The news yesterday was that they did! It's pretty amazing. They may or may have not, but that's the nature of archaeology. It didn't take even 24 hours for critics to begin dismissing the notion. That is also no surprise. The inference alone is too great:
2. Genesis is telling the truth
3. Man IS a sinner and introduced sin into the human race
4. Man needs a Savior
5. God promised to send One.
The problem, however, is the logical inference the other direction:
- Biblical illiteracy
- Leads to Biblical apathy
- Leads to doubt
- Leads to not believing
Today, out of my 1408 friends on facebook, most of whom are Christians, I posted the news about the ark discovery, the link that it has with the Black Sea expedition by Robert Ballard (who found the Titanic) and 3 "liked" it, and 1 commented.
I know that all my friends didn't see the link, and I also know that they are in no way obligated to like or comment on it. One of the by-products of our "always on" culture is that information and its uniqueness by default is subject to skepticism, apathy, and doubt.
It did give me pause…………..
I am growing increasingly concerned that the Christian culture, that is to say even the Evangelical, Charismatic, Pentecostal culture is cultivating a corporate "apathy" about the Bible.
They know where to check all the blocks
They know the way to be saved
They know the right language
But the love of Scripture is missing.
The Bible says:
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Even the Psalmist in the Old Testament understood the value of Scripture:
Psalm 119:97 (ESV)
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Maybe I'm an alarmist, but I don't think so. I'm afraid that our:
familiarity with the basic stories of the Bible
poor preparation for church work
dispassionate presentations of Scripture
have worked to take away the value of God's word in the minds of believers.
So where is the hope? The word of God! Peter anticipated these issues while writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 3:1–5 (ESV)
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
In fact, he introduced this book with the following declaration on the the wonders of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:16–21 (ESV)
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The words of Jesus are most important to consider at this point. And then consider what to do about creating a culture where the word of God is valued.
Mark 13:31 (ESV)
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
