Institute for Creation (Credulous) Research (Retards), PO Box 2667, El Cajon, CA 92021 Voi
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Institute for Creation Research, PO Box 2667, El Cajon, CA 92021
Voice: (619) 448-0900 FAX: (619) 448-3469
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No. 248 "Vital Articles on Science/Creation" February 1994
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WOULD CHINA BENEFIT FROM CHRISTIANITY?
by John D. Morris, Ph.D.*
Copyright (c) 1993 by I.C.R.
All Rights Reserved
* Dr. Morris is Administrative Vice President and Professor of Geology
at the Institute for Creation Research.
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Early in 1994, the Chinese government sanctioned a conference to be
held at the Beijing Convention Center and attended by over 2000 govern-
ment officials or designees. Christian professionals were asked to
address the specific question: "How would opening the door to Christian-
ity benefit China?" I agreed to participate as ICR's representative, not
only as a lecturer, but in helping plan the conference lectures and in
recruiting speakers. This article consists of brief outlines of the
proposed talks.
My proposal was based on several premises. In order for government
officials to recognize the benefits of Christianity, they must first
know what Christianity is. The ground must be cleared and plowed before
the seed can be planted. Next, I assumed that they had only heard an
incorrect caricature of Christianity, and that they labored under the
misconception that scholarship and Christianity are incompatible.
Furthermore, recognizing that such a conference may never be duplicated,
precious time could not be wasted on peripherals, with each lecture
building on the material covered before, so that an integrated Christian
worldview would result. Finally, the conference had to adhere to
timeless Biblical principles, applied in a culturally relevant setting.
The conference never occurred as proposed, yet the need still remains
for a clear presentation of the Christian worldview and its potential
application in Chinese society. Such a conference may or may not ever
occur, but other groups and individuals are entering China with less
formal venues. The program is presented here as an encouragement to
readers to pray for missions and perhaps to clarify their own thinking.
SESSION ONE--PLOWING THE GROUND
Lecture 1: The Biblical Flow of History
Beginning with Creation, the Biblical flow of history must be laid
out. The creation was orderly, with natural laws instituted by God; we
can study the results of creation, but not the creation event itself.
As Creator, God has full authority over His creation. He establishes
the guidelines for life and fruitful living. His creation was "very
good," sinless and deathless, reflecting His absolute holiness. His
holiness requires that sin carry the penalty of death. He pronounced the
"dominion mandate," giving mankind responsibility over His
creation to use it wisely for man's good and God's glory. Soon mankind
rebelled against God's authority, resulting in the fall and curse on all
creation. Sin is passed to all men, resulting in separation from the
holy God. A global flood soon followed as a punishment for sin. The
wages of sin is death, but God provided a way of escape for those who
believed. After the flood, the dominion mandate was restated, including
the mandate for human government.
Lecture 2: The Origin of the Nations (Including China)
All people alive today descended from the created pair, and, more
recently, from the few survivors of the flood. To enforce God's desire
to fill the world, God separated groups by language. Some migrated into
Asia, some to Egypt and Africa, and others northward into Europe.
Eventually, even the new world was populated. As migration and genetic
separation occurred, ethnic characteristics developed.
All nations carry not only the memory of early events, but also the
sin nature. From this comes war, rebellion against authority, etc. Only
God could deal adequately with this problem, and thus He selected one
nation through whom He would bless all nations. Through prophetic
revelation He gave His written word, in which was the definition of sin,
especially the Ten Commandments. Only the shedding of blood can pay
sin's penalty.
Through this nation came the ultimate sacrifice for sin: God's Son,
Jesus Christ, true man, but also fully God. Although He had lived a
sinless life, Jesus Christ was slain as a sacrificial substitute for
man. He rose from the dead, offering forgiveness for sin, since He had
paid sin's penalty, and everlasting life. He has promised to one day
fully judge all remaining sin and restore the earth to its created
intent, with all sin removed.
Lecture 3: Scientific Support for Creation
The basic laws of science, the laws of thermodynamics, are precisely
predicted by creation theory. They show that evolution by strictly
natural processes, violates natural law, and therefore is impossible.
Furthermore, a look at the fossil record provides no evidence that
evolution did occur: No basic category of life ever changed into any
other basic category. This even includes dinosaurs, mentioned in the
Bible as dragons and preserved in legend from every continent,
especially China. The fossils show sudden appearance and stasis, just as
predicted from the creation model. The incredible design of living
things demonstrates the necessity of a Designer behind it all. Neither
natural selection and mutation, or any other theory of evolution,
provides a credible explanation for this high degree of order. Many
scientists throughout the world have recently abandoned evolution
theory. It has never been supported well by science. In fact, most of
the great scientific giants of the past were Christians and
creationists. Because of this view of nature, the West has prospered in
science and technology in recent centuries. Large groups of creationist
scientists exist today in Europe, America, Korea, Russia, Japan,
Australia, and throughout the world.
Lecture 4: Ideas Have Consequences
The naturalistic/evolutionary view has brought the world much sorrow.
From Hitler's racial genocide to Stalin's as well as to many wars.
Millions have died in the name of "survival of the fittest."
Darwin himself was a racist, feeling that the European was superior to
the Blacks, the Turks, and the Asians. Studies have shown that no
scientific or social advance has ever come as a result of evolution
theory.
On the other hand, Christianity long has been a force for good in
society. In China, many food relief programs, hospitals, universities,
schools, etc., were started in the name of Christ. There have been
abuses: This cannot be denied, but these abuses are not justifiable in
true Christianity. Sinful individuals and governments have misapplied
Biblical principles.
Lecture 5: What is Man?
Man, created in the image of God, has certain abilities and
characteristics distinct from the animals. He has the ability to discern
right from wrong and knows intuitively that right is better than wrong.
Similarly, good is preferred over bad; beauty over ugliness; love over
hate. Man alone has the ability to appreciate music and art. The image
of God includes, also, the ability to reason and think abstractly. Man
possesses certain creativity, not at all like the abilities of animals
or machines. As the specially endowed creation of God, man possesses
certain inalienable rights, given him by God--not by society or
government. One is life, to be forfeited only when in violation of the
law as overseen by God-ordained government. Another is freedom of
thought, particularly thought concerning God. All take form in a
culturally relevant setting, but they are rights given by God.
SESSION TWO: PLANTING THE SEED
Lecture 6: Christian Principles in Human Affairs
The Bible describes guidelines for interpersonal relationships. It
teaches the value of family stability; of motherhood; of harmony between
individuals. Likewise, hatred, revenge, rebellion, and resentment are
condemned. Forgiveness of past wrongs is highly valued, as is the
placing of others above one's self. Each human has a free will with the
ability to make correct or incorrect choices. Scientific studies have
shown that those who abide by Scriptural guidelines lead happier, more
productive lives. The societal abandonment of these principles in
America has led to an increase in crime, immorality, drug use, etc.
Lecture 7: Christian Principles in the Business World
The individual, having great personal worth, should be treated as a
valued employee--not a mindless production unit or machine. Given the
responsibility to think and make decisions and to use their God-given
creativity, men will be much more productive.
The Bible teaches that as long as one is able to work, he should
work. Those who refuse to work should not be encouraged, although those
physically unable to work should be cared for. An individual's work
should be rewarded by the employer, thereby encouraging more
productivity. The Christian workers' mentality should involve service to
the employer; a Christian employee's main goal should be to make the
employer successful; a business's goal should be to serve the client.
The Bible says that service comes before leadership.
Lecture 8: The Impact of Capitalism in China
China has recently opened wide its doors to capitalism and foreign
investments. But, if capitalism is free to grow without constraint, it
will bring much evil, since man's basic nature is one of greed and
dominance. Capitalism may prove productive in the short run, but at what
cost? The concept of laissez-faire capitalism, with its creeds of
"might makes right," exploitation of the working class, and
"survival of the fittest," has come to be known as social
Darwinism. In the long run, it will destroy a society and its economy.
The Bible teaches individual enterprise--man living by the works
of his hands. Necessary Christian virtues include hard work, respect for
fellow man, honesty in business, etc. Large multinational corporations
are not specifically condemned, but unless accompanied by Christian
virtues, they will yield harmful results, as they have in the West.
Lecture 9: Christian Principles in Health Care
The Bible identifies man as created by an all-knowledgeable God. His
body is well-designed for life. Given the chance, the body will maintain
and heal itself.
Eastern medicine utilizes great wisdom that the West has to a large
degree forgotten. To use the body's own defense mechanisms is a Biblical
approach, but makes no sense from a chance-driven evolutionary
viewpoint. In fact, evolutionary thinking has done great harm in
medicine, for instance, in deeming certain useful organs as vestigial,
evolutionary leftovers. This comes from lack of knowledge and wrong
thinking. The world awaits the proper combination of eastern and western
skills.
Most importantly, human life must be highly valued as the "image
of God." It should not be terminated by government without just
cause and due process.
Lecture 10: Social Diseases and Their Causes
Medical technology has provided cures for many diseases and injuries,
yet certain diseases are at epidemic proportions. Most noticeable among
these are degenerative diseases and sexually communicated conditions.
Many degenerative diseases, such as cancer and arthritis, are not
totally understood. To some extent, they are genetically controlled, but
most, if not all, are brought on by environmental factors and/or
personal habits, such as smoking, alcoholism, improper diet, worry,
loneliness, fear, stress, bitterness, or grief, each placing an undue
burden on the immune system. Likewise, in those countries where sexual
freedom is championed, venereal diseases of all sorts rage, and
antibiotics are less effective now. Unwed mothers, abused children,
dysfunctional families, etc., are the tragic offshoots of these
undesirable practices. Homosexual behavior leads to a much reduced life
span, even without AIDS.
The Bible gives guidelines for living which reduce instances of
disease, if followed. Self-control in these areas, reliance on a local
community of believers for support, a focus on eternal things, and the
love and care of an extended family all reduce disease and promote
overall health, and a society without these influences will degenerate
rapidly.
Lecture 11: Educational Philosophies
Brainwashing students in a certain perspective does not produce
thinking, mature individuals who are committed to the espoused doctrine
and loyal to their superiors. Exposing students to the pros and cons of
competing views and allowing them to make intelligent decisions has been
shown to produce critical-thinking skills. This produces productive
citizens, capable of innovation and invention. Materialistic philosophy
teaches that one is merely a product of random processes, and produces a
certain meaninglessness in one's life and philosophy. On the other hand,
being convinced that one is created in the image of God brings great
self-worth and stability. Christianity is not just a series of
teachings, it is a way of life involving every area of one's existence
and relationships within a society. Virtues such as lawfulness, loyalty,
love, honesty, morality, etc., are well worth learning.
Lecture 12: Christian Principles in Civic Leadership
Civic leaders must enact just laws, rewarding law-abiding citizens,
and punishing law breakers with appropriate penalties. To exercise power
unfairly and illogically will result in disloyalty to leadership. A
government should recognize the great worth of its citizens and empower
them to use their God-given abilities to their own advancement and in
service to their country and fellow man. A just government will raise up
patriotic loyal subjects.
A government should allow an individual to think for himself,
especially in the area of religious freedom. An individual's mind and
spirit should be free to hold any religious view, or to change that
view, if so convinced. To force one to give allegiance against his
conviction will foster resentment and unproductivity.
Lecture 13: Christian Principles and Personal Implications
Christianity offers each individual the prospect of a new beginning.
Our lives and minds are darkened by the presence of sin and sin
patterns, which both separates us from God and prohibits us from
reaching our potential as human beings.
But God has solved the problem. Jesus Christ, God the Son, has died
to pay sin's penalty, and thus offers restoration with God. He is holy
and sinless, and once our sins are forgiven through Christ we can have
fellowship with God; our sins are forgiven, and we are free from sin's
condemnation. While in this life we are not released from the
consequences of wrong choices, we are free from the bondage to sin.
God's Spirit then indwells us, giving us power to live victoriously,
joyously, and in harmony with God and man.
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This "Impact" was converted to ASCII, for BBS use,
from the original formatted desktop article.
Comments regarding typographical errors
in the above material are appreciated.
Don Barber, ICR Systems Administrator
Fax: (619) 448-3469
All ICR staff members adhere to a Statement of Faith
in the form of two documents:
"Tenets of Scientific Creationism,"
and "Tenets of Biblical Creationism."
(see Impact No. 85)
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We believe God has raised up ICR to spearhead Biblical Christianity's
defense against the godless dogma of evolutionary humanism. Only by
showing the scientific bankruptcy of evolution, while exalting Christ
and the Bible, will Christians be successful in "the pulling down of
strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians
10:4,5).
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