Ahh, now to us. I think it’s fairly obvious by our discussion thread that we have two very different approaches to, well, life. You like yours, I like mine. Let’s leave it at that, mmm K?

As per your comments, your first paragraph started out, umm, well you got better after the first one. I could reply to each of your ideas, but no longer see the point. I still feel that you haven’t addressed some of our points, as I’m sure you feel the same way about some of ours. Overall I enjoyed reading most of your input.

But towards the end of your comments you seemed to lose your cool. You tell me to shut my pie hole, insult my intelligence of Christianity, dodged the intolerance issue again, called evolution by childish names, insulted Europe, insulted the American education system, and attempted to fall back on your many years of life on this planet. Again.

What am I supposed to say to that?

It appears we’re both fairly well educated, but I don’t appreciate being talked down to. I don’t really care how old you are, either. Our arguments are accomplishing nothing at this point. I understand this can be an emotional subject, but I’d appreciate it if you used your discretion when clicking the ‘submit’ button on our site. Maybe write out your comment and sleep on it next time, k?

I’m truly sorry to hear that you have such an “us against the world” attitude, even towards people who deem themselves to be Christian (even if you don’t).

At this time I think I should close this comment thread. If you would like to continue this conversation further, please refer to our contact form. Thanks for the feedback thus far. I hope our disagreements don’t prevent us from discussing other topics in the future.

No time to deal with this now but . . . you’re building straw men and then knocking them down. Several things you claimed I said, I didn’t say.

As far as keeping my beliefs “in the church” – I am commanded to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” – I’ll obey that rather than you and since America and the internet remain free – I have the right to do so. Thank you very much. If you put a sign on your forehead identifying who you are, I will certainly leave you alone.

God bless,
Ross

You are correct that confidence and certainty are not antithetical to humility. However, that is only when dealing with something that cannot be questioned. I once had an argument with a person about a pretty simple scientific fact… in which he had no clue what he was talking about. In that argument, I was very confident, very certain, and downright arrogant. Why? Because, I knew that I knew the correct answer and that his answer was absolutely incorrect. The answer that I knew, was actually proven to be correct in science. It’s actually a fact that you and I would agree upon the answer, it is scientifically proven to that degree.

In this argument, I had all the reason in the world to be confident, certain, and arrogant. However, in the discussion that we are having on this board, there is no evidence, outside of the bible, to prove your side. That’s it, one book, written by men (I’m sure you’re aware of the history related to how the stories were chosen). Now, you may believe that the stories in that book are true… but it is impossible to know for certain, because there is no evidence. Nobody knows for 100% certainty… not you, not David, not Ted, not I. I’m sorry to break it to you. Claiming that you know with 100% certainty is, quite frankly, flat… out… arrogant.

Here’s another point that I’d like to make. Your argument, and the argument of many Creationists is pretty simple. You argue that, evolution is false, therefore biblical creation is true. Your entire argument is to poke as many holes in evolution as possible. However, other than quoting the bible, you never provide any physical evidence to support creationism. None. Not one shred. So… the question I pose to you is this… is it really either evolution or biblical creation? There are no other options?

I’ll play ball… what if evolution isn’t the correct answer? Well… that doesn’t mean that biblical creation is true. It means that we now have to accept and test all possibilities. That means biblical creation, hindu creation, judaism creation, egyptian creation, norse creation and all other possibilities. There are people out there that believe that an advanced civilization from another planet in the universe moved here to avoid a disaster on their planet and continue the existence of their species. There are people out there that believe that an advanced civilization from another planet in the universe created life on earth (potentially humans as we are now) as some kind of science experiment. All of these possibilities then (again, playing ball and assuming that evolution is false) are just as plausible as your, and therefore must be considered and tested. It is very arrogant again, to dismiss all other possibilities other than the one that you subscribe to. Unless you have personally investigated each, in an unbiased state of mind, using the scientific method, you can’t discount any of these that I have mentioned.

Finally… you ask a question which I really shouldn’t even dignify with a response, but as is my nature, I will, “Why are Christians the only ones that have to be ‘tolerant?’” EVERYONE should be tolerant. Nobody is persecuting christians. There are more christians on this planet than any other religion. Nobody is persecuting you, so give it up. We are simply asking that you keep your beliefs in your church, where they belong, just as we ask everyone else to do. If a hindu, or buddhist, or druid was on here touting their beliefs as arrogantly as you and David have, my message to them would be the exact same. No different. Leave it in the church. And, I’ll tell you what… if I want to know more, I’ll either pick up a bible (they’re readily available) or I’ll take a stroll into your church. Don’t accost me on the sidewalk, in the mall, in the parking lot or anywhere else for that matter. If I want more info, I’ll make that effort thank you very much.

I wrote a rather lengthy reply a couple of nights ago and it disappeared in cyber space. “ I hate that when that happens.” I am going to write this version as a Word document then save, copy, and paste. It is amazing when one considers all of the millions upon millions of e-mails, television pictures, radio signals, telephonic communications, etc. that are “out there.” They are invisible but you “know” they are there and if you have the right receiver, you can see or hear them clearly. (Sorry if that sounds arrogant.) Lord willing, this message will find its way to the right people and they will pause for just a moment, and thank God for making it possible. (I know that I am starting with sarcasm but, I read that post by Andrew to David and it put me in that kind of mood. I wanted to get that out of my system before I tried to apply some intelligence to my replies to Ted and Sara.
“You can’t go to any national park, zoo, nature reserve, etc without being propagandized by evolutionists proclaiming this unsubstantiated theory as fact.”
As a whole, science museums report what they know by observation. . The Creation Museum’s slogan is “Prepare to Believe.” It already has an agenda and conclusion it’s looking to fulfill and they use the museum to do just that. And you accused other museums of propaganda???
REPLY: Science museums and national parks are reporting what they believe to be true, based upon the interpretations of their observations. Their interpretations are the product of their beliefs. The fact is that they really have made no observations of the things they say took place. Evolution, the billions of years it took to develop, the effects of glaciers, and c-14 or radio carbon dating that is used to validate it are nothing more than widely held assumptions that fit the “model” and therefore are treated as fact by the modern scientific community.
“I visited the Grand Canyon (one of the most awesome sights in God’s Creation) and read a “matter of fact” statement on a placard inside an observation room that the Grand Canyon was carved out over a period of millions of years by the Colorado River. Ted, that is not true!”
Well, first I’d ask you to prove it. What measurable or observable evidence do you have? I wasn’t around to see glaciers carve out the grand canyon, but I also didn’t see a supernatural being make the Grand Canyon either. But you seem sure that glaciers didn’t cause the grand canyon. Why? Because it fits into the story told in the Christian Bible?
REPLY: How would a melting glacier carve out a hole in the ground (and that is one massive hole) through solid rock while melting glaciers in the Midwest, where the ground is soft, leave the ground flat and suitable for farming. But, the sign I referred to did not say that melting glaciers carved out the Grand Canyon. It said that the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon. I’m sorry Ted, but in my 53 years of observing, I can tell you, with a great degree of certainty, that this is a ridiculous interpretation of whatever it is that they are observing. You can look all over the world and find rivers flowing with far greater force through terrain that is much softer than the terrain in the American Southwest and they do not carve out canyons.
It is interesting that just this month there was an earthquake in China and a massive lake was created in just a few minutes (that’s minutes). Modern scientists, examining that location without knowing of the earthquake would no doubt assume that it took millions of years for that lake to develop.
For a scientist to make a statement like I read on that plaque as a matter of fact is not the truth. It would only be true if the statement read something to this effect, “Based upon the interpretations of our observations, we believe that the Grand Canyon was created by the flow of the Colorado River.” (Or something to that effect.)
“And modern scientists honestly believe that they can date things in “billions” (that’s with a “B”) of years. It takes more “faith” to believe that than what I believe.”
I hope you’re joking. What you believe is 100% faith. We can see how carbon dating works. It’s not a philosophy or believe system like Christianity.
REPLY: No, I’m not joking. Did it seem like I was joking? For scientists to say that they can date things in the “billions” of years – that is the joke. You know as well as I do, if your honest, that, in order to have any chance for advancement, monetary grants, university appointments, teaching positions, etc. In the scientific world, they have to toe the line when it comes to the evolution agenda. Since evolution is the commonly accepted standard, they have no reason “rock the boat” and every reason to go along. Evolution has more holes than Swiss cheese at shotgun fight but you ignore all of that because if you provide information that puts evolution into question then you are all going to look like a bunch of fools. So you just keep telling that lie, and keep telling it, and get more people to tell it and you tell a lie often enough and long enough, you can anybody to believe it. (You know, like man-made global warming – that is rich). But, when I say “you”, I don’t mean “you” – I use the word editorially because I don’t believe that you are responsible for the perpetuation of that lie. I just believe that you are one of the many poor souls who had the misfortune to be indoctrinated in the American system of “higher” education.
You may not be able to see 100% of carbon dating, but it doesn’t take a leap of faith to believe.
REPLY: I take note of the fact that people who do not regard “faith” as a viable means dealing with life’s questions and difficulties want to attach words like “blind” and “leap of” to it. You do so to make “faith” sound ridiculous. But the concept “faith” is based upon trust and evidence. For example, I sat down in this chair I am sitting in because I have faith that it will uphold the weight of my body. I believe that because, even though I have not studies that much physics, I understand the laws of physics, through my own common sense, enough to know that the construction of the chair is such that it will hold my weight. I also trust the chair because I have been seated in this chair many times previously. It has never failed me. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that it will continue to function as it should. In fact, I know it will. Therefore I have “faith” in it. And that is the kind of faith I have in God. The kind of faith an evolutionist uses is the “blind, leapin’ kind.
“God has given us plenty of evidence, none of it misleading.”
But then you said that the earth was created with the appearance of age?
REPLY: God is not seeking to mislead by the fact that He created things with the “appearance of age.” He is not trying to mislead anyone – whatever someone finds when they are digging around in the dirt is what it is. If you interpret what you find as evidence that God does not exist – that is your problem.
“We are compelled to “trust” – to “believe” – to accept by faith that God cannot lie”
Right, by the church. But as you noted above, God has never come out and done that.
“We are expected not to be “skeptics” when it comes to Him although I am right with you when it comes to being “skeptical” about all the other things you mention in your list at the bottom of this page.”
So you’re not expected to question Christianity? At all???? Ever????
REPLY: You can question anything you want to question – I question God about why things are the way they are. In fact, in my fellowship with Him, I have many questions. My most often asked question is, “Why I am not a better person than I am?” But, questioning God is a lot different that denying Him. You can question Christianity – of course. I question that all the time too – because I want to get it right.
“And speaking of the word “know” – It appears that you take offense to the fact that Christians believe they know things and speak and live on that basis.”
I don’t take offense to someone who claims “just to know”. I do take offense to someone, who hasn’t taken the time to think critically and explore the topic beyond their existing beliefs, tells me I’m wrong beyond all doubt. Or worse yet, presents their ideas in school as fact.
REPLY: Are you insinuating that because I don’t agree with you that I am not thinking critically? And, as far as exploring the topic, I certainly am not going to explore the topic looking for evidence to disprove the Bible because I might as well search for a dry spot in the bottom of the ocean. I am in my office right now and surrounded by books, a few of them are written on the topic about which we are discussing. I have read through large portions of these books. But, I am reminded of the illustration of how bank tellers are taught to identify counterfeit money. They don’t handle counterfeit money – they handle real money day after day until their fingers become so used to how it feels that they can spot a fake immediately. I spend most of the time I have to read, studying God’s Word. It has served me well and given great amounts of discernment. I hear enough about evolution and its claims on television enough to know that it’s bogus.
“I’m not furious nor was I was I a couple of days ago when I first saw your website. I’ve been around a long time and have dealt with unbelievers a whole lot tougher than you.”
Perhaps your lowest point was right here. I tried not be be confrontational in my replies. I tried not to speak about things I don’t understand. You’ve done neither while showing a great degree of intolerance towards any non-fundamental Christian who doesn’t share your belief system.
REPLY: Perhaps I should not have used the word “tougher” even though I simply meant that you are not so contentious as some are on this subject – in fact some of the other contributors to this discussion are downright vitriolic, especially the Europeans (but what can you expect.)
You are confrontational, just not contentious. I, on the other hand, can be contentious. If that is offensive, and I know it can be, I regret that. I don’t regret being contentious, I just regret being offensive. I am compelled to “earnestly contend for the faith.” (Jude 1:3) There are two things in this particular situation that are worth fighting for: 1) The veracity of the Word of God and 2) Your eternal future – and I do care deeply about both.
You said that you didn’t speak of things you don’t understand. I infer from that you were implying that I shouldn’t speak about evolution because I don’t understand it. Ted, I have heard and read about evolution all of my life (and that is a pretty long time.) But, I don’t have to examine the contents of an outhouse to know that it full of crap. I do not know the scientific nomenclature of the subject very well because I don’t feel I need to in my line of work. Perhaps I should – pardon my ignorance.
But, Ted, you spoke disparagingly of Fundamental Christianity and I observe that what you know about Fundamental Christianity along with a dollar can get you a cup of Jack Squat down at your local Starbucks. If a person is not to speak of things of which they do not understand – well, . . . . you know . . . uh , I was going to make a snide comment about your “pie hole” but I won’t.
The “intolerance” thing? That’s weak! Why are Christians the only ones that have to be “tolerant?” I am one of the more tolerant people you will ever meet – but I’ll step up to the plate for the Lord and for the good people at the Creation Museum. I know some of them.
You also called me ignorant. You refer to a true believer is someone who believes in God and divinity. So I have to believe this not to be ignorant, according to you? Seems like a leap of faith to me. I’m not shutting out the world around me (such as carbon dating, the idea that glaciers could have carved out the Grand Canyon) as you seem to have.
REPLY: No, you’ve got that wrong. You have to believe a whole lot more than that. And actually, you implied your own ignorance by referring to yourself as a skeptic and I just agreed with you. And, yes, you are ignorant when it comes to things related to the Scripture although you may be very informed in lots of other subjects. I am ignorant of a lot of things myself. I claimed that I “know” things but I don’t know everything. God hasn’t revealed everything to me. But, what He has revealed through the Spirit and through the Word I “know” to be true.
And, as far as your implication that I am shutting myself out from the world – What’s up with that? I’ve been around the world, Ted, and live in South Africa right now – I spend my life going into the slums, townships, and projects of the city where my lovely wife and I live, seeking to better the lives of poor people by showing them the love of Christ. We are seeing many victories. Let me tell you something – that is living!!!!! When it comes to what I give my attention to in this world, it is not old, dead bones – it is living, breathing human being. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege!!!!
You then go into a background of how the Christian faith is set up with God, the spirit, Adam and Eve. As a former Christian, I am familiar with this. But I’ve also asked myself “What if this isn’t true?” This is one approach that is unprovable. Ideas like the Big Bang Theory are equally unprovable. I understand why people are inclined to believe one approach over another, but how can one claim one as an absolute certainty? I certainly cannot because I don’t know (human reasoning). Perhaps it’s a more humble approach, something you seem to be unfamiliar with.
REPLY: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:5, 6
As far as accusing me of not being humble – that’s a battle but, I can tell you that confidence and certainty are not antithetical to humility. Jesus Christ was all of that, as was Paul. As a preacher of the Gospel, it is quite apparent that I would get few people to listen to me if I said I didn’t know anything.

Elsewhere in your comment you claimed that I was never a ‘real’ Christian, a bold conclusion you’ve deducted from this single web page. I guess you have no idea how insulting that is. Again, you’ve displayed a great deal of philosophical intolerance so far.
REPLY: Ted, I have been in the ministry for 33 years. I deal with people on a daily basis about their souls and I am very discerning about these things. This discernment is one of the things the Holy Spirit gives to equip us for ministering to people about these issues. But, let me ask you a question : What, in your life, would have identified you as a Christian during that time that you thought you were one?
You don’t have to believe me when I say that I went go to the Creation Museum to get the other side of the story, another perspective. But that is the truth. I wanted to learn more about a side of Christianity I was never familiar with. I WAS a Christian, but never a Creationist. By your definition, does that mean I was never a Christian?
REPLY: You may have gone to the Creation Museum on the side of objectivity but, based upon the fact that you have drunk so deeply at the Cool Aid dispenser of evolution I doubt that it took much to push your “bias” buttons.
Ted, I am not wholly certain that a person must believe in six day creation to be a born again but that is not the reason I would question whether you were formerly a Christian. In reality, you cannot be “formerly” a Christian. There is no such “animal.” I know you or Andrew or somebody will play the “intolerant” or “arrogant” card on this statement but the truth is, that most people who think that they are “Christian” aren’t. The term is used far to broadly and, in fact, is not really the best term to use when referring to true believers for that reason. The term “Christian” is only used twice in the Bible (the KJV anyway). The identifying mark of a true “child of God” was the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit – and once He comes in, He ‘s not leaving.
You close your comment by suggesting that the Creationist Museum might not have it right. Does that mean you think the Bible doesn’t have it right? Or the museum doesn’t have the Bible right?
REPLY: No one can claim to know all of the particulars. I have not been to the Creation Museum but I know some of the people who work there and have talked to many who have been there and I have checked out their website – I think they handle the issue pretty well in my view although men like Ken Ham, who have dedicated their lives more than most to this one issue can become pretty dogmatic – but I understand why. They are a part of a scientific community that is absolutely dead set against them and they are warriors, fighting the good fight in my view. They have far more courage than I have and I admire them. Are they dead right in everything – No, because the Bible doesn’t tell us all that much about the incidentals. The average believer is not called to mess around with that. There are too many people in this world who need help. The one thing we know is that we are on the right path. Our ladder is leaning on the right wall. We’re barking up the right tree. And, as the blind man said to the Pharisees – One thing I “know” – once I was blind but now I can see.” That, we know!!!
Sara – I don’t have time to answer your post – I bet your glad about that.

Your statement: “As a Christian it is not my job to turn you on to Christ, my job is to present the truth to you and to be loving to you. God chooses us, and not the other way around and you can rest assured that God doesn’t make mistakes. If you were saved and thereby a Christian, you will return to Christianity because God chases after his own, like a shepherd does his sheep. If you are a Christian, albeit one in doubt, this should comfort you.”

This statement, while to you is informational about your role as a christian, is incredibly arrogant. Quite frankly, I thought one of the tenets of christianity is to be humble. This statement is far from humble. You are saying, without minced words, that if you do not believe and do what I say, then you are wrong. And, you also say, that it is your job to educate me. Again, very very arrogant. This is something that is a huge turnoff to someone on the outside of your religion.

Your statement: “Regarding “more tolerant Christians”… Since anyone can call themselves “Christian”, I assume you mean people who water down Biblical truth or allow you to believe there are other paths to salvation beyond Jesus Christ. If telling the truth makes them look bad, then so be it.”

There are two main problems with this statement. First, again, it’s very arrogant. You are again acting as if you know, without any doubts, not only what truth is, but what others should deem to be truth. How incredibly arrogant of you. Second, there is a difference between “tolerance” and “interpretation of the bible”, that you seem to have misunderstood. Tolerance refers to an understanding that people have different beliefs and respecting that. More tolerant christians do not act arrogant, they do not tell people they are wrong, and they do not care at all what others believe. They thought process is, “You believe what you believe, I’ll believe what I believe. Your beliefs do not affect me.”

Your statement: “If you believe in the Big Bang Theory and Jesus Christ was the answer… you lost everything. If you believe in Jesus Christ and the Big Bang Theory was the answer, you have lost nothing.”

This statement is used alot when touting religion as a “why not?” type of argument. However, I believe it to be the other way (again I use believe, and am not telling you that your beliefs are wrong, see the difference?). If you believe in jesus christ and the big bang was the answer, you have lost. You have lost a lifetime devoting your life and your every being to something that did not exist and was not true. You spent your life giving time and energy to a cause that lied to you. And, in the process, you missed out on living LIFE to it’s fullest, instead of living life preparing for the afterlife.

My belief, again just my belief, is that there is no god. However, I do believe in living a good life and a moral life. I treat people with respect and do good for others. I think that if by chance I’m wrong… because I don’t have all the answers… if I’m wrong, I’ve still used my life in a productive manner, and used my FREE WILL (commonly touted as god’s greatest gift to man) to explore and search for answers. Sure, I might have been wrong, but hey, we are human after all, right?

Finally… I conclude with this little tidbit. The entire tone of your last post takes on a very condescending tone. Many times you describe the meaning of truth, true belief and true christianity. Be careful when doing that, as your own bible cautions of this. In your own bible, only god can place final judgment… therefore it is not for you to decide the meaning of truth, true belief and true christianity. Tolerant christians live this…

Traditionally I’ve believed in several ‘levels’ of Christianity. More moderate Christians (or non-fundamental Christians) might go to church, believe in God/ Jesus/heaven/hell, etc. Maybe they believe in specific things like creation and the rapture, maybe they don’t. But all stories carry a moral that helps people live better lives as Christians. On the other end of the spectrum there are fundamentalist Christians. These people are biblical literalists and are certain that 100% of the Bible’s contents are accurate. You and Ross appear to fall into this camp.

Is this accurate? DO you really believe that moderate Christians are not true Christians? Are Christians who ‘water down’ Biblical teachings ignorant or lost? Will they go to hell if they don’t change their ways? If my description is somewhat accurate, then perhaps you’re right: I was never a ‘true Christian’. My definition of a Christian is not as strict as yours.

When I read the bible as a Christian, I believed in a 4 billion year old planet and that all animals evolved from lower life forms. So I believed the Genesis story, just not the creation of life part. Everything else in the Bible I took at face value. But again, this is watered down and even selective beliefs. Along with many others in my church, I threw out a few things from the Bible that I didn’t personally agree with. Despite considering myself a Christian, I never considered myself a fundamentalist.

I’d like to ask you an honest question: If there’s only one true way to being a real Christian, why do you think there so many kinds of Christianity? Do you think all of these other denominations are lost?

One thing I would like to quote is this:

As a Christian it is not my job to turn you on to Christ, my job is to present the truth to you and to be loving to you. God chooses us, and not the other way around and you can rest assured that God doesn’t make mistakes.

To a non-Christian, I this sounds REALLY weird. There’s no possible way you can know the truth. If you wanted to present me with your belief system and reasons for joining, that’s another thing all together. But truth? You can’t use that word in this case, nor can an atheist.

Ken Hamm was speaking at the museum the day we were there. We wanted to buy tickets to his presentation, but it was sold out.

I certainly appreciate your professional response to my letter and others. Many people do not maintain professionalism, nor even common courtesy when discussing issues such as these.

The only issue I have time to respond to at this time relates to Christianity.

You said to me:

“Sarcasm aside, I may return to being religious, but probably not a Christian. I’ve encountered too many Christians that are convinced Christianity is the only true religion and it’s their job to tell the world. That’s a big turn-off to someone sitting on the outside of Christianity. You might consider that in any future discussion. You attitude gives more tolerant Christians a bad name.”

My response:

“Christians” who believe that there are other paths to salvation are not Christians by definition. And in actuality, the only reason Christians are on earth is to tell others about Jesus Christ. We are servants of our Heavenly Father and his son, and it is our job to tell others about Jesus Christ.

As a Christian it is not my job to turn you on to Christ, my job is to present the truth to you and to be loving to you. God chooses us, and not the other way around and you can rest assured that God doesn’t make mistakes. If you were saved and thereby a Christian, you will return to Christianity because God chases after his own, like a shepherd does his sheep. If you are a Christian, albeit one in doubt, this should comfort you.

Regarding “more tolerant Christians”… Since anyone can call themselves “Christian”, I assume you mean people who water down Biblical truth or allow you to believe there are other paths to salvation beyond Jesus Christ. If telling the truth makes them look bad, then so be it.

You said to another writer:

“Perhaps your lowest point was right here. I tried not be be confrontational in my replies. I tried not to speak about things I don’t understand. You’ve done neither while showing a great degree of intolerance towards any non-fundamental Christian who doesn’t share your belief system.”

My response:

What is a “non-fundamental Christian”? Sounds like you are describing an unbeliever to me but I await your response.

You said to another writer:

“You also called me ignorant. You refer to a true believer (as) someone who believes in God and divinity. So I have to believe this not to be ignorant, according to you? Seems like a leap of faith to me.”

My response:

Yes, you do have to believe in God and his son, Jesus Christ, and you have to believe that they are the only way to salvation… otherwise you are not a Christian. Thinking this is not true is “ignorant” of Biblical teaching. As a Christian, I wouldn’t call a person who disbelieved ignorant… I’d call them lost.

You said to another writer:

“I’m not shutting out the world around me (such as carbon dating, the idea that glaciers could have carved out the Grand Canyon) as you seem to have.”

My response:

It’s fine to consider other views and to ponder how things came to be. However, your abandonment of Christianity in order to believe in theories of man, indicates to me that you probably were not a Christian. Time will tell.

You said to another writer:

“You then go into a background of how the Christian faith is set up with God, the spirit, Adam and Eve. As a former Christian, I am familiar with this. But I’ve also asked myself “What if this isn’t true?” This is one approach that is unprovable. Ideas like the Big Bang Theory are equally unprovable. I understand why people are inclined to believe one approach over another, but how can one claim one (has) an absolute certainty?”

My response:

If you believe in the Big Bang Theory and Jesus Christ was the answer… you lost everything. If you believe in Jesus Christ and the Big Bang Theory was the answer, you have lost nothing.

You said to another writer:

“Elsewhere in your comment you claimed that I was never a ‘real’ Christian, a bold conclusion you’ve deducted from this single web page. I guess you have no idea how insulting that is. Again, you’ve displayed a great deal of philosophical intolerance so far.”

My response:

Time will tell wether you were a “real” Christian or not. Both I and the other writer certainly hope that you were. However, I am also doubting that you were a real Christian. You say you are insulted by this, but why? Clearly you think a belief in God (and thereby assumedly also Christ) is ignorant, so why would you care what an ignorant Christian thinks of you? Philosophical tolerance? Could you describe for me what behaviors a Christian must show to be considered to be philosophically tolerant by your definition?

However, perhaps feeling “insulted” will drive you to clarify your personal beliefs once and for all. You believe you were a Christian, two believers are doubting such– I am glad that is giving you pause and I pray that the Holy Spirit will work on your heart.

You said to another writer:

“You don’t have to believe me when I say that I went go to the Creation Museum to get the other side of the story, another perspective. But that is the truth. I wanted to learn more about a side of Christianity I was never familiar with. I WAS a Christian, but never a Creationist. By your definition, does that mean I was never a Christian?”

My response:

Anybody can go to church, know all about the Bible and God and call themselves a Christian, but that does not make you a Christian. A true Christian is a person that has been “born again” and “saved” by a belief in, and forgiving of your sins by, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. By saying you were never a “creationist” do you mean that you discounted the Biblical account of creation? Historically, there were Christians who knew nothing more of creationism other than God created the heavens and the earth, and everything on it, it just 6 days. The thief on the cross likely knew even less. You don’t need to know all the minutia of how that creation took place in order to be a Christian… however if you outright reject the Biblical account (regardless of the mechanics of such) you are probably either a very young believer or a non-believer. A belief in God is not an intellectual belief… there is no way for me to intellectually convince you by mere argument to accept the faith. The ability to believe and accept come from the Holy Spirit prompting your heart and mind, if the Holy Spirit is not there, you will not be saved. Only God can definitively say wether you are saved, but my gut feeling is that you likely were not.

By the way, Ken Hamm is an excellant speaker and I encourage you to attend one of his seminars. Beyond that, if you were open to it, I think Mr. Hamm or other knowledgeable Christians associated with the Creation Museum would have a one-on-one discussion with you in regards to this article and any questions you might have if they believed you would treat them fairly (which I believe you would). Something to consider. You have my email address if you are interested in this.

I’m not going to try to convince you of my way of thinking… I know it’s completely pointless. I would just appreciate it if you would stop contradicting yourself when speaking the “truth”. Please learn to use your brain to mouth (or in this case, keyboard) filter.