In an 1825 letter to Frederick Beasley, James Madison wrote: “The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it.”
In James Madison’s era, this type of viewpoint was commonplace. Our nation was rooted in a Judeo-Christian culture, with virtually everyone having at least a basic understanding of the Bible. Certainly, President Madison and his contemporaries would not recognize the secularist haven of present-day America.
Ken Ham, founder and president of Answers in Genesis, says that because America has relinquished its moral heritage in favor of largely secular pursuits, our fellow Americans have no real understanding of the Bible or Jesus Christ.
Along with Liberty University’s Dr. David DeWitt and others, Ham just completed an inspiring three-day “Answers to Darwin” seminar at Thomas Road Baptist Church. He stated during the conference, “Your starting point determines your worldview.” It is therefore not surprising that America, with autonomous man replacing God as the cultural centerpiece, exists within a culture that endorses abortion, sexual permissiveness and moral relativism.
The key to haltering our moral freefall, says Ham, is to return to the foundations of the Bible.
“The devastating effect that evolutionary humanism has had on society, and even the church, makes it clear that everyone – including Christians – needs to return to the clear teachings of Scripture and Genesis and acknowledge Christ as our Creator and Savior,” he says. “In fact, Genesis has the answer to many of the problems facing the compromising church and questioning world today.”
In a pertinent discourse on evangelism during the conference, Ham noted that present American culture is similar to the pagan Greek culture of Acts chapter 17. In this passage, the Apostle Paul skillfully presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ on Mars Hill to Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who have little biblical understanding.
Sadly, we read that only a handful of people were converted in Athens as a result of Paul’s discourse, with most being unwilling to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During his time in Athens, Paul was disturbed by an altar bearing the inscription: “To The Unknown God.” Sadly, I see that altar as a picture of today’s America. Our diversity culture seeks to adopt all “truth” into one collective truth so that there ultimately is no real truth.
And so we must indeed return to the basics of the Bible, upholding God as the Creator of the universe and the sole answer to man’s moral and spiritual needs.
As Christians, we must be able to reason with those who reject Christ, utilizing Scripture – and not ourselves – as the basis of our defense.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Christian friends, God’s desire is for His children to boldly call others to Him. Therefore, I urge all believers to become knowledgeable on the issue of creation, because it truly is the foundation of biblical truth. Further, with Charles Darwin the focus of so much media attention these days, the issue of biblical creationism can open many doors of conversation.
I urge my friends to visit the Answers in Genesis website frequently, or even schedule an appointment at the Creation Museum near Cincinnati. To be effective apologists for Christ we must: 1) understand our culture; 2) be skilled defenders of the Gospel; and 3) like Paul, be willing to speak up for Christ even when we feel intimidated or nervous.
This is how we can begin to win back our culture.
