Michael Bresciani
Pat Robertson's slam on Ham - - calls for a second opinion
By Michael Bresciani
The secular world is no doubt titillated with Pat Robertson's latest remarks that level a rebuke at creationist Ken Ham in a Christian Post article penned by Christian Post reporter Morgan Lee.
Robertson seems to think that Ham may be making a mockery of Christians by holding to the young earth idea that so many Christians believe.
"Let's be real, let's not make a joke of ourselves" Robertson said and added, "Anyone who is in the oil business knows he's drilling down 2 miles, 3 miles underground, you're coming into all these layers that were laid down by the dinosaurs," said Robertson. "And we have skeletons of dinosaurs that go back like 65 million years. And to say that it all came around 6 thousand years ago is nonsense."
Robertson has overlooked the fact that new materials are also found at very great depths which puts a cog in the old earth theory as well. Robertson seems woefully unaware of the myriads of new evidence creation science has uncovered and may have spoken from whereof he knows not.
Forget the Earth – How Old is Robertson
Robertson is a well-seasoned 83 years old and is no stranger to making incongruous and controversial statements that have drawn attention worldwide. This writer holds a genuine respect for the ministry and accomplishments of the gentleman televangelist, but I must take exception to his conclusions on this one. Certainly he has both overstepped and disregarded some pertinent scriptural truths that defy his argument.
Overstepping his bounds and perhaps overestimating his sphere of influence is also something Robertson will be remembered for. His bid for the Presidency in 1988 could not make it out of the primaries and he told his followers to cast their votes for the incumbent Vice President George H. W. Bush – the rest is history.
Many leaders and Christian notables have come to Robertson's defense including me in a 2010 article entitled "Dawkins on Haiti – Robertson True to Christian Theology?" Robertson thought the Haitian earthquake could have been a judgment of God due to a pact with the devil, the Haitians made to rid themselves of French rule. Famed atheist Richard Dawkins made light of both Robertson and his conclusions.
Dawkins said that the earthquake was caused by the bumping of tectonic plates and nothing more. Since Dawkins only addressed how the quake originated and Robertson was addressing why the quake came about, my conclusions were that perhaps both were right, but neither could be said to be conclusively wrong.
It is far too difficult to take Robertson's side this time – here is why.
Really! – Exactly how old is the earth according to the Bible?
For the theologically weak and scripturally deprived it may come as a shock to learn that, the age of the earth is never stated anywhere in the pages of writ. Other than the six days of creation in Genesis, no age is ever ascribed to the earth.
Many ideas, theories and speculations have been birthed by the absence of the age of earth being clearly stated in scripture. Some are wild, others more plausible, but none of them can skirt the obvious conclusions that a New Testament theology speaks to, in the words of Jesus Christ.
The theory heard the most is called the 'gap theory.' This is the idea that all the geologic ages took place in the gap between Genesis 1: 1 and 1: 2. This is what is known as an interpolation. This means we have to place our interpretation of a passage, not on the words themselves, but in the spaces between the words or verses. This kind of theology, is iffy at best, and requires a lot of argument to support. And yet, it remains a distinct possibility which is far from what evolutionists have.
The next most popular kind of wresting the scripture is to make a compromise with science or just about anyone's arguments to the contrary. In the case of evolutionary theory the compromise is something known as 'Theistic Evolution.' This is the idea that God certainly created the planet and everything on it, but he used evolution to make it happen over untold millennia.
The most basic problem with theistic evolution is that it makes God out be a liar and all those who follow him are fools. Of all things God may be – a liar is not one of them. The holiness of God is so far above the imagination of men that it seems almost silly to mention that God not only would not lie, but he couldn't lie if he wanted to. (Tit 1:2)
Secondly, Jesus Christ spoke of Adam and Eve as real historical figures not a part of an evolutionary process. Being co-eternal with the Father means he was also co-creator as he attested to himself. Quite simply, you can't argue with someone that was there. Not one scientist was present anywhere in their version of creation. Once again, this is what is known as 'prior philosophic postulation,' it is not science and requires 'faith' to believe.
In fact, the scripture goes way beyond reporting that Jesus created the worlds with his Father, but to the chagrin of the evolutionist the bible says the worlds were made for him.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1: 3)
"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1: 10)
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" (Col 1: 16)
The trees say no, the bible says no, but pompous man says yes!
God, Christ, scripture, Mother Nature and the spurious foundations of the evolutionary model – all agree – evolution is the greatest lie of our time and the single most powerful tool of the enemy of God (Satan) and man to remove accountability just prior to the final judgment.
Like God, Mother Nature is not biased like modern man. The study of the rings in trees (dendrochronology) clearly shows that the history of man only goes back thousands of years, not billions. But it is the latest discoveries about the layers or strata's of the earth, the problems of our dating systems and the glaring lack of missing links in all forms of life that creation science is discovering that call the evolutionary model into question.
The momentum, the sheer force, a generation long effort to indoctrinate and the rise in immorality that needs to dismiss God in order to thrive may keep most people from giving up a dishonesty now fed by pure laziness and heavy indoctrination.
Creation science has made huge strides in uncovering some un-nerving facts about the age of earth and evolutionary theory in general. Facts abound about the blaring errors found in carbon dating and other scientific hyperbole.
The day of being dumb is over, but the day of indoctrination goes blithely onward.
When men pull back the curtain to discover how something is made they don't seem to be able to give the credit for making it, to the one who made them as well. Little wonder the apostle Paul came to the following conclusions.
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Ro 1: 20-22)
God has time in his hand – He is not affected or bound by time
In the science that observes the effect of time on mankind (homeostasis) it is noted that man has a 24 hour clock within that does not need to see the sun rise and fall each day. In experiments where people were placed in enclosed environments, given several stimuli to confuse them and then were left alone for long periods of time, eventually they worked out a pattern of activity, based on a twenty four hour periods.
The movements of the planet and the solar system didn't matter at all; time was imprinted into them by something beyond the five senses. This alone points to the Creator, but takes on a whole new meaning when we consider that time on any other planet, but earth, would be totally different. Larger planets may have years (based on revolutions around another planetary body or star) that would take a thousand years or more to equal what we call a single day. Not only are we compelled to ask where did our sense of time come from, but a truly inquisitive mind would ask – does time have an effect on God?
In a prayer of Moses the idea of God's eternal nature is set forth.
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Ps 90: 2)
God stands apart from the past and the future as well. He abides in what is known as an eternal state. In the common vernacular, that means he had no beginning and he has no end. This is a concept that defies human understanding. The finite cannot fully comprehend the infinite, but alas, God does not ask us to comprehend it. Rather, he has simply decided to announce it and then graciously offer to share it with us in the gift of eternal life.
God compresses time and or stretches it at his will as seen in several examples. He is never subject to time; it is always subject to him.
In his perception a thousand years is but a day. To wit:
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Pet 3: 8)
Conversely, he circumvented the ordinary preparations for surgery, hours of intense treatment and weeks or months of recovery time when he healed the blind, the deaf, and the malformed and ailing bodies of those he healed in only seconds.
The ability to compress or expand time at will indicates quite clearly that he is Lord of everything – even time.
Now, there remains, but one question. Does God need billions of years to build the planet or is a few thousand years sufficient time?
Wish I could stand with Robertson this time, but I can't.
Get back to pondering the awesome power and sovereignty of the God we worship, Pat, and stop cozying up to the secularists. Check out the new discoveries of creation science for yourself. If after that you still come to the same conclusions, you will have to do something else entirely. I think it is still called – repentance.
© Michael Bresciani
February 11, 2014
The secular world is no doubt titillated with Pat Robertson's latest remarks that level a rebuke at creationist Ken Ham in a Christian Post article penned by Christian Post reporter Morgan Lee.
Robertson seems to think that Ham may be making a mockery of Christians by holding to the young earth idea that so many Christians believe.
"Let's be real, let's not make a joke of ourselves" Robertson said and added, "Anyone who is in the oil business knows he's drilling down 2 miles, 3 miles underground, you're coming into all these layers that were laid down by the dinosaurs," said Robertson. "And we have skeletons of dinosaurs that go back like 65 million years. And to say that it all came around 6 thousand years ago is nonsense."
Robertson has overlooked the fact that new materials are also found at very great depths which puts a cog in the old earth theory as well. Robertson seems woefully unaware of the myriads of new evidence creation science has uncovered and may have spoken from whereof he knows not.
Forget the Earth – How Old is Robertson
Robertson is a well-seasoned 83 years old and is no stranger to making incongruous and controversial statements that have drawn attention worldwide. This writer holds a genuine respect for the ministry and accomplishments of the gentleman televangelist, but I must take exception to his conclusions on this one. Certainly he has both overstepped and disregarded some pertinent scriptural truths that defy his argument.
Overstepping his bounds and perhaps overestimating his sphere of influence is also something Robertson will be remembered for. His bid for the Presidency in 1988 could not make it out of the primaries and he told his followers to cast their votes for the incumbent Vice President George H. W. Bush – the rest is history.
Many leaders and Christian notables have come to Robertson's defense including me in a 2010 article entitled "Dawkins on Haiti – Robertson True to Christian Theology?" Robertson thought the Haitian earthquake could have been a judgment of God due to a pact with the devil, the Haitians made to rid themselves of French rule. Famed atheist Richard Dawkins made light of both Robertson and his conclusions.
Dawkins said that the earthquake was caused by the bumping of tectonic plates and nothing more. Since Dawkins only addressed how the quake originated and Robertson was addressing why the quake came about, my conclusions were that perhaps both were right, but neither could be said to be conclusively wrong.
It is far too difficult to take Robertson's side this time – here is why.
Really! – Exactly how old is the earth according to the Bible?
For the theologically weak and scripturally deprived it may come as a shock to learn that, the age of the earth is never stated anywhere in the pages of writ. Other than the six days of creation in Genesis, no age is ever ascribed to the earth.
Many ideas, theories and speculations have been birthed by the absence of the age of earth being clearly stated in scripture. Some are wild, others more plausible, but none of them can skirt the obvious conclusions that a New Testament theology speaks to, in the words of Jesus Christ.
The theory heard the most is called the 'gap theory.' This is the idea that all the geologic ages took place in the gap between Genesis 1: 1 and 1: 2. This is what is known as an interpolation. This means we have to place our interpretation of a passage, not on the words themselves, but in the spaces between the words or verses. This kind of theology, is iffy at best, and requires a lot of argument to support. And yet, it remains a distinct possibility which is far from what evolutionists have.
The next most popular kind of wresting the scripture is to make a compromise with science or just about anyone's arguments to the contrary. In the case of evolutionary theory the compromise is something known as 'Theistic Evolution.' This is the idea that God certainly created the planet and everything on it, but he used evolution to make it happen over untold millennia.
The most basic problem with theistic evolution is that it makes God out be a liar and all those who follow him are fools. Of all things God may be – a liar is not one of them. The holiness of God is so far above the imagination of men that it seems almost silly to mention that God not only would not lie, but he couldn't lie if he wanted to. (Tit 1:2)
Secondly, Jesus Christ spoke of Adam and Eve as real historical figures not a part of an evolutionary process. Being co-eternal with the Father means he was also co-creator as he attested to himself. Quite simply, you can't argue with someone that was there. Not one scientist was present anywhere in their version of creation. Once again, this is what is known as 'prior philosophic postulation,' it is not science and requires 'faith' to believe.
In fact, the scripture goes way beyond reporting that Jesus created the worlds with his Father, but to the chagrin of the evolutionist the bible says the worlds were made for him.
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1: 3)
"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1: 10)
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" (Col 1: 16)
The trees say no, the bible says no, but pompous man says yes!
God, Christ, scripture, Mother Nature and the spurious foundations of the evolutionary model – all agree – evolution is the greatest lie of our time and the single most powerful tool of the enemy of God (Satan) and man to remove accountability just prior to the final judgment.
Like God, Mother Nature is not biased like modern man. The study of the rings in trees (dendrochronology) clearly shows that the history of man only goes back thousands of years, not billions. But it is the latest discoveries about the layers or strata's of the earth, the problems of our dating systems and the glaring lack of missing links in all forms of life that creation science is discovering that call the evolutionary model into question.
The momentum, the sheer force, a generation long effort to indoctrinate and the rise in immorality that needs to dismiss God in order to thrive may keep most people from giving up a dishonesty now fed by pure laziness and heavy indoctrination.
Creation science has made huge strides in uncovering some un-nerving facts about the age of earth and evolutionary theory in general. Facts abound about the blaring errors found in carbon dating and other scientific hyperbole.
The day of being dumb is over, but the day of indoctrination goes blithely onward.
When men pull back the curtain to discover how something is made they don't seem to be able to give the credit for making it, to the one who made them as well. Little wonder the apostle Paul came to the following conclusions.
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Ro 1: 20-22)
God has time in his hand – He is not affected or bound by time
In the science that observes the effect of time on mankind (homeostasis) it is noted that man has a 24 hour clock within that does not need to see the sun rise and fall each day. In experiments where people were placed in enclosed environments, given several stimuli to confuse them and then were left alone for long periods of time, eventually they worked out a pattern of activity, based on a twenty four hour periods.
The movements of the planet and the solar system didn't matter at all; time was imprinted into them by something beyond the five senses. This alone points to the Creator, but takes on a whole new meaning when we consider that time on any other planet, but earth, would be totally different. Larger planets may have years (based on revolutions around another planetary body or star) that would take a thousand years or more to equal what we call a single day. Not only are we compelled to ask where did our sense of time come from, but a truly inquisitive mind would ask – does time have an effect on God?
In a prayer of Moses the idea of God's eternal nature is set forth.
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Ps 90: 2)
God stands apart from the past and the future as well. He abides in what is known as an eternal state. In the common vernacular, that means he had no beginning and he has no end. This is a concept that defies human understanding. The finite cannot fully comprehend the infinite, but alas, God does not ask us to comprehend it. Rather, he has simply decided to announce it and then graciously offer to share it with us in the gift of eternal life.
God compresses time and or stretches it at his will as seen in several examples. He is never subject to time; it is always subject to him.
In his perception a thousand years is but a day. To wit:
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Pet 3: 8)
Conversely, he circumvented the ordinary preparations for surgery, hours of intense treatment and weeks or months of recovery time when he healed the blind, the deaf, and the malformed and ailing bodies of those he healed in only seconds.
The ability to compress or expand time at will indicates quite clearly that he is Lord of everything – even time.
Now, there remains, but one question. Does God need billions of years to build the planet or is a few thousand years sufficient time?
Wish I could stand with Robertson this time, but I can't.
Get back to pondering the awesome power and sovereignty of the God we worship, Pat, and stop cozying up to the secularists. Check out the new discoveries of creation science for yourself. If after that you still come to the same conclusions, you will have to do something else entirely. I think it is still called – repentance.
© Michael Bresciani
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(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
