We can all agree that we live in a generation and culture(if you're in America) of easy believism where people have the ability to get their message out to millions with just the click of a mouse. With that said, there is a slew of theological information at our fingertips. One quick google search and you can get commentary and scripture interpretation from Billy Graham to Benny Hinn and everything in between. With so many choices and the deceitfulness of our own hearts we're apt to listen to whomever we "like" or whomever our friends listen to or whatever makes us feel good. In light of this reality let us be diligent in determining who we let speak into our life! Every heretic speaks some truth sometimes or no one would listen. My goal over the next few months is to do two blogs a week, both critiquing prominent evangelicals in our day, one on someone who is trustworthy, someone who rightly divides the Word, someone who doesn't twist the scriptures, and the other on someone who is untrustworthy, possibly deceived, and even possibly an apostate, who for filthy lucre, distorts the Gospel. Let me say up front that there may be some of these critiques that you absolutely agree with and some you may vehemently reject and at times you may think that I'm being judgmental, harsh, or you may even think I'm crazy but I challenge you to research the Word and the person and then decide. I will praise some of these men and I will reject others, it's not personal but as a Pastor with a Pastor's heart I feel compelled to protect the flock from wolves and to lead the flock to spiritual food that will equip them for this life and the next, that is the sole intent behind these blog entries! Lets get started!
Dr. Ken Ham may seem out of the sphere of this blog as he's not necessarily looked at as a Pastor/Preacher but his knowledge and influence of the church today is vital to our worldview as Christians. Since Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859 the Christian worldview which is founded upon the Word of God and rooted in Genesis and it's account of the beginning has been under serious attack. Dr. Ham has made it his priority and calling to pour his life into defending a literal Genesis but has also written and spoke on many Christian issues, for example, my person favorite book by Dr. Ham is How Could A Loving God? in which he recounts his brother's untimely diagnosis and death in the height of his pastoral ministry, I mean, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is "If God is loving, then why is there so much evil in the world?" This book alone equipped me well to defend a biblical answer to the question. As a science buff I have learned so much from Dr. Ham, Answers In Genesis, The Creation Institute, and Creation Institute colleagues such as Dr. Jason Lisle. The Christian today is well equipped to defend Creationism and a literal Genesis and the body of Christ owes a huge "thank you" to this guy, Dr. Ken Ham!
From Dr. Ham's bio at https://answersingenesis.org/bios/ken-ham/
Dr. Ken Ham may seem out of the sphere of this blog as he's not necessarily looked at as a Pastor/Preacher but his knowledge and influence of the church today is vital to our worldview as Christians. Since Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859 the Christian worldview which is founded upon the Word of God and rooted in Genesis and it's account of the beginning has been under serious attack. Dr. Ham has made it his priority and calling to pour his life into defending a literal Genesis but has also written and spoke on many Christian issues, for example, my person favorite book by Dr. Ham is How Could A Loving God? in which he recounts his brother's untimely diagnosis and death in the height of his pastoral ministry, I mean, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is "If God is loving, then why is there so much evil in the world?" This book alone equipped me well to defend a biblical answer to the question. As a science buff I have learned so much from Dr. Ham, Answers In Genesis, The Creation Institute, and Creation Institute colleagues such as Dr. Jason Lisle. The Christian today is well equipped to defend Creationism and a literal Genesis and the body of Christ owes a huge "thank you" to this guy, Dr. Ken Ham!
From Dr. Ham's bio at https://answersingenesis.org/bios/ken-ham/
Since moving to America in 1987, Australian Ken Ham—president and founder of Answers in Genesis-US, the highly acclaimed Creation Museum, and visionary behind a popular, full-size Noah’s Ark—has become one of the most in-demand Christian conference speakers and talk show guests. (In one year alone he appeared on Fox’s The O’Reilly Factor and Fox and Friends, CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, ABC’s Good Morning America, the BBC, and so on). He became internationally known for his 2014 creation/evolution debate with Bill Nye “the Science Guy,” which has been watched by an estimated 25 million people.
In May of 2007, Answers in Genesis opened its high-tech and acclaimed Creation Museum and education center in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area (on 70 scenic acres in Petersburg, Kentucky). The brainchild of Ken Ham, the state-of-the-art facility contains dozens of world-class exhibits—including impressive animatronic dinosaur models, a $1 million allosaur fossil, and planetarium—which are now on display inside the 75,000-sq-ft museum. In its first 10 years, the museum attracted 3 million guests.
The Ark Encounter opened in Williamstown, Kentucky, in July 2016, and in its first 10 weeks drew over 300,000 awe-struck visitors and 200 media. The evangelistic attraction features a life-size Ark as its centerpiece, about 40 miles south of the museum. In phase one, a zoo was built behind the Ark and a stunning 1,500-seat restaurant opened. Other phases at the Ark Encounter are planned over the years. In addition, with attendance increasing at the Creation Museum, AiG announced plans to expand the museum and add more parking.
A biblical apologist, Ken gives numerous faith-building talks to tens of thousands of children and adults each year (he receives hundreds of invitations to speak annually) on such topics as the reliability of the Bible, how compromise over biblical authority has undermined society and even the church (which is seeing a massive exodus of young people), witnessing more effectively, dinosaurs, “races,” and so on. Ken cofounded AiG in 1994 with the purpose of upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse.
Ken is the author of many books on Genesis, including the eye-opening book Already Gone, coauthored by renowned researcher Britt Beemer, on why so many young people have left the church; the best-selling The Lie: Evolution, and a number of children’s books (Dinosaurs of Eden, D is for Dinosaur, A is for Adam, and so on). Other recent coauthored books include One Race, One Bloodand How Could a Loving God …?, and the provocative book Already Compromised about Christian colleges and how they treat the authority of the Bible. As the Noah’s Ark replica opened, Ken coauthored the book Flood of Evidence.
Ken is heard daily on the radio feature Answers with Ken Ham (broadcast on more than 950 stations) and is a frequent guest on national TV talk shows. Since the Creation Museum opened, he has been interviewed on CBS News Sunday Morning, The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, The PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer, and many other outlets. Ken is also the founder of the award-winning Answers magazine, which won the prestigious “Award of Excellence” (for top Christian magazine) in 2011 from the Evangelical Press Association. He also writes articles for AiG’s popular website, which was the 2012 recipient of the “Best Ministry Website” as awarded by the 1,200-member National Religious Broadcasters.
Ken’s emphasis is on the relevance and authority of the book of Genesis to the life of the average Christian, and how compromise on Genesis has opened a dangerous door regarding how the culture and church view biblical authority. His Australian accent, keen sense of humor, captivating stories, and exceptional PowerPoint/Keynote illustrations have made him one of North America’s most effective Christian communicators. Several of his live talks were recorded and released in a well-produced DVD set and curriculum titled Foundations (2011).
Ken is also able to reflect on some of the “hot button” topics of our day (e.g., the breakdown of the society and the family unit, gay marriage, the attack by secularists on religious liberty, school violence, creation/evolution in public schools, abortion, homosexual behavior, lawlessness, and so on and relate them to the book of Genesis. In addition, he provides biblical and scientific answers to some of the most difficult questions people ask about the Christian faith:
- How are secularists undermining the religious freedom of Christians?
- What does the Bible teach about gay “marriage,” abortion, racism, and other social issues?
- How can we reclaim the culture for biblical truths—and keep young people in the church?
- Can we really trust the Bible from its very first verse?
- How can we build a biblical worldview starting with Genesis?
- How do we know there is a God?
- Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?
- How can we evangelize more effectively?
- Who was Cain’s wife?
- Why do we see death and suffering (tsunamis, terrorist attacks, and more) in this world?
Ken’s bachelor’s degree in applied science (with an emphasis on environmental biology) was awarded by the Queensland Institute of Technology in Australia. He also holds a diploma of education from the University of Queensland (a graduate qualification necessary for Ken to begin his initial career as a science teacher in the public schools in Australia).
In recognition of the contribution Ken has made to the church in the USA and internationally, Ken has been awarded five honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Divinity (1997) from Temple Baptist College in Cincinnati, Ohio; a Doctor of Literature (2004) from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia; a Doctor of Letters (2010) from Tennessee Temple University; a Doctorate in Humane Letters from Mid-Continent University in Kentucky (2012), and a Doctor of Science from Bryan College in Tennessee (2017).
Ken and his wife, Mally, reside in the Cincinnati area. They have 5 children and 16 grandchildren.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Dr. Ham
"The creation message has matured over the past three decades, as the discernment and understanding of creationist leaders has matured. More and more, the emphasis is on the foundational issue: compromise of Genesis ultimately undermines the gospel itself."
-Ken Ham
“Do you realize that, ultimately, every single biblical doctrine of theology directly or indirectly is founded in Genesis 1-11? Why did Jesus die on a cross?—Genesis 1-11. Why is He called “the last Adam” (1Co 15:45)?—Genesis 1-11. Why do we sin?—Genesis 1-11. Why is there death in the world?—Genesis 1-11. Why do you have a seven-day week?—Genesis 1-11. Why do we need new heavens and a new earth?—Genesis 1-11. Why is marriage between one man and one woman?—Genesis 1-11. Is it therefore important? Genesis 1-11 is the foundational history for the whole rest of the Bible!”
“We Christians must build all of our thinking in every area on the Bible. We must start with God's Word, not the word of finite, fallible man. We must judge what people say on the basis of what God's Word says—not the other way around.”
“It is not a matter of opinion, yours or mine. It is what God says that matters. The”
"One of the main reasons is that most Sunday school curricula only teaches disconnected Bible stories. They don't teach how we know the Bible is true, how to defend the faith, and how to answer the skeptical questions of today."
"Secularism, with its moral relativism, is in direct opposition to Christianity and its absolute morality. The battle is between these two worldviews--one that stands on God's Word and one that accepts man's opinions."
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