Oppositions of Science

 

Noah's Ark has often been in the headlines lately. There are places where full-scale ark replicas have been built for people to experience. They have been built according to the dimensions and description found in the Book of Genesis. These replicas have been subject to many challenges and attacks. There are many mockers, some of whom mock in the name of science.

One particular article is the account of someone, describing himself as a Christian, who visited one of the newly built replicas. This article describes his belief that the flood and ark descriptions in Genesis are not to be believed as truth. He also describes his god, who bears no resemblance to the God of scripture.

It is very interesting to note that scripture itself brings warnings of those who do not believe  the accounts of the flood, nor the saving ark of Genesis. These warnings also have to do with the deceptions of the Last Days that will come upon the earth:

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished."            2 Peter 3:3-6

In the above verses, Peter tells us that these mockers are willfully ignorant of the flood event. They choose to ignore the event, rejecting the idea that a divine judgment had once covered the earth. They apply this same denial to the return of the Lord. Recognizing the truth of a world-wide judgment, as well as the return of Christ, would require a change in behaviors from them, of course.
Both Peter and Paul discuss the motives and methods used to deny the concept of the flood specifically, and God's judgment in general. The methods used include false prophets and teachers, even among the church, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord. Their followers will blaspheme the way of truth (2 Peter 2:1-2). These heresies ruin those who hear them, and cause the increase of ungodliness. They spread like a cancer, destroying from within, causing the hearers to stray from the truth, and overthrow their faith (2 Tim. 2:14-18). They also use science falsely called to oppose the Word of God as being unbelievable, and unreasonable (1 Tim. 6:20).
True science is not an opponent of God, nor of scripture. Many scientific principles and laws were revealed in scripture hundreds and even thousands of years before man discovered them. "Science falsely called" in the 1 Tim. 6:20 scripture above, if it is like the false science of today, ventures outside of the protocols of the scientific method, and is filled with bias and unverifiable, unrepeatable conclusions. It is interesting that even in Paul's day, as it is today, these biased false findings tried to present themselves as fact. We are aware of the terrible toll some of these biased, unverifiable "theories" have had on faith in our time, because they have been taught as fact.
The motive behind these heresies that overthrow faith in the hearers, is the desire to continue in the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that are destined for the judgment of God as the earth is corrupted by them. These behaviors are rooted in lusts, and covetousness, by those who are self-willed and presumptuous (2 Peter 2 and 3). We have seen these behaviors proliferate in our time, and we have seen the hostility and rejection of God's Word in these same persons. The nature of the deception of these blasphemies and heresies is such as to cause them to be acceptable to even some of faith, and that faith becomes ruined. As mentioned in the above example of the person who visited the ark replica, even some who claim Christianity see no problem in denying the truth of the nature of God, and of His Word.





The judgment flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis are true. Every culture in the earth has a common flood account*. The accounts of these judgments told in scripture are told not only as truth, but as a warning example not to be willfully ignored. Along with these warnings, also comes the message of deliverance and salvation. Noah and those with him were delivered in the ark out of the judgment of the flood. Lot and his family were delivered by angels out of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:5,7,9). The LORD's deliverance was always a foreshadow of His Salvation, His Son, Jesus. So the heresies not only try to rob man of the truth of God's judgment, but also to rob the knowledge of God's provision of merciful deliverance and salvation from that judgment. No doubt we will hear more challenges and mockery of the Genesis flood and the ark in the future because it is a phenomenon of the Last Days.
However, even as the rebellious angels who sinned and were chained with darkness in the pit, were not spared judgment, sure judgment is also determined for those who teach the destroying heresies that overthrow the faith of others in order to increase ungodliness (2 Peter 2:4-9).





What are our instructions in these matters? Paul tells us to shun these deceptive teachings, which are profane and idle babblings, and teach instead the truth with gentleness, patience, and humility, correcting those who are in opposition. It is possible, through these efforts, that God may grant them repentance. We are to flee from our own destructive lusts, and cling to righteousness, guarding what has been entrusted to us (1 Tim. 6:20-22). We are to study the Word of God, rightly dividing (holding the straight course, teaching correctly) the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:16-25).
Though heresies and deceptions abound, we determine in our hearts to guard what has been entrusted to us.


*Flood Accounts of Different Cultures Handed Down from Antiquity
http://www.nwcreation.net/noahlegends.html