Thursday, February 6, 2014

Ken Ham Answered the Higher Call


Much of Christendom, as well as parts of the atheistic and scientific blogosphere, are writing and chattering much about last night's debate between creationist Ken Ham and atheist Bill Nye. I feel the need to also weigh in. But, contrary to my modus operandi, I plan to be brief.

Ken Ham wasn't as presuppositional in his creation apologetic as some Christians would like. He likely didn't provide enough evidence for some evidentiary apologists in the Christian ranks. But he preached the gospel.

When a man is given a platform in front of potentially millions of people--most of whom hate Jesus and His gospel--and he faithfully and unashamedly preaches the gospel, and then Christians respond with, "he preached the gospel, but.....," there's a problem. And it's a serious problem.

The gospel, and the gospel alone, is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). One man preaching the gospel, even if he can't pronounce or spell "presuppositional" or "evidentiary," let alone competently and effectively employ either apologetic tactic, is fully equipped and fully armed to be used by God to lead men to Christ.

Don't get me wrong. Apologetic tactics have their place in evangelism, and I respect those who are accomplished apologists. And for the record, I personally ascribe to the presuppositional approach and employ tactics I hope are consistent with the discipline, in my evangelism efforts. However, apologetic tactics will never be more than a secondary, supporting tool for the evangelist, not for the gospel. The gospel needs no such support. The gospel simply needs to be proclaimed.

Scripture commands that the Christian always be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in [him]" (1 Peter 3:15b). My hope is in Jesus Christ and Him alone. My hope is in the gospel of my Lord and Savior--nothing else. My hope is in His perfect life (2 Corinthians 5:21), propitiatory death (Romans 3:21-26, and glorious resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)--nothing else. My hope is in the reality that the Holy Spirit testifies with my spirit that I am and adopted child of God (Romans 8:16)--nothing else.

And the reason for my hope? God has caused me to be born again (1 Peter 1:3). He has taken my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). He has made me a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because of and by His goodness, He led me to repentance (Romans 2:4). His gospel became an aroma of life for life to me (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). He removed the veil from my eyes (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) so that now I can see the truth that set me free (John 8:31-38). And He has assured me that His Word provides me with the assurance to know I am saved (1 John 5:13).

No apologetic argument convinced me of the above truths. God, by His grace and mercy, through the faith in His Son, which He gave me as a gift, through a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, has allowed me to come to understand these truths that He so kindly inscripturated.

To some (maybe many), Ken Ham was not the hoped for apologist or debater last night. So be it. What Ken Ham did do last night was far more important than winning a creation/evolution debate. He answered the higher call. He preached the gospel.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your comment. Your comment is under review.

Comments that are profane and/or blasphemous in nature will not be posted. Comments including links will not be posted. Comments deemed otherwise inappropriate will not be posted.