Back to Basics

Who is right, the creationists or the evolutionists? In this man’s humble opinion, they both are. Evolution and Creationism actually go hand in hand. The origins of this dilemma really trace back to the implications of Lyell’s geology and Darby’s theology. That in turn gave rise to the age old debate between the young earth/global flood advocates and the old earth/local flood believers.

Here is just a brief summary of evolution creationism: Evolutionary creation embraces the time-honored belief that divine revelation flows from two major sources––the Book of God’s Words and the Book of God’s Works. This position supports a complementary relationship between Scripture and science in understanding origins.

The Latin complere, from which derives the word “complementary,” means “to finish” and “to fulfill.” The verb “to complement” refers to the act of adding something that is lacking in order to make complete. Therefore, together the Two Divine Books fulfill each other; alone they are incomplete.

Science reveals how the Creator made this spectacular design-reflecting world, while the Bible declares precisely who created it—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The most compelling argument for evolutionary creation is that it accepts without any reservations both biblical faith and modern science. This position frees us from the chains of the “origins dichotomy” and the “science-religion warfare” myth, both of which have imprisoned many minds throughout most of the twentieth century.

Evolutionary creation meets the yearning of a scientific generation in search of spiritual meaning. More specifically, it offers an intellectually satisfying worldview for those who experience Christ in a personal relationship and know His creation through science. Though this position recognizes that science and religion operate within their respective domains, it does not suffer from the intellectual schizophrenia of placing them in individual compartments. Instead, evolutionary creation features an integrated worldview and connotes a respectful and fruitful dialogue between the best science today and the foundations of historic Christianity.

Evolutionary creationists also enjoy freedom from scientific concordism/supremacy. Instead of tearing the words of Scripture out of their lexical and historical contexts in order to harmonize them with modern science, Evolutionary Creationists are neither embarrassed nor apologetic for the obvious ancient science in the Bible. For example, there is no need to twist and manipulate the Hebrew word raqia‘ (traditionally and best translated as “firmament”), and then claim that it refers to the atmosphere or outer space. Scripture clearly states that God created a “hard dome” overhead, and evolutionary creationists recognize that this is an accommodation to ancient peoples by the Holy Spirit, in order to reveal the Message of Faith that He is the Creator of the heavens. While Moses is widely credited as the author of the Pentateuch, he should correctly be noted as the editor-in-chief, as some of the writings of the first five books were already in existence prior to his penmanship.

In light of the ancient science in God’s Word, it is evident that the Bible is not a book of modern scientific facts revealed before their discovery, but a book of inerrant, life-changing, spiritual truths.

In hearing a recent sermon by renowned pastor, John MacArthur, of Grace to You Ministries wherein he stated that today’s Jews are God’s chosen people and that God has a separate plan of redemption for Jews and Gentiles (dual covenant theology), I felt compelled to write a biblical and historical retort.

Are today’s Jews really God’s chosen people?

In a nutshell . . . No! In fact, not all of Abraham’s physical descendants were children of the Old Testament Abrahamic covenant. Nor were all of them children of the promise. God made his covenant with a person “Abraham” and not a nation, and it was by faith that he and his descendants were justified by God, not national origin (Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3-22, Jas. 2:23).

Moreover, it was Isaac, his second-born, supernaturally selected by the Spirit, and not Ishmael who was born of the flesh by his bondservant Hagar, through whom God’s blessings would flow (Gen. 21:12).

Then through Isaac’s twin sons, by His sovereign right and election, God chose Jacob and rejected Esau to carry forth the Abrahamic seed promise of God. Covenants were always ratified by faith not by flesh.

Four hundred years later God made a conditional covenant with Moses and the Jewish people. It was faith again and not physical lineage that would determine inclusion or exclusion for those “called” as “God’s Chosen People.”

Under this nationalistic, Mosaic covenant, God set the ethnic nation of Israel apart from other nations, and brought them into a conditional covenant relationship with him. One of those conditions was to be holy (Lev. 20:24, 26) and would provide either blessings or cursings (Exod. 19:5; Deut. 28). Membership was restricted to Israelites, but could be gained or lost. Gentiles could be included via proselyte laws (circumcision, ritual cleansing, repentance, obedience to the Torah, and renouncing their natural parentage and heritage. Israelites who committed certain high sins and refused to repent were excommunicated, treated as pagans. Through their unbelief, hardening, idolatry, or refusal to keep the Law, they lost their citizenship and covenant privileges. Again, it was faith, not flesh, that was the basis of inclusion.

Then with the birth of Christ, the long promised and prophesied New Covenant broke into human history (Jer. 31:31-37; Ezek. 16:60; 36:26,27), two designations for one identical people. The “Israel of God” and “God’s Chosen People” were covenantally redefined (Gal. 3:16; 26-29; 4:21-31; 6:15-16; Acts 2:16-21; 1 Pet. 2:9-10). The basis of inclusion or exclusion changed (John 3:1-8; Luke 19:9) and extended to the whole world (Matt. 21:43).

Jesus clearly delineated His “Faith-Only” inclusiveness and the dichotomous division within the Jewish people of His day when he said:

“Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).
“You belong to your father the devil”( John 8:44a, Rev. 2:9, 3:9).
“Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Matt. 3:9).

Even before Jesus, Isaiah had prophesied of this contrast between these two Jewish groups and their different destinies (Isa. 65:7-16). Hosea likewise prophesied about many Jews, “Ye are not my people” (Hos. 1:9-10; 2:23). They were only Jews outwardly, not inwardly (Matt. 3:9; John 8:37,39; Rom. 2:28,29).

Posted by Newt Gingrich (Diary)
Monday, March 19th at 8:33PM EDT

From the diaries. . .

Rick Santorum makes an excellent point that “past performance really does indicate future results.” I completely agree—but not just “in Mitt Romney’s case.”

Rick Santorum became the third-highest ranking Republican in the Senate in 2001 at a time when Republicans inherited balanced budgets, surpluses, and conservative, pro-life majorities. Senator Santorum and his big spending GOP allies proceeded to squander this inheritance.

The leadership of the Rick Santorum Republicans proved disastrous:

The Rick Santorum Republicans never passed a single balanced budget, after inheriting balanced budgets and record surpluses. They racked up $1.7 trillion in deficits and increased the average number of earmarks by almost 500 percent. The Senator even voted for the Bridge to Nowhere.

The Rick Santorum Republicans increased the national debt by 12 percent and voted to raise the debt ceiling five times to accommodate it—even while dealing with a president of their own party.

The Senator voted with Democrats and Big Labor to defeat the National Right to Work Act of 1995. He justifies this vote saying he was representing Pennsylvania where forced unionization is the law but today, PA Senator Toomey is cosponsoring nearly identical legislation.

The Senator voted with Democrats and Big Labor — repeatedly — to protect Davis-Bacon legislation, an old law on the books that requires the federal government to pay more to its contractors. He was so wedded to big labor that he even voted against waiving Davis-Bacon in times of emergency. By voting to protect Davis-Bacon, the Senator cost taxpayers many millions in higher taxes, deficits, and national debt.

The Senator sponsored the “Santorum Amendment” to raise the Minimum Wage 21.4%. He supported Ted Kennedy’s proposed hike in the Minimum Wage. And, in a 2006 campaign commercial, he bragged about his support for a higher Minimum Wage.

The Rick Santorum Republicans abandoned their principles, resulting in the worst electoral defeat for Republicans since Watergate and the loss of GOP Congressional majorities in both the House and Senate. This left Congress in the hands of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. And in destroying the Republican brand of balanced budgets and spending control, the Rick Santorum Republican failure gave us Barack Obama in 2008.

This is not a record of leadership to be proud of, and in 2006 it resulted in a catastrophic 18-point defeat. I fear it would do so again in the fall of 2012 if he were the nominee.

Unlike Senator Santorum, I did not go to Washington seeing politics as a “team sport.” Instead, I set out to change the game, and was willing to fight the forces of the establishment within the Republican Party to do so. The result was the first GOP majority in 40 years and the largest increase in pro-life votes in House of Representatives history. When I was Speaker, we balanced the budget for the first time since the 1920s — and it stayed balanced for four straight years. We reformed welfare, lifting millions of Americans from poverty. We passed the biggest capital gains tax cut in history, helping create 11 million jobs. And we did it all while paying down the national debt by $400 billion.

Is the “temple” a brick and mortar building or Jesus Christ himself?

Did Jesus not say “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days?” Was Herod’s temple raised again in three days after its destruction in A.D.70? Who was in fact raised three days after being destroyed?

If your church claims that the heavens and earth will pass away, why then are we not under the law and acknowledging the weekly and annual sabbaths? Remember what Christ said “For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Between the food laws, weekly sacrifices and annual sabbaths alone, there is a lot of law to be fufilled. And that doesn’t take into account all 613 mitvahs. Does your church have you practicing those as well?

Is a 10% tithe of your income to your “church” part of the law? Moreover is that command anywhere to be found in the New Testament?

Is Daniel’s last week of his 70 weeks prophecy (last 7 years of the 490 years) really not fulfilled? Why would the first 69 weeks (483 years) be fulfilled, but suddenly have a 2000 year gap (and counting) between the 69th and 70th week? Had the 70th week been sequentially fulfilled like the first 69 weeks, in what event would it have culminated?

Does he or she believe that Hell is an everlasting place of punishment for all of eternity? Does he know the origin of the word “Hell? How does he distinguish it from Sheol and Hades? How about Gehenna or the Lake of Fire? Is it a literal, eternal flame where unbelievers will cook for eternity? Does he understand the difference between metaphorical, symbolic and allegorical interpretation vs literal interpretation?

Why would Christ lie to his own people at the Olivet Discourse about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the temple system and the timing of the parousia (his second coming)? Why would Christ rebuke Peter for asking him why John would be alive upon his second coming and not Peter himself? Is John actually a 2000 year old man wandering around the island of Patmos today?

C.S. Lewis was perplexed over Christ making just one mistake — the specific timing of his second advent? As a believer, do you really think Christ made a mistake?

Does Isaiah 11 refer to literal lions, lambs, children and cobras? Will children literally play near a literal Viper’s nest? Is there a literal future utopian thousand year kingdom on earth where all animals will peacefully coexist as Christ reigns in temporal form from a newly rebuilt temple atop Mt. Zion in Jerusalem?

Has your pastor studied Hebraic and Greek figures of speech, biblical hermeneutics and exegesis? Does he know the fundamental rules of hermeneutical and exegetical interpretation?

Of the more than 100 English translations of the Bible, ask him which one is correct. How about the Apocrypha? Why is it cannonized in only the Catholic Bible and not the Protestant Bible? Why do some Protestant Bibles have 1 John 5:7, but some don’t? Should we read King James (Textus Receptus) or more modern translations like the NIV and 1995 NASB (Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece)?

Announcing — Catch Kevin: No Holds Barred! — internet radio show “Premier” Monday, April 2nd and every weeknight at 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT. Are you ready for Riveting Radio? How about Straight Talk with high profile movers and shakers? Uncensored Talk? The Right Take on Talk? I say we raise the bar and Rock the Talk! Politics, Social Issues, Business and Religion, let’s talk “No Holds Barred!” Mark your calendar and . . . BYOB (Bring Your Own Brain)! Join me for the live premier of Catch Kevin: No Holds Barred! Monday, April 2nd.

Tell your friends and family and let’s do talk radio the “Right Way!”

Kevin A. Lehmann

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Last Wednesday Rush Limbaugh asked the question of third year Georgetown law student, Sandra Fluke, who besides being played like a fiddle by Obama, Pelosi and the Democrats, claimed that contraception cost $3000 over three years — what that makes her? The implication of course which Rush gave voice to for all of us that were tacitly thinking the same thing was “A slut and a prostitute,” also stating that that made taxpayers her pimp.

He was clear and unambiguous in his assertion, even expounding on it further Thursday and Friday. That is, right up until the blowback from listeners and corporate advertisers. At last report, some 27 different companies, including big names like Sears and Allstate, pulled their advertisements off of Rush Limbaugh’s show.

Then in a stunning and spontaneous reversal, Rush Limbaugh issued a written apology on his website Saturday. Was it sincere and heartfelt? That’s the million dollar question that mainstream media continues to harp on. Or in Rush’s case, it could be a multimillion dollar question. But why? That’s not even the question we should be asking. The bigger issue that mainstream media is too stupid to recognize and what’s really at stake here is Rush’s authenticity and principles.

Does he mean what he says? What does he value more: freedom of speech or paid sponsorship?

Was Rush’s apology a crisis of conscience or a crisis of compensation? The fact is, Rush Limbaugh, who has rarely apologized for anything he has said for the past 25 years, at least apologized.

But Sandra Fluke, who spoke publicly for the first time Monday morning on “The View,” said the apology made no difference to her:

“I don’t think that a statement like this issued saying that his choice of words was not the best changes anything, especially when that statement was issued when he was under significant pressure from his sponsors who have begun to pull their support from the show,” she said. “This was not someone who made one accidental statement. This was three days of significant portions of his three-hour show. He insulted me and the women of Georgetown who have received no apology. He insulted us over 53 times.”

Well hell, if Sandra Fluke, who one could argue is now a “media whore” doesn’t want to accept Limbaugh’s apology, that’s fine. And if Rush Limbaugh is authentic and true to his word, he should stand up for his First Amendment right to freedom of speech, go on The View and retract his apology and reclaim his authenticity. After all, there was no reservation, no hesitation, not even a hint of a crisis of conscience when he blurted out the words “slut” and “prostitute.”

Did Rush Limbaugh mean what he said? Of course he did. Did he cave into corporate capital? Like a sinkhole in the Sahara!

What’s the bigger story here? In the current political climate where we often hear the mantra “message over money,” even in the world of conservative talk radio that’s often seen as the last line of defense of personal liberties and freedom of speech, when push comes to shove, it still boils down to the bottom line . . . “Money Talks and Message Walks!”

Until next time . . . Wake Up America!

Kevin A.

If the Michigan and Arizona primaries proved anything, they proved that the only saving grace for the GOP is rising gas prices at the pump.

Sure Romney eeked out another win, but let’s be real, a 3% victory over his latest rival, Rick Santorum, in his home state of Michigan — a state in which his father was a revered governor, a state that he and his wife grew up in and a state where the trees are just the right height — can hardly be called a victory. In fact, when all the precincts are counted, Santorum stands to win more delegates in Michigan than Mitt.

It was a bitter sweet victory to be sure — bitter in that Romney was fourth on your list of prom dates and, although the highlight of your evening will be watching the reflections on the wall from the spinning disco ball, at least you know you’ll make it back home a sober virgin.

The fact of the matter is, most conservatives and republicans still don’t want Romney. His support is a mile wide and an inch deep. He’s the GOP’s Kaopectate, Nyquil, apple cider vinegar — a stopgap measure when you’re completely out of Rolaids — of the GOP field. Mitt Romney is to conservatives what Curly was to Moe . . . a pain in the ass, but a necessary ally.

And like a good Timex, Mitt Romney takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin.” Of course it helps when your chief opponent (who only last week was in the catbird’s seat) shoe-bombed his own candidacy by claiming JFK’s 1960 speech on the separation of church and state made him want to “throw up.” The Catholic contraception issue notwithstanding, Santorum also characterized Satan as a literal figure that’s currently attacking the moral rectitude of the United States.

Personally, I give Santorum a pass on that and his bonehead comment on JFK only because I know where he was coming from. I like the fact that he stands on his principles even if he doesn’t always articulate them in a way that most Americans can understand.

The problem with Romney is his platform. His entire presidential mantra from the very beginning has been “It’s the economy stupid.” He casts himself as the outsider, the non-Washington establishment candidate, the guy who fixed flailing companies and of all things, the Olympics. “I can fix our economy!” has become the staple of his stump speeches. Outside of that, he has no platform.

Houston, we have a problem!

If you haven’t noticed, all the leading indicators are pointing to a gradual economic recovery, albeit an anemic one. Granted, it’s based on figures and statistics that are completely outdated and don’t take into consideration many factors that clearly buttresses the president’s claims. But since most Americans know economics about as well as they do rocket science, they’ll buy into the ruse hook, line and sinker.

But there’s one place Obama can’t fool the American public . . . at the gas pump! If there is one thing Americans will vote on more than any other issue, it’s their pocket book. Who’s the stronger candidate: Barack Obama or $145.00 a barrel oil? I rest my case.

Here we go again! This is another example of Sharia Law creeping into our judicial system and the double standard afforded Islam but not Christianity.

More and more judges who are converts to Islam, Muslim sympathizers, One-World-Government advocates, atheists and Christian hate mongers are throwing out the Constitution in favor of their personal bias and prejudice.

The following is just the latest in a growing number of court cases that are being decided based on Sharia Law and not the Constitution of the United States. This further validates my argument that Islam — a theo-political totalitarian regime with a contractual mandate to conquer the West and establish a worldwide Islamic caliphate that stands in stark contrast to and is antithetical to the tenants of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution — should not be recognized as a religion and have first amendment protection.

See my article Why Islam Should NOT Be Protected Under the US Constitution! where I link other cases and judges who, in spite of the oath they swore to uphold the Constitution, ruled according to Sharia law and not the law of the land.

The only way to stop this speeding freight train of activist judges is to pass a Constitutional amendment that like Italy, does not recognize Islam as a state religion.

The following was posted by Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs on February 23, 2012:

“American Muslim Judge Who Imposed Sharia In Pennsylvania Court Threatens To Jail Infidel Victim For Blasphemy—Releasing Recorded Audio Of Case”

Infidel victim, Ernest Perce, has received 471 verifiable threats.

American Judge in American Court:

(minute 29:50): “Our forefathers intended that we use the first amendment so that we could speak what’s on our mind, not piss off other cultures….. Islam is not just a religion, it’s their culture, their culture, the very essence, their very being. They pray five times a day, towards Mecca. To be a good Muslim before you die, you have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca unless you are otherwise told you cannot because you are too ill, too elderly, whatever, you must make the attempt. Their greetings salum alaikum waliakum as-salm )as answered by voice), uh may god be with you. It is very common, their language, when they are speaking to each other, it is very common for them to say, uh allah willing, this will happen. It’s they are so immersed in it. And what you’ve done is you’ve completey trashed their essence, their being. They find it very, very, very offensive. I am a Muslim. I find it very offensive…

(minute 31): “You are way outside your bounds of first amendment rights.”

This is why we must have Sharia legislation in America. Equal protection under the law. There is no “equal protection under the Sharia” for non-Muslims. Under Islam, Sharia supersedes the law of the land, any and every land.

Earlier today, I reported on a Muslim judge who sided with a violent Muslim who beat up a parade goer wearing a “Zombie Muhammad” costume while marching in a local Pennsylvania Halloween parade.

Barack Obama in bold and brazen fashion is claiming the US economy has improved since his inauguration. I hate to foil his fantasy, but the president needs to stop day dreaming.

Despite what the lamestream media is telling us, the unemployment crisis is far worse now than it was when Obama took office.

Home values have plummeted, health insurance premiums have increased, gas has gone through the roof, the number of Americans living in poverty is exponentially increasing and the national debt has increased by a whopping four and half trillion dollars.

The following are 18 statistics that prove that the economy has not improved since Barack Obama became the president of the United States . . .

#1 Today there are 88 million working age Americans that are not employed and that are not looking for employment. That is an all-time record high.

#2 When Barack Obama was elected, the percentage of unemployed Americans that had been out of work for more than 52 weeks was less than 15%. Today, it is above 30%.

#3 There are 1.2 million fewer jobs in America today than there were when Barack Obama was inaugurated.

#4 When Barack Obama first took office, the number of “long-term unemployed workers” in the United States was approximately 2.6 million. Today, that number is sitting at 5.6 million.

#5 The average duration of unemployment in the United States is hovering close to an all-time record high.

#6 During the Obama administration, worker health insurance costs have risen by 23 percent.

#7 Since Barack Obama has been president, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States has increased by 90 percent.

#8 Since Barack Obama has been president, home values in the United States have declined by another 13 percent.

#9 Under Barack Obama, new home sales in the U.S. set a brand new all-time record low in 2009, they set a brand new all-time record low again in 2010, and they set a brand new all-time record low once again during 2011.

#10 Since Barack Obama took office, the number of Americans living in poverty has risen by more than 6 million.

#11 Since Barack Obama entered the White House, the number of Americans on food stamps has increased from 32 million to 46 million.

#12 The amount of money that the federal government gives directly to Americans has increased by 32 percent since Barack Obama entered the White House.

#13 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of Americans living in “extreme poverty” is now sitting at an all-time high.

#14 When Barack Obama first took office, an ounce of gold was going for about $850. Today an ounce of gold costs more than $1700 an ounce.

#15 Since Barack Obama became president, the size of the U.S. national debt has increased by 44 percent.

#16 During Barack Obama’s first two years in office, the U.S. government added more to the U.S. national debt than the first 100 U.S. Congresses combined.

#17 During the Obama administration, the U.S. government has accumulated more debt than it did from the time that George Washington took office to the time that Bill Clinton took office.

#18 The U.S.