Ken Ham’s “State of the Nation” Address
February 18, 2010
Related topics: Young Earth Creationism |
On Wednesday evening, Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis, and the head of the Creation Museum in Petersburg Kentucky, gave his annual "State of the Nation" address. Since Mr. Ham singles out BioLogos in his speech and expresses grave concerns about what we are trying to do, we have been asked by some of our readers to comment. We encourage all to watch his talk. Mr. Ham graphically illustrates our gravest fears. He is misleading his audience in ways that will continue to do much harm. So what is the BioLogos response? Please consider reading (or rereading) three of our recent blogs. Karl Giberson has written poignantly about his visit to the Creation Museum last Fall. At about the same time, I wrote about my attendance at a seminar put on by the Institute for Creation Research. Finally, I want to point to our more recent essay: “Why BioLogos?”
Mr. Ham states that two-thirds of churched young people abandon the faith of their youth as they enter into adulthood. The answer, in contrast to what he suggests, is not better training in young earth creationism. Heaven forbid! This is the very thing that is causing many to abandon their walk with the Lord. BioLogos exists primarily to help those same young people realize that their Christian faith need not be tied to Mr. Ham’s view of a 10,000 year old earth. God’s Word and our life in Christ is much more profound than that! If Mr. Ham and his followers want to continue to believe in a young earth, that is up to them. However, implying that one’s life in Christ depends upon holding a particular view of the earth’s age is not fair to our young people. We, all of us who share the BioLogos’ view, exist to show them that nothing could be further from the truth than this.
Submitted by Darrel Falk
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April 22nd 2010
I would think that christians have a real problem when they interpret genesis 1-11 literally, but yet wash away inconvenient parts. Such as divorce, remarriage, prayer veilings. But what do you guys do with Christians that do subscribe to all of that?
Reply to this commentMay 31st 2010
Mr. Ham states that two-thirds of churched young people abandon the faith of their youth as they enter into adulthood. The answer, in contrast to what he suggests, is not better training in young earth creationism.
Ken Ham’s solution—Young Earth Creationism Uber Alles, indoctrinated from birth—reminds me of nothing so much as the response of classic Communists to a besetting problem. Specifically, the Soviet Union’s one-size-fits-all reaction to any problem among the masses: “Increase Political Consciousness Indoctrination”. Until all Soviet schools and media were Politically Conscious Politicallly This, Politically That 24/7/365 while the country stayed messed up.
Reply to this commentMarch 25th 2011
Ken Ham is spot-on about Biologos.
I agree with Dan:
Daniel Mann - #5597
March 1st 2010
John,
I like a number of things that you wrote. I agree with you that there are other sources of cognitive authority. We are accountable to God also because of the truth that we have within (Romans 2:14-16) and also the truths that we garnish through our eyes (Romans 1:18-20). Nevertheless, Scripture is pre-eminent (Isaiah 8:20; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Cor. 4:6-7).
I also agree that we can press our distinctive interpretive beliefs to the point that it interferes with the unity that we are supposed to maintain in Christ. I’d just like to add that there are some beliefs and teachings that we shouldn’t tolerate and that shouldn’t be included within the framework of unity. Jesus taught that there are teachings that should be avoided at all cost: “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast [teachings] of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (Mark 8:15)
Paul also taught that we could lose out by believing the philosophies and “the tradition of men” (Col. 2:8).
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