Worldviews
The Newsletter of the Apologetics Resource Center
August - September 2007

For Such a Time as This
The Apologetics Resource Center is ready, willing, and able – all due to the power and grace of Jesus Christ. But the “able” has a qualifier.

The superb magazine Modern Reformation began this year with an announcement that they were inaugurating a regular new column featuring Christian apologetics. They wrote, “It is our conviction that apologetics has never been more timely in the life of the church. Of course, the Bible requires it (1 Pet. 3:15).” The editors went on to say that apologetics had fallen on “hard times” as some believed it intellectualized the faith too much and that it created a critical atmosphere when “the world needed toleration and healing rather than argument.”

These concerns are valid if “apologists” do not follow God’s prescriptive directive to “speak the truth in love.” As the classic passage states, we are to “first of all, sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always then being ready to give a reasoned defense (apologia) to anyone who inquires, yet with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15).

But the time is now crucial. There is a marked decline in the intentional, fruitful engagement of people, ideas, and culture by Christians. The Church is becoming increasingly weaker in numbers of active members, in Biblical knowledge and discernment, and in being the redemptive salt and light in the world (which should be normative). Christians increasingly need apologetics - not only for engaging unbelief with skeptics, but also for their own discernment, protection, and questions.

As the article in Modern Reformation continues, “We are receiving challenges that simply must be answered.” This is true in areas of bioethics (genetic engineering, stem cells, etc.), cultural issues (abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage), cults and false religion (Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, Islam, Roman Catholicism, etc.). One of the most pervasive challenges is the cultural shift to a postmodern-relativist mindset, with all its accompanying objections (“the Bible isn’t true,” “Christianity is intolerant,” “Christ isn’t the only way to God,” and even “there isn’t a God” – atheism).

Some of the most disturbing issues are manifesting within the Church, such as the Federal Vision, some Seeker-Sensitive models, the New Apostolic Reformation Movement, and the Word-Faith (name-it, claim-it) factions. These issues have been exposed and criticized in the Areopagus Journal (May-June 2007, and the September-October, November-December 2003 issues).

The staff at the Apologetics Resource Center (ARC) are equipped, experienced, and have a passion to minister in a broad spectrum of areas. God has prescribed the means for that to happen. That “means” is you. We are called to “equip the saints for service” (Eph. 4:12), to silence and expose the heretics (Titus 1:9-11), and to “teach the truth and correct the errors” (2 Tim. 2:23-26).

But we need you to support us through prayer, participation, and financial support. This is God’s prescribed way. Take the time to read 2 Cor. 8:16-24; 2 Cor. 9:5-15; and Phil. 4:16-20.

In this issue of Worldviews you will read about what ARC has been doing, is doing, and is ready to do. We will also provide information, insights, and responses to the Romney-Mormonism-Presidentency issue, Harry Potter, Atheism’s growth, the resurgence of TM and Yoga in public schools, and Francis Collins and theistic evolution.

What ARC is Doing
We have been busy, and yet we could do so much more. Besides our everyday research, telephone counseling, and filling information packet orders, our staff has been traveling and ministering. We have added new part-time staff as well.

New Staff – Keith Loftin, a graduate of Southeastern Bible College, recently completed a Master’s degree in Humanities at the University of Dallas. While there, Keith became our Book Review Editor. He is now attending LSU in Baton Rouge working on a second Master’s degree (in Philosophy). Keith is part-time on staff with us as an editor and speaker, in fact teaching “Intro to Christian Apologetics” this fall.

Another Southeastern Bible College graduate, Frank Ellis, just completed his Master’s in Philosophy and Ethics at Biola University and is being considered as a part-time staff teacher and writer for ARC.

Jason Dollar (another Southeastern graduate), who worked part-time for us in the past while he pastured a small Baptist church, has now come back and is teaching Bible and Apologetics on the faculty of Shades Mountain Christian School. He is signed on as our youth specialist, developing our youth initiatives.

ARC’s apologetic programs at Birmingham Theological Seminary (BTS) and at Southeastern Bible College are beginning to bear fruit. ARC staffer Brandon Robbins is finishing his Master’s at BTS.

ARC Youth Ministry – We at ARC continue to witness the validity of the growing number of voices and statistics calling attention to the marked decline in young people’s commitment to Christianity.

The decline is due in part to the increasing barrage of mind-numbing “toys,” gadgets, consuming technologies, affluences, parents neglecting real life discipling of their children while chasing the American dream, and a lack of worldview, real life apologetics discipleship of the youth in church or school.

So, we are beginning to invest more heavily in this area. As was mentioned earlier, Jason Dollar is raising support and is beginning to work on curriculum and activities as our new youth specialist.

He is already teaching apologetics at one Christian school, and we are pursing others. We are also developing a weekly interactive study for high school seniors and college freshman. We are praying for the acquisition of a large Christian Study Center (Resource Center) to house it.

We will also use the Study Center to train other youth workers in this strategic area. Jason is available to teach an apologetics series in churches, retreats, or conferences.

Summer Missions – Clete Hux traveled to Germany and conducted an extended series at one of the largest evangelical churches in that country. Read his report in this Worldviews. Jason Dollar was the main speaker at three youth camps this summer and also gives a report.

ARC in Prison – Ever since we began to run ads in World magazine, we have been receiving a good number of requests for information and help from Christians in prisons. As we prayed about how to help, we received a call from Briarwood Presbyterian Church’s prison ministry, Potter’s Hand.

The warden at a prison in Alabama wanted a comparative religion class taught to inmates. We have now met with the chaplain of that prison and are scheduled to teach on a weekly basis, beginning in September.

Potter’s Hand and ARC are exploring the possibilities to expand this to other prisons. Pray for us as we will have Muslims, Nation of Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other followers attend. This is another need for a Study Center – to train other staff and lay staff.

Writings – Some of our most recent significant contributions in the Kingdom are our writings. Writings endure and can be circulated extensively. In addition to our bimonthly journal, we are in the process of writing books for publication.

Steve Cowan is co-authoring a textbook on philosophy to be published by Broadman and Holman, and has contributed a number of entries in the upcoming Baker’s Encyclopedia of Cults and World Religions.

Clete Hux and Craig Branch have also contributed many articles to the Baker dictionary. In addition, Craig and Keith Gibson are co-authoring a book on the heresies and danger of The New Apostolic Reformation and Prophetic Movement.

Craig is also contributing an entry in Devotions for Thinking Christians (being published by Zondervan) and a chapter in another upcoming book, Toward Christian Unity.

Study Center – But we could be doing so much more. We are so crammed into our office space that we are hamstrung. Half of our research library is still unpacked and the mounting materials we continue to collect and process are stacking up. We can add no more staff locally and remain anywhere near efficient. Pray with us for a new building which can serve as a Christian Study Center as well as offices.

We want to be able to conduct seminars as well as hold informal dialogues using our Southern hospitality. Pray that God will provide the financial need and location. This will be a tremendous catalyst and Resource Center which can impact not just our locality but the U.S. and beyond.

For example, we will be able to bring teams of foreign nationals here for training and resourcing to go back to spread the ministry to their countries. We will establish ongoing youth training seminars for high school seniors and college students. We also will lead a multi-church conference in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and in middle Alabama in the near future.

Responding to Atheism
Our upcoming journal deals with the question, “How do we know God exists?” Or more precisely, “How do we know the one true God of the Bible exists?” In our last Worldviews, ARC staffer Brandon Robbins wrote a short article noting the serious concentration of militant atheists books that have been NY Times bestsellers in 2007.

These authors have received lots of support from the liberal media and the remarkable new feature is that they are not just expressing their non-belief, but are saying we should not even tolerate religious beliefs as they are embarrassing, primitive and even dangerous.
Indeed Barna’s research recently (6/6/07) indicated that 56% of atheists and agnostics believe that radical Christianity is as dangerous as radical Islam. Barna also revealed that 9% of Americans (20 million) are atheists/agnostics. Other stats have had that number as high as 14%. Twenty years ago it was 5%. The largest percentage are those between 18-22 (19%).

Order our journals on “Does God Exist?,” “Science vs. Christianity,” “Why Lord?” (The Problem of Evil and Suffering), or order the two books listed at the end of Worldviews, or order our information packets responding to Harris, Dawkins, and Hutchins.

Mission Berlin
by Clete Hux
The highlight of the summer for me was a mission trip to Berlin, Germany in July. The first Sunday in Germany I preached at the Berlin International Church, a Christian Missionary Alliance congregation. By German standards the 175 people present comprised one of the larger evangelical congregations in the country. There were 27 nations represented during the Sunday service!

From Monday to Wednesday I taught seminars on comparative religions, including Mormonism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, the New Age, and Scientology (because actor Tom Cruise was in Berlin while I was teaching). On the closing night of the conference, the team leader asked if any seminar attendees would like to share what the teaching meant to them and if they would pray for members of the team. It was a tremendous confirmation when three South Afrikaners prayed over me like I have never been prayed for before. One prayed, "Lord, we must have this information and knowledge your servant is bringing!"

Another began to cry over me, saying, "Yes, Lord, yes Lord!" It was a moving experience. They were so very appreciative. Please pray the Lord will use the seeds planted to equip the believers there to be salt and light in the spiritually dark city of Berlin.

According to our team, two people from the church along with a visitor trusted the Lord for salvation that week. We praise the Lord for the gospel in the "rocky soil" of Germany!
Also, our team visited the beautiful town of Wittenburg where reformer Martin Luther nailed his 95 "thesis" to the door of the Wittenberg Church and set in motion a series of events that began the Protestant Reformation. Very inspiring and enjoyable!

Camps and Apologetics
by Jason Dollar
ARC Youth Specialist
This has been an incredible summer! I had the opportunity to teach apologetics at three youth camps. The responses have been great! One camp counselor commented:

Jason, It was an awesome week with kids solidifying their beliefs and learning to defend them.

I could not agree more! Students are hungry to have answers to their questions about God's existence, whether the Bible is trustworthy, and whether the resurrection of Christ really happened. We covered these and many other topics, as well. I really try to keep students’ interest level high by using PowerPoint presentations that are graphically-oriented (a lot of pictures and illustrations).

I love talking with the students after the meetings. When they see that the Christian worldview is true and makes more sense than any alternative, their faith is strengthened. Apologetics is just amazing that way. It strengthens believers, but it also serves as a step to the Gospels. It removes perceived obstacles so that an unbeliever is confronted face-to-face with the risen and living Savior Jesus Christ. In a few cases this summer, teenagers trusted in Jesus Christ to save them! Now, that was wonderful to see!

A special thank you to all the camp staff at Ponderosa Bible Camp in Mentone, AL and also to the pastors and youth pastors who organized our camp just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Your work will be blessed with fruit throughout eternity! If you would like to keep up with ARC's ministry to youth, check out my blog at www.thisbread.blogspot.com.

A Darwinian Christian?
It used to be very simple. If you were a Christian, you should believe and defend a literal seven day creation and totally reject Darwinian evolution. Then came a formidable argument from some evangelicals who combined scientific data with a conservative but different interpretative approach to Scripture, to commend an “old-earth” creationist position.

This debate between old-earth and young earth creationists and evolution is covered in our “Evolution or Creation” issue of Areopagus Journal. Both sides agree that Darwinian macroevolution is totally incompatible with Christianity and even the scientific facts.

Then came the Intelligent-Design position, which seeks to prove that the actual scientific data points to the necessity of an Intelligent Designer. This approach claims to be public school friendly, as it is an objective scientific assessment; it does not promote a religion. ID is impacting a lot of scientists positively.

But in response, many proponents of the all encompassing philosophy of naturalistic materialism – macroevolution, have become more and more militant and aggressive. Many go so far as to aggressively call for the banning of religions because they are more dangerous and destructive than Hitler’s Nazi facism. They have teamed up with various atheist groups. I will cover this fact in my Veritas article in our upcoming journal “Does God Exist?”

But to add to the complexity, one of the most respected scientists in the world, Dr. Francis Collins, head of the international Genome Project (mapping out the human DNA codes), is an outspoken Christian. But he rejects both creationism and what he understands to be the Intelligent Design (ID) argument. He believes that God is over all, but has allowed Darwinian evolution to be the process. This is a form of theistic evolution.

Collins has written, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents the Evidence for Belief. In it he is critical of the ID position, understanding it to teach that there are many gaps in the evolution theory and that only an omniscient, omnipresent Designer can fill those gaps. Collins says that when science discovers naturalistic answers for those gaps, this eliminates God.

But ID experts say Collins doesnot understand their position, which holds that it is based on substantial positive scientific evidence of a designer’s work. Yet Collins, a theisitic evolutionist, is an embarrassment to the high percentage of evolutionists who reject God altogether based on their views and the growing number of evolutionists who are outspoken in their desire to see and eliminate religion as dangerous.

But we pray that Christians who are in dialogue with Collins will help him see the Biblical – theological – scientific folly of his theistic evolution. Ask for our information packets either on Francis Collins, or one on “militant atheists.”

Mormonism/Presidentency 2
In our Nov/Dec ’06 Worldviews, I wrote a lengthy article discussing a Romney – Mormon – Presidency. Now in Aug. 2007 Romney’s potential candidacy is moving forward. In August he won the Iowa Republican straw poll with 31.5% of the votes. He had and spent millions of dollars on the campaign.

Christian are split on whether to support Romney. Leaders like Chuck Colson and Richard Land state “we are electing a commander-in-chief, not a theologian-in-chief.” Even Pat Robertson demonstrates a huge blindspot in procuring Romney as the commencement speaker for his Regent University this year! Even my own fellow ARC staffer Steve Cowan points out that due to common grace, the Bible presents several pagan rulers to whom believers were to submit. Romans 13 begins by ordering believers to submit to governing authorities. The historical context of that writing was the rule of emperor Nero, who aggressively persecuted Christians.

I would agree if we were living in a place where a dictatorship ruled and we had no choice. But in our republic, we have a voice and a choice. And I agree that we are not called to establish a Christian theocracy, and I agree that just because a candidate is a Christian doesn’t mean he is qualified, or that a non-Christian could be more qualified in wisdom and justice.

But now we have a choice and the freedom to dissent. Not all unbelievers have wisdom, integrity, and the right standards of morality. Being religious is not a litmus test, but what the particular religion one holds to and what it believes is important.

Like I pointed out before, would you support an Al Queda Muslim running for President, or even another fundamentalist Muslim? What about a candidate who consults a psychic medium to contact Eleanor Roosevelt like Hillary Clinton did when in the White House?

The problems I have with Romney are several:

• Mormonism teaches that established Christianity is fraudulent, the whore of Babylon and an abomination to God.
• Romney is a conservative, committed “temple Mormon,” which means he believes many bizarre and irrational teachings without logic or historical basis, and He is committed to follow the orders of the Mormon Prophet who allegedly meets with God regularly.
• Romney is not honest or consistent on the issues of abortion and same-sex marriage and homosexual rights, depending on to what group he is trying to appeal (see “Romney Stuggles to Define Abortion Stance,” Washington Post, 8/23/07; “Oscar-Worthy Performance,” National Review, 2/16/07).
• Mormonism is ambiguous in its view regarding abortion in that the Mormon prophets have issued contradictory edicts over the years.
• But my biggest issue involves my Biblical view of government. We are not to put all or even the majority of our hope for success and purpose in the government. Christ said His kingdom was spiritual, not physical. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a spiritual kingdom. “My kingdom is not of this world.” (Mt. 6:10; Jn. 18:36).

Yes, we are called to impact and influence laws so they reflect God’s justice and mercy, but not as a theocracy. If Romney is successful, I’m afraid that will give Mormonism more credibility, influence, and a platform so that many more are apt to be converted into this diabolical, deceptive, life robbing cult.

Romney is not a nominal Mormon like the Kennedy’s and Kerry are nominal Roman Catholics. He is a devout Mormon who typically is all about putting on the best face possible. Plus, there are other qualified candidates. Order our journal on Mormonism, “The Cult Next Door.”

What About Harry?
Harry Potter has made quite a splash – a phenomena in the West and beyond. Here in America, you’re kinda “weird” if you haven’t read any of J.K. Rowling’s books or seen the movies. Critics of Harry Potter are beginning to be seen as narrow minded “fundamentalists.”

God tells us that mankind is fallen and the subsequent history and cultures will be mixtures of right (common grace) and wrong. Forms of spirituality will be fallen and seductive (Rom. 1:18-24). He specifically warns his people against practices found in the nations such as divination, sorcery, practicing omens, mediums, or wizardry. These things are an abomination to God (Deut. 18:9-14; Lev. 19:31).

Christians are not to be conformed to the world, to be careful how we live, what we are exposed to, and to “take no part (participation) in the evil works of darkness but instead expose them” (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 5:6-13).

We are not to support or involve ourselves with anything having to do with the demonic (ICor. 10:20-21; 2Cor. 10:15-18). But life patterns are demonstrating that we have the frog in the kettle syndrome.

Supporters of Harry Potter claim that there is no problem. We promote C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s works of magic, fantasy, and the supernatural. They claim Christians have retreated too long from enhancing the use of art.

I agree that Harry Potter is skillfully written, and is highly engrossing and entertaining. Mature Christians can watch or read without harm, just for the entertainment value. But even mature Christians should consider the following.

Potter makes witchcraft and the occult cool and exciting. It teaches evolution, reincarnation, sorcery, divination, spells, curses, disrespect for authority, and lying. Like witchcraft, it teaches that these practices are used for “good.”

Even though it is difficult to quantify due to the lack of formal organization and numbers of solo practitioners, witchcraft is believed to be one of the fastest growing religions in North America. This is determined by the exponential growth of witchcraft websites and traffic on the internet. Barna research found that teenagers between 13-19 who have read or seen Harry Potter were more likely to experiment with psychic or occult activities. Wiccan leader after leader agrees that the sudden explosive participation in witchcraft has a lot to do with the Potter series.

There are two recommended books on the topic. One is Exposing Harry Potter and Witchcraft: The Menace Beneath the Magic by Steve Wohlberg and the other is Spellbound by Marcia Montenegro.

Wolhberg also has released a DVD, “Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged.” Marcia, a former astrology leader, now a fine apologist to new agers has written an excellent series of articles found on her website  www.christiananswersforthenewage.org.

Also, you may request our information packet on Harry Potter, which deals with the issues. A well balanced article may be found at http://www.mfc.org/contents/article.cfm?id+378. Two other books we offer are Harry Potter, Narnia and the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and the Bible, by Richard Abanes.

Protect the Children
Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” It is time to stop the dilution of worldview teaching both in parents and children, and the preoccupation with pursuing the “American Dream,” as it is taking its toll on the youth generation.

In addition to the influences of Harry Potter, neopaganism (new age) is growing even in our public schools. We continue to read a growing number of news stories about transcendental meditation and yoga being taught in public schools.

This is a return to the movement experienced in the early 90’s, which resulted in the book I co-authored with John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Thieves of Innocence. Our activism and expertise transferred to other parents had a positive result in stopping this in many school systems around the country.

But now we expose this renewed movement and no one calls us to help. What’s changed? For example, a NY Times story (6/16/07) reported that in Oakland California, a public elementary school has begun a pilot program on “mindfulness training” for stress reduction to help performance.

The article states it is a “secular use” of Buddhist meditation techniques. The principal of the school is quoted, “If we can help children slow down and think, they have answers within themselves.”

The article points to eight public schools in Lancaster PA which hold 25 such classes per week. The leader is a yoga instructor.

An LA Times story (7/25/07) stated that mindfulness meditation has positive research results from UCLA and the University of Massachusetts for reducing anxiety and stress, and is used on “thousands of children at charter and other public schools around the country.”

The article is written by a Soto Zen priest. He says the number reflecting such progress has jumped from just a handful to more than 100 schools in the past five years. The author tries to persuade the readers that this mediation is stripped of its religious trappings and thus is secular.

But there are two major problems. Meditation and yoga techniques, purposes, and the framework are inherently spiritual and accommodate these religious beliefs and practices. The other problem is unbiased documentation on the effects.

The most recent research from the University of Alberta analyzed 813 studies found some evidence that certain types of meditation and yoga reduced blood pressure and stress but that “no firm conclusions on the healthcare effects can be drawn based on the available evidence.”

Enlightenment Today (vol. 1, Issue 4) produced by “His Holiness” Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s TM organization states that through individual and collective meditation, “the harmony and progress of the human race are founded on the internal harmony and progress of every individual. No stress, no strain, no impediment, no difficulty can withstand the totally benign influence of the enlivenment of the Unified Field of Natural Law, the field of Transcendental Consciousness, the field of pure knowledge, through Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Sidhi program.” This is religious.

Order our book re-titled, Public Schools: The Sorcerer’s New Apprentice? and our information packets on New Age in public schools, TM, or yoga (also our journal). Then take this proven approach to your school boards to eliminate it. Call us if you have questions or need help (866-403-0102).

Let’s Talk
As you hopefully can understand, there is a huge need for our ministry focus, and few ministries like us. We have been blessed with a seasoned, committed staff, and a great depth of research materials.

We are off the launch pad but we need the fuel to propel us to great heights. As you read in “What ARC is Doing,” we are at the door of many strategic opportunities.
Like most ministries we’re experienced that annual summer slump. We have a debt of $36,000 which included one staff not being paid for two months.

Our goal is to pay off the summer debt and then purchase an adequate facility – that Study Center you read about. Please pray about a major kingdom investment that pays eternal dividends. We also could really benefit from an increased number of monthly givers.

Call us to discuss speaking in your church. Have expertise and passion – will travel (205) 408-5260. And subscribe to the Areopagus Journal. Upcoming issues are How Do you Know God Exists? and Scientology – Cult or Terrorist Organization?

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