APOLOGETIC RESOURCES A Young Earth ministry perspective, namely contrasting Scripture to true science now and during the ages. By Dr. Jim Pagels [email protected] 9/2016 Editor Dr. John Fricke, Emeritus Professor of Biology, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Copyright This book is offered as an educational resource on a no cost basis. Contents are not to be reproduced for the purpose of sale. Note that all Scriptural passages are taken from the English Standard Version. 1 I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN WALK IN THE TRUTH III JOHN 1:4 Forward - Although there is much young Earth information available from commercial sources and on the internet, it was the impression of this writer that no resource that deals with basic topical issues correlating the young Earth philosophy and science exists for professional church workers. To this end, Apologetic Resources is being offered. Intended Audience – The intended audience of this reference material is primarily use by professional church workers, i.e., teachers, pastors, youth workers, etc., namely those who choose to uphold the literal interpretation of Genesis and the inerrancy of Holy Scripture. The focus in this regard is Young Earth Creationism and the catastrophic nature of the global Genesis Flood keeping in mind that Genesis 1-11 is foundational to most of the significant doctrines of Holy Scripture. Of course, laymen may well also find this reference a valuable resource. There is obviously a realistic interplay between Scripture, apologetics and true science. The goal of this document is to provide clarity to this interaction. Rationale in Writing the Apologetic Resources – Providing a Christian education offers a marvelous opportunity to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). However, our children are confronted daily by mass media which presents subtle insinuations undermining, if not destroying their faith in Jesus Christ, their Redeemer. Since the secular world has adopted the theory of evolution as an absolute fact, it makes every effort to integrate this falsehood into science textbooks, particularly the areas of astronomy, biology and geology. With textbook companies typically having a wide distribution of their products, they also have the funds to offer a superior product which unfortunately includes their bias regarding evolution. Hence this fact is an an inducement for Christian schools to use these secular textbooks. Therefore, the availability of a source such as the Apologetic Resources could aid Christian educators in sorting through the labyrinth of falsehoods and the championing of the truth of Scripture. Usage - One may make a hard copy for convenience; however, keep in mind that it is this writer’s goal to periodically update this resource. Given that, it may be most advantageous to maintain a computer copy. Keep in mind that this enables readers to quickly reference specific information via the “find” function. Two recommendations are offered. One is to review the index and start by going to the topic that would be most interesting/useful since for a new user the materials may be somewhat overwhelming. Secondly, regarding the use of videos and DVDs, once reviewed and selected, a particularly helpful media resource could be highlighted item for future reference. 2 Quiz - A quiz with an answer key is found on the last four pages of this resource. Take a few minutes to complete the quiz and the review your responses which will give you a prspective. Apologetic Perspectives In Christ All Things Hold Together, a report by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is a philosophical refutation of scientism, namely materialist science which since the Enlightenment has become the only way of gaining knowledge within the scientific community. Mere Apologetics by Alister McGrath, a theistic evolutionist, has the focus of offering a primer in the subtitles which shares the message of salvation in Scripture with others. Answers in Genesis is a ministry that offers a plethora of materials designed to support the young Earth perspective and refute the theory of evolution. The Institute of Creation Research has the primary focus of developing young Earth research to refute the theory of evolution. The focus of this Apologetic Resource is to compile a handbook of basic topics refuting the theory of evolution directed primarily for the professional church worker. Biographical Sketch - Dr. Jim Pagels has been in Lutheran school ministry as a classroom teacher, interim principal and school/clinical psychologist for over a half a century. He was born in Woodlake, MN, and grew up at Watertown, MN, where his father was a Lutheran elementary teacher/principal. Dr. Jim attended Concordia Academy at St. Paul, MN, where he learned his love for the biological sciences and respect for apologetics from Professor Paul W. Stor, a graduate of the St. Louis Seminary. Jim graduated from Concordia Teacher’s College, River Forest, IL, and had his teaching internship at St. Martin’s Lutheran School in Clintonville, WS. He taught at Redford Lutheran School in Detroit, Michigan, for approximately a decade. Dr. Jim received his Ph.D. from University of Detroit-Mercy in Clinical Psychology which led him to his ministry at Lutheran Special Education Ministries. There Jim completed thirty-five years of psycho-educational of student evaluations along with related parents and teacher consultations. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Michigan and, in retirement, continues to complete pro bono evaluations on children within Lutheran Schools and pursue apologetic interests. Sincere Appreciation – My primary thanks goes out to my wife Doris for a half century of support and patience through the process. Also recognition is offered to Faye Voorman, a former student for her proofreading and offering recommendations. At this time in history we are blessed by the abundance many excellent professional sources offered by Young Earth ministries including, but not limited to, Answers in Genesis and Institute for Creation Research. Finally, my, heartfelt thanks goes to John Fricke for his ongoing support in offering his professional expertise in editing this Apologetic Resource for the benefit of our Lutheran schools and congregations. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page.…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….1 Miscellaneous Content……………………………………………………………………………………..…2 Table of Contents……………………………………….………………………………………….…………..4 1. Secularism vs. the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod….….….……...…6 2. Evangelism through Apologetics…………………………………………….……….19 3. Creation vs. Evolution – Conflict between two religions………………….…….………..44 4. Dinosaurs – Used by secularists as a gateway to evolution; however, dinosaurs actually lived with man during the biblical time span……………………….…...…66 5. Genesis Flood – Billions of dead things laid down by water are buried in rock layers all over the Earth…………………………………………….…………………………………….…………...72 6. God’s Young Earth – Ninety percent of the Earth’s geological evidence supports a young Earth within a biblical time frame…………………………………....….…......78 7. Mt. St. Helens – Within a day, this small volcano provided geological evidence for what secularists claim took millions and billions of years……..…….……....82 8. Plate Tectonics – The Earth, being a single land mass at creation, rapidly separated during the Genesis Flood forming the present day continents……….………..85 9. Ice Age – This single ice age was an aftermath following the Genesis Flood and occurred during the eight generations from Noah to Abraham………………….…………….…91 10. Dating Techniques – The unreliable dating techniques involving primarily radiometric which support the “millions of years” construct…………………………..………….98 11. Geological Column – A secular chronology attempting to explain Genesis Flood geology…………………………………………………………….……….…………………………..………….110 12. Grand Canyon – God’s monument to catastrophe, namely the geological aftermath of the Genesis Flood……………..…………………………………………………….………....116 4 13. Darwin in Perspective – The most recent attempt at explaining the philosophy of evolution amid the many other failures………………………………….……….….120 14. Myth of Monkey-to-Man Evolution, the Piltdown Man and Lucy – A history of misidentifications and falsifications of God’s creation of man……….....125 Book Reviews Darwin’s Black Box – The Biochemical Challenge of Evolution by Michael Behe…….130 Darwin on Trial by Phillip Johnson……………………………………………………………… …………….131 Natural Theology by William Paley……………………………………………………………………………..132 The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins ….……………………………………………………..….133 The Dawkins Delusion? by Alister and Joanna McGrath…………………………………………….134 The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins………………………………………………………….……………135 The Language of God by Francis Collins……………………………………………………………….……136 Appendices Quiz on Apologetics……………………………….…………………………………………………………………….137 Answer Key to the quiz on Apologetics…………………………………………………………………….…139 5 Chapter 1 SECULARISM VS. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD II Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.” II Peter 1:21 “For no prophesy of Scripture was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” THE BIG IDEA HOLY SCRIPTURE IS THE INERRENT WORD OF GOD THE