FRIDAY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
October 9, 2009, Volume 10, Issue 41
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this does not imply an endorsement. For instructions on how to unsubscribe to this list or to change mailing addresses, please consult the information paragraph at the end.
NEW APE-MAN ANNOUNCED (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Evolutionary paleoanthropologists have announced the discovery of a new ape-man they are calling Ardipithecus ramidus. Supposedly 4.4 million years old, the first fossils of this creature were found 15 years ago in Ethiopia. A partial skeleton dubbed “Ardi” has been presented to the public by its founders, which include Tim White, who was also involved in the “Lucy” discovery. Ardi has an ape head, ape arms, ape hands, ape legs and feet, and is no compelling reason to say it is anything other than an extinct ape other than the extreme evolutionary bias of modern paleoanthropologists. Having rejected the God of the Bible, they have been searching for the missing link for 150 years. This is in spite of the fact that evolutionary ape-men have repeatedly turned out to be either hoaxes or cases of mistaken identity (e.g., Neanderthal man, Java man, Piltdown man, Peking man, Nebraska man). As was the case with previous ape-men, Ardi has her own drawings. She is depicted as an upright creature that has an ape’s head and feet, but otherwise looking like a hairy woman. This is purely mythical. Ardi doubtless looked nothing like a human being. Its founders claim that she walked upright, but, as is the case with Lucy, this is disputed even by other evolutionary scientists. Ian Tattersall, curator of the American Museum of Natural History, admitted to National Public Radio that “some people are even suggesting there’s not much evidence of bipedality at all” (“Researchers Unearth A Hominid More Ancient Than Lucy,” NPR, Science Friday, Oct. 2, 2009). I have observed rhesus macaque monkeys in Kathmandu, Nepal, walking upright for considerable distances, but they are neither “bipedal” nor “missing links.” Seven years ago, Science magazine reported that “skeptic s argue that the published fossils [of Ardi] are so chimplike that they may represent the long-lost ancestor of the chimp, not human, lineage” (Ann Gibbons, “In Search of the First Hominids,” Science, February 15, 2002). Time magazine reported that “looking at the evidence, different paleoanthropologists may have different interpretations of how Ardi moved or what she reveals about the last common ancestor of humans and chimps” (Michael Lemonick and Andrea Dorfman, “Excavating Ardi: A New Piece for the Puzzle of Human Evolution,” Time, Oct. 1, 2009). It is important to understand that the pelvis of Ardi was “found crushed nearly to smithereens and needed extensive digital reconstruction” (Time, Oct. 1, 2009). We are reminded of the daring reconstruction of Lucy’s pelvis in such a fashion that it now wondrously fits its founder’s hypothesis that it was bipedal.
QUEEN OF ENGLAND HAS AFFINITY WITH THE POPE (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is excerpted from “Queen ‘Appalled’ at Church of England Moves,” London Telegraph, Oct. 3, 2009: “When Pope Benedict visits this country next year, he is expected to stay at Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen. The warmth of her welcome will come as no surprise to the Pontiff, if senior sources at the Vatican are to be believed. According to informants quoted in The Catholic Herald, the Queen has ‘grown increasingly sympathetic’ to the Catholic Church over the years while being ‘appalled’, along with the Prince of Wales, at developments in the Church of England. The usually well-informed newspaper adds that the Queen, who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, ‘also said to have an affinity with the Holy Father, who is of her generation.’&rd quo; CONCLUDING NOTE: The Anglican Church broke away from the Pope in the 16th century under King Henry VIII, but it has always retained many aspects of Romanism and over the past century has been permeated with theological liberalism. In 1982, Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury, said he was an agnostic as to why Jesus suffered on the cross (Sunday Times Weekly Review, London, April 11, 1982). (Billy Graham was one of the honored guests at Runcie’s ordination in 1980 and spoke highly of the heretical archbishop during his evangelistic crusades in England in 1984 and 1989.)
IRREDUCIBLE COMPLEXITY EVERYWHERE (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The concept of “irreducible complexity” (IC) as an argument for “intelligent design” was invented by Dr. Michael Behe. In the book The Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution, he defined IC as “a single system which is composed of several interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, and where the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning.” Among other things, Behe uses the example of the flagellum, a microscopic molecular motor with its own proton power supply, drive shaft, propeller, etc., which can operate at 17,000 rpm and can reverse directions. The fact is that life is filled with irreducible complexity. The Nobel Prize for Medicine this year went to scientists who discovered telomerase, which protects the tips of DNA units. Dr. Elizabeth Black burn, one of the Nobel Prize recipients, said, “Without telomerase we wouldn’t be here–it’s vital to life” (The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 6, 2009, p. 14). Everything about DNA is irreducibly complex, and the phenomenon of interconnectivity and symbiosis is evident throughout creation. The list is endless, from the self-replicating cell to the clock-like movement of the solar system. There are the countless interrelated things that make life on earth possible: water, atmosphere, the earth’s distance from the sun, gravity, the hydrological cycle, the carbon cycle, etc. All of these things work together in a mega example of irreducible complexity, and all of them point to an Almighty Creator. The Bible says, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). The reason why the some ca nnot “clearly see” these things is because of spiritual blindness, and there is not a more frightful condition in human existence.
ITALIAN SCIENTIST RECREATES THE SHROUD OF TURIN (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Luigi Garlaschelli of the University of Pavia has reproduced the technique that was probably used to create the Shroud of Turin. The 14-foot-long cloth, which resides in the Roman Catholic cathedral in Turin, Italy, is alleged to be the burial shroud of Jesus. It appears to bear the image of a wounded, long-haired man. The history of the shroud only goes back to the 14th century, and it was condemned even by some Catholic authorities as a fraud. In 1389 Bishop Pierre D’Arcis exposed it as “a clever sleight of hand.” In spite of its shady history many Catholics and even some Protestants consider it authentic, and it is trotted out on special occasions for the “veneration of the faithful.” The Roman Catholic Church has always shown interest in relics such as this shroud, and multitudes have made pagan-like pilgrimages to offer devotion to such things. Rome’s relic business is very lucrative. Radiocarbon tests by three separate laboratories in 1988 dated the shroud to the 13th or 14th century. Garlaschelli reproduced it using materials and techniques that were available in the Middle Ages. The Bible believer knows that the Turin Shroud is not the burial wrapping of Jesus, because John 20:7 says that Jesus’ head was wrapped separately with a cloth called “the napkin.” Further, Jesus did not have long hair. He was a Nazarene, because He grew up in Nazareth, but unlike Samson, Jesus was not a Nazarite (Numbers 6:1-5). His own apostle said that “if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him” (1 Cor. 11:14).
DOES THE BIBLE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT POVERTY AND EQUALITY AMONG MEN? (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – In answer to this question we would reply, first, that if the Bible’s laws were followed, men would not be poor. The Bible requires that men be honest and not steal from others, that they work hard and not be lazy, that they treat servants and employees justly and kindly, that they love other men as themselves, that the rich use their wealth to help others, that all men give to help those in need, that widows and orphans be treated with kindness and generosity, that judges dispense the law equally without favoritism. If these and other Bible laws were followed, there would be no poor people on the earth. People would work hard and be rewarded with a decent living, and the needy would be well taken care of. If the Bible was obeyed, the poor would not be abused by his fellow man. For example, I recently read ab out people in a district of Nepal who were dying of dysentery. Instead of having pity on these people and helping them, medical practitioners abused them and charged outlandish prices for treatment, so that some of them had to sell their land and livestock and were left penniless. The government made a show of giving a lot of money to help the sick, but much of the money was confiscated along the way by greedy people. The politicians spent more money flying around on helicopters to have their pictures taken by the media than the amount of money that was given to help the needy. This type of thing would not happen if God’s law was followed, and the world would be a different place. Second, the Bible supports the right to private ownership of property. Two of God’s laws are “thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15), and “thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17). If it is wrong to covet or steal my neighbor’s money and property, then it is not wrong to own property. The man who owns property is obligated to use it in a godly fashion and not ignore the needs of his fellow man, but the man who does not own property is not allowed to take that which belongs to others just because he is poor. The law of God says that if a poor man steals, he is still guilty of a crime and must be punished (Proverbs 6:30-31). Third, when Jesus returns and establishes His kingdom, His righteous laws will be enforced and there will not be any poor. Thus, if we really care for the poor we will pray with John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20)!
ROCK AND ROLL RELIGION (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – In a tribute to Elvis Presley on the 25th anniversary of his death in 1977, rock star Bruce Springsteen said, “Elvis is my religion.” This is an admission of the power of rock music literally to capture the heart and soul. Jimi Hendrix said, “I used to go to Sunday School but the only thing I believe in now is music.” An Elvis fan club publication stated, “We believe in Elvis just like we believe in God.” Ozzy Osbourne said, “Rock and roll is my religion.” One of the members of the rock band Judas Priest said in 1984, “Heavy metal isn’t just music to us; it’s a philosophy and a way of life”” Michael Jackson, whose concerts and videos are very immoral, said, “On many an occasion when I am dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred.” Brian Eno said that when he discovered rock and roll, it was “a spiritual experience” and occupied the religious part of his life.” The rock group KISS sang about “the god of rock and roll.” Sting said, “My religion would be music, and I had just received my first sacrament [when he first heard the Beatles at age 11].” The original members of the Grateful Dead, most of whom are dead, said that they looked upon their music as “something like religion.” A Britney Spears’ fan said, “I live for Britney Spears my life wouldn’t be complete without her.” Beware of the sensual, ungodly world of rock and roll (1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4). (Documentation for these statements is in our 473-page book Rock Music vs. the God of the Bible, available from Way of Life Literature.)
ISRAEL’S HISTORY IN PROPHECY (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – In an amazing prophecy written about 2,700 years ago, the prophet Hosea summarized the Bible’s prophetic teaching pertaining to Israel. “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:4-5). For her rebellion to God’s Word, Israel temple was leveled in 70 A.D. when the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem, and she was scattered to the ends of the earth. The prophecy says this will last “many days,” during which Israel will not have a temple, a king, or a sacrificing priesthood. But in the latter days she will return to th e land and be converted to the Lord. The apostle Paul taught the same thing in Romans 11:25-27. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” This refutes Reformed Theology which says the church has replaced Israel and inherited her covenants.
CANADA’S FOSSIL FOREST (Friday Church News Notes, October 9, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is from Creation Moments, http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcript.php?t=2551: “Axel Heiberg Island in Northern Canada is the closest point of land to the North Pole. The landscape is completely barren today but long ago a dense forest of large meta-sequoia trees grew there. At that time, the climate must have been like Florida today. The stumps of these ‘fossil trees’ have not mineralized and are still wood, that is, cellulose. They are claimed to be 45 million years old. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of the cellulose. These lightweight isotopes are normally quickly lost by evaporation from dead wood but to their surprise the researchers discovered an unusually high content. This means that their rate of evaporation was extremely low. In other words, not only di d the trees grow in a humid climate but this climate continued a long time after the trees were destroyed. Further, cellulose is quickly broken down by bacterial action if exposed to air so that the trees were buried rapidly, deeply and a lot more recently than 45 million years ago. A Creation Moments staff member was present when a sample of this wood was used to calibrate the equipment at a well-known Carbon 14 dating laboratory. Believing the wood to be 45 million years old it should contain no Carbon 14 but in fact it did and dated at only 41 thousand years!”
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