific paradigm on this single issue cannot be critical and analytical thinkers.  In Nye’s mind, this lone issue dominates all other issues in science, engineering, and technology.

I am a creationist, and an analytical and critical thinker.  My beliefs on this issue stem from analytical and critical thinking, the same type of thinking that I demonstrated in my engineering undergraduate degree from MIT and in my engineering master’s degree from Stanford University.  My beliefs as a creationist have never hindered me in my ability to lead large organizations filled with scientists and engineers.

My wife is a creationist, and an analytical and critical thinker.  Her beliefs on this issue stem from analytical and critical thinking, the same type of thinking that she demonstrated in her mathematics undergraduate degree from MIT and in her PhD from UC Berkeley.  Her beliefs as a creationist have never hindered her in her performance as a Division I college professor.

Evolutionists claim that success in all such fields is impossible if you do not agree with them on their chosen issue.  That simply is not true.

What these evolutionists do not understand is that they are trapped in a powerful paradigm, one that blinds them to alternative points of view and contradictory evidence.  In fact, these same evolutionists quickly cry out against the dominant thought during Galileo’s time, fueled by ideological fervor, which clung to an earth-centered universe in spite of contradictory evidence.  Yet, they themselves are quick to cling to the dominant thought in our time, fueled by ideological fervor, which clings to naturalistic processes leading to creation in spite of contradictory evidence.  This seems like anti-analytical thinking to me, especially when evolutionists employ tactics throughout the scientific community to quickly stifle dissent.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICANS TO EMBRACE A WORLDVIEW OF CREATION BY THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.  True analytical and critical thinking are at stake.

II Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

In Public Law 97-280, the 97^th Congress recognized “our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.”  Imagine that.  They didn’t stop by calling the Bible interesting literature.  They didn’t hold short by declaring the Bible intriguing philosophy.  They didn’t limit their proclamation by lumping the Bible into a grouping of other religious texts.  They didn’t just call for a casual reading of the Bible.

Instead, they proclaimed the national need to STUDY the Bible and APPLY it, renewing our knowledge of and faith in God in the process.  Through such proclamation, the 97^th Congress explicitly recognized that the Bible was not a book written by man, but by God.  They recognized that its study was altogether profitable.  They recognized that it would furnish us unto all good works, strengthening us as a nation and a people.

It is no surprise that our rejection of the Bible as a nation has been unprofitable to us.  We have become unfurnished and unstrengthened.  We have become ill-equipped to face tests and challenges.  We have departed from our status as a distinctive and blessed nation.  PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE OUR DESPERATE NATIONAL NEED TO RETURN TO BIBLICAL STUDY AND APPLICATION.  We need to study and apply the Word of God and return to its profitable and formative influence.  We are only 31 years removed from a national call by our legislature to do so.

Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

On October 4^th, 1982 the following Joint Resolution (Public Law 97-280 and Senate Joint Resolution 165) was approved by the 97^th Congress of the United States:

“Whereas the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people;

Whereas deeply held religious convictions springing from the Holy Scriptures led to the early settlement of our Nation;

Whereas Biblical teachings inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States;

Whereas many of our great national leaders—among them Presidents Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, and Wilson—paid tribute to the surpassing influence of the Bible in our country’s development, as in the words of President Jackson that the Bible is “the rock on which our Republic rests”;

Whereas the history of our Nation clearly illustrates the value of voluntarily applying the teachings of the Scriptures in the lives of individuals, families, and societies;

Whereas this Nation now faces great challenges that will test this Nation as it has never been tested before; and

Whereas that renewing our knowledge of and faith in God through Holy Scripture can strengthen us as a nation and a people: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized and requested to designate 1983 as a national “Year of the Bible” in recognition of both the formative influence the Bible has been for our Nation, and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.”

Even more amazing than the public proclamation by a President only 31 years ago is the bipartisan, bicameral resolution that prompted that President to make his proclamation.  During the 97^th Congress, the Senate was controlled by the Republican Party and the House of Representatives was solidly controlled by the Democratic Party.  Yet, in spite of a divided Congress, Public Law 97-280 sailed through both chambers with little to no resistance.  Those legislative members recognized that America needed the words of His mouth more than its necessary food.  So do we!  PLEASE PRAY FOR A BIPARTISAN REVIVAL ROUTED IN THE WORD OF GOD.

Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

In Presidential Proclamation 5018, President Reagan recognized that America was facing enormous challenges.  The nation was to be tested as it had seldom been before.  The American people needed “resources of spirit even more than resources of technology, education, and armaments.”  That moment in history, like this moment in history, proved fitting to return to God’s word with “gratitude, humility, and urgency.”  The recipe for doing so is given in Joshua 1:8.

As Christians in this nation, we must embrace God’s word with a fervency that will never let it go.  We must meditate on it day and night, and we must do all that is written therein.  If we were to do so, we would experience eternally significant prosperity and success.  Such rewards would provide a stark contrast to our current situation brought about by rejecting instead of accepting the Bible as a core part of our cultural fiber.  PLEASE PRAY THAT ALL AMERICANS WOULD REEXAMINE AND REDISCOVER THE BIBLE.  It is fitting that we do so immediately.