Case in point. According to a WorldNetDaily article, there is a Florida State University researcher who believes he has a natural explanation for the biblical account of Jesus' miraculous walk on the surface of the Sea of Galilee – ice.
"Professor of Oceanography Doron Nof and the co-authors of his study theorize that a rare combination of optimal water and atmospheric conditions resulted in a unique, localized freezing phenomenon called "springs ice," according to Physorg.com, which specializes in news about science, technology, physics and space.
A frozen patch of ice floating on the surface of the lake would be difficult to distinguish from the surrounding unfrozen water, making it appear as if Jesus were walking on water, according to the theory."
Further down in the article, we read:
"In today's climate, the chance of springs ice forming in northern Israel is effectively zero, or about once in more than 10,000 years," Nof said."
Those who are proficient in the calculation of probability vs. chance should have a field day with that one. Apparently, it is easier for this researcher to believe in a theory that has a probability of near zero chance of happening rather than believe that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and had the supernatural ability to overcome our scientific 'laws' and perform miracles.
Of course this is similar to, and typical of, the neo-Darwinism mindset that is set in the proverbial stone of stubbornness that "anything but design theory or a Creator" is acceptable to origins theories...no matter how outrageous, misleading, and debunked such macro-evolution assumptions really are. But lets not get to far off topic.
David Kupelian wrote an article back in 2000 that shares some other dopey "scientific" explanations that other so-called "scientists" purported in order to discredit additional Biblical miracles.
I particularly appreciated this segment:
"Why did they put Jesus to death? If he was a perfect person – I mean, he healed the lame, raised the dead, and preached love and forgiveness – why did people hate him? Would he be hated if he was in our midst today? Who would hate him? Would you? Are you sure?
The experts, leaders and intelligentsia of His day hated Jesus so much they couldn't wait to kill him. Why? Because he was good – the ultimate hero.
When faithless, proud egomaniacs are in the presence of people of faith and virtue, it literally makes them feel ill. It's like the noonday sun for Dracula. He, quite literally, cannot stand the pain.
Who knows, maybe that is what hell is like. For a person who has hated God and goodness all his life, and lived in his own little dark, velvety counter-universe, to suddenly find himself in the presence of the light of God – unwillingly, with no physical body in which to hide through various pleasure and distractions – that light would feel like a burning fire.
But back to earth. This type of person experiences a joy, a buoyancy, an inner excitement, a feeling of actual growth, of becoming more important, a sense of fulfilling his destiny by confusing and misleading other people spiritually and mentally. How? By destroying their heroes – for most of us, a vital connection with reality.
Indeed, for most people, a single person who is a good example – whether it be father, mother, minister, teacher, friend, or the great men and women in history who have exemplified virtue, courage and perseverance – serves to cement our connection with sanity. If you were the devil and succeeded in knocking over every single hero, you would destroy the culture of God, cutting off the connection for the next generation with the great people and ideas of the past."
Resurrection Sunday is just 11 days away. At this holy time of year for Christians, the weekly news magazines (Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, Time) usually take it upon themselves to try and re-write history and/or defame, distort or discredit the gospel accounts of Jesus Christ rising from the dead.
I'm glad that we have writers like Michael J. Gaynor who informs us to Beware the Gospel according to Newsweek's Jon Meachem. I particularly liked this part:
"How far any government has a right to interfere in matters touching religion, has been a subject much discussed by writers upon public and political law. The right and the duty of the interference of government, in matters of religion, have been maintained by many distinguished authors, as well those, who were the warmest advocates of free governments, as those, who were attached to governments of a more arbitrary character. Indeed, the right of a society or government to interfere in matters of religion will hardly be contested by any persons, who believe that piety, religion, and morality are intimately connected with the well being of the state, and indispensable to the administration of civil justice. The promulgation of the great doctrines of religion, the being, and attributes, and providence of one Almighty God; the responsibility to him for all our actions, founded upon moral freedom and accountability; a future state of rewards and punishments; the cultivation of all the personal, social, and benevolent virtues; — these never can be a matter of indifference in any well ordered community. It is, indeed, difficult to conceive, how any civilized society can well exist without them. And at all events, it is impossible for those, who believe in the truth of Christianity, as a divine revelation, to doubt, that it is the especial duty of government to foster, and encourage it among all the citizens and subjects. This is a point wholly distinct from that of the right of private judgment in matters of religion, and of the freedom of public worship according to the dictates of one's conscience." (bold mine)
David Kupelian ends "The giant killers" article with:
"And David, the giant killer. His story of courage and faith has re-lit a million dimming lamps, given strength in battle, faith in trial, and hope that despite enormous odds the forces of darkness cannot stand up to those who put their faith in the one true God. "
Amen!
Hi Judy,
ReplyDeleteThey should show Mr. Robinson's T.V. commercial throughout the United States!
I think that so-called "experts" like Meachem tend to read the Bible but do not make any effort to study it. By doing this, they tend to be guilty of eisogesis (extracting what THEY think the Scriptures are saying) and then putting their own spin on it instead of utilizing the proper methods of interpretation which include exegesis (what the writers were actually saying), hermeunetics, Scripture interprets Scripture, and consideration of the whole of Scripture.
The Bible is not seen (by secular humanists)as the one and only true Word of God. Thus, they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
The most important thing (actually, Person) that is missing in secular writers like Meachem (who indescriminately and incorrectly tend to use their media to dictate their own opinions of what the Bible says) is the indwelling and instruction of the Holy Spirit!