A lady in our home Bible study group had her identity stolen and went through quite a difficult year attempting to get it back. Maybe some of you have had a similar experience. Just misplacing a credit card is not trivial concern. Identity fraud is a terrible crime and a messy problem to fix. But, there is an identity theft going on that is far more serious, far more consequential than that of having someone get your credit card or social security numbers and using them to put you in financial bondage. It is taking place in our public schools and universities. How so? Well, glad you asked!
You see, we are, as human beings, made in the image of God, according to His likeness with the responsibility of ruling over the earth and all that is on it (Gen. 1:26-28). We are handiwork of an all-wise, all-powerful, eternally existent Creator who made us as the “crown” of all His creation to “rule over the works of His hands” (Psa. 8:3-6). As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship (poiema), created in Christ Jesus…” (Eph. 2:10). We are of such great value to our Creator that He also became our Redeemer, coming down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, God the Son, to pay the penalty for our sin that we might again be restored to fellowship with him, a fellowship that was broken due to the disobedience in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned (Ro. 5:12,19). As those who have received God’s gift of salvation through Christ, we are not only God’s by creation but now also by redemption. We are now “children of God” (Jn. 1:12 cf I Jn. 3:2) and “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Ro. 8:16,17). That’s our identity. Having been made in the image of God, human life is very precious, so much so that He placed the death penalty for any who purposely take the lives of others (Gen. 9:6). And the Bible makes it clear that human life begins at conception (Psa. 51:5; 139:15,16; Jer. 1:5). Then as Christians, those who have been “born again” (Jn. 3:3) by personally receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, we are also indwelled by God through the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:18-20;I Cor. 3:16; 6:19,20). That’s who we are.
But, when we attend the public schools and universities of our country today, we are taught that the Earth is billions of years old and that our family descended from apes and subhuman “cave men” several million years ago. We are basically told that the family history reported in Genesis was unhistorical and unreliable, that we evolved from lower life forms over a great period of time, and that all living matter came from non-living matter. All of this is taught dogmatically as true science and it is also taught that any other view of origins which gives credit to a Creator or to “Intelligent Design” is mere religious speculation and should not to be considered in the classroom. (NOTE: There is not shred of evidence that evolution is taking place today, or–from the fossil records–that it ever took place. All true science points to a recent, special creation).
It is quite interesting, and sad, to think that our public education system was originally established to help our young people learn to read and apply biblical truths and now the truths of the Bible are not even allowed to be entered into the discussions! Our Ivy League colleges such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton began as seminaries, training young people to serve the Lord. How far they have fallen! Here are a few quotes that appeared in the recent letter from Alliance Defending Freedom:
“The teaching of modern science is corrosive of religious belief, and I’m all for that! If scientists can destroy the influence of religion on young people, then I think it may be the most important contribution that we can make.” (University of Texas professor)
“We are going to go right on trying to discredit you in the eyes of your children, trying to strip your fundamentalist religious community of dignity, trying to make your views seem silly rather than discussable.” (Princeton professor)
“You’re a fascist (expletive). Ask God what your grade is!” (professor at Los Angeles City College berating a Christian student)
“If my students show conservative bias, I steer them away from the academy. They have no future–they will not get jobs. If they want to teach traditional works in a traditional matter, they have no future in an English department today.” (English professor at the University of Virginia)
According to an ADF survey, university faculty members are nearly five times as likely as the general public to not believe in God. Most reject religion as a necessary component of moral character. Some 84% of faculty members surveyed are strongly or somewhat in favor of abortion and 67% support homosexual legal agenda. More than a third admitted they would discriminate against conservative candidates in the hiring process. More than 170 public colleges and universities have unconstitutional policies that can be used to restrict religious liberty and free speech! Pray for the nearly 3 million college students whose minds and hearts are being filled with atheism, humanism, evolutionary naturalism, and political correctness. Pray that somehow they will be exposed to the truth and not be placed under the bondage of the false teaching with which they are being brainwashed. Pray especially for the Christians who are attending our public schools and universities that they will be salt and light and take opportunities to be bold and stand for the truth. If you have or know Christian young people who are facing persecution for their faith, let them know of the services of groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom, The American Center for Law and Justice, And Family Research Council that can advise them and even legally defend them if need be (at no cost).
When politicians advocate “education, education,” is scares me. YES, education is vital, but unless it honors our Creator God, it leads to disaster. Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” So, what can we do? Here are some ideas:
1) Start at home! Live your faith. Train your children in God’s Word. Pray with and for them.
2) Attend, as a family, a good Bible-teaching church.
3) Always be prepared to share your faith, giving a reason of your hope (I Pet. 3:15). Study the evidence for special creation and be able to defend your view.
4) Interact with teachers/school boards/congress.
5) Write letters to the editor.
6) Pray, pray, pray!
Identity fraud is a serious business. Don’t let anyone try to steal your identity as a precious, special creation of God, made in His image, and now, as believers, being conformed to the very image of Christ (Ro. 8:29). “Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psa. 100:4).
Forever His,
Pastor Dave
Wisdom of The Week 