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& Making Sense of REASON & REVELATION A Monthly Journal of Christian Evidences LIFE & DEATH September 2022•Vol. 42•No. 9 AP'S NEW BOOK ‟TUonnkgnuoew”n? Scientists Speak Out...

LMiafkeinangd DSeenastehof DOES ATHEISM NOT JUSTIFY Eric Lyons, M.Min. OTHE KILLING OF HUMANS? NE is compelled first to FROM a purely physical earthly matter. Since, according to atheists, ask the atheist upon what perspective, death is dreadful. the physical realm and physical life basis he deems the killing The idea of not being able to are all that exist, death is the total of a human being as wrong or evil? take our next breath is terrifying. termination of a human being. If we all came from nothing, are The thought of our beating heart going to be nothing, and nothing stopping permanently is frightening. KILLING…AND CRITICISM OF is objectively of more value than The mental images of dying in a car anything else, then choosing to wreck, a house fire, a terrorist attack, ATHE GOD OF THE BIBLE stop a human heart from beating or in some other tragic manner are THEISTS and agnostics is no more “wrong” than smash- unnerving, to say the least. Indeed, often question how anyone ing a clump of clay, burning a tree, from a purely naturalistic perspec- can claim to believe in a God or frying a chicken. As leading tive, there is no bigger downer than Who is said to have ended the lives unbelievers have admitted, athe- death. of humans—of millions or per- ism logically implies, “Everything haps even billions of human lives is permitted,”2 including murder. Earthly-thinking humans fear throughout history. How could a After all, according to naturalistic death because they do not want to kind Creator “destroy man…from evolution, “We are animals.”3 Alleg- go out of existence forever. All one the face of the earth” in the days of edly, “You are an animal, and share knows is being alive, existent, and Noah (Genesis 6:7)? How could a a common heritage with earth- self-aware. Humans know and crave gracious God rain “brimstone and worms….”4 Thus, according to athe- continual mindfulness while fear- fire on Sodom and Gomorrah” (Gen- ist Jo Marchant, “We should act like ing mindless nonexistence. People esis 19:24), “turning the cities…into the animals we are.”5 And, among generally do not want their con- ashes” (2 Peter 2:6), and destroying other things, animals regularly kill scious state to cease permanently. all the people (Luke 17:29)? How animals (often even their own kind) They do not want to be separated could a loving Lord kill both par- as well as human beings. forevermore from those whom they ents and their children during these love. They do not want to forever events and many others (e.g., Joshua Do atheists not frequently jus- cease doing the many things that 9-11)?1 tify the murder of unborn humans bring them pleasure and happiness. who are fully developed physically? They do not want to give up what Some time ago, I spoke with a Renowned atheist Peter Singer indi- they have in this (perceived) one and nice gentleman in the waiting room cated in 2000 that it would not even only life. of a doctor’s office. I quickly found be wrong to kill a disabled child out that he was an atheist. When who had already been born. He The atheistic (naturalistic) view I asked why he was an atheist, he wrote: “[K]illing a disabled infant is of death is “the end.” At the end of immediately said: “Because God is not morally equivalent to killing a physical life is “nothingness.” The a murderer.” This gentleman simply person. Very often it is not wrong very best that humanity has to look could not harmonize (1) a “kind at all.”6 forward to is complete nonexis- Creator” with (2) a “killer.” tence. People have no choice in the Thirteen years later, the Jour- nal of Medical Ethics published an article by secular bioethicists Dr. Alberto Giubilini7 and Dr. Franc- esca Minerva8 in which they argued “that what we call ‘after-birth abor- tion’ (killing a newborn) should be permissible in all the cases where abortion is, including cases where the newborn is not disabled.”9 Taking atheism to its logical conclu- sion, they continued, declaring: The alleged right of individuals (such as fetuses and newborns) R&

to develop their potentiality, their logical conclusion (at least the- 1:16, NIV). “All things came into which someone defends, is over- oretically), arguing for the killing of being by Him, and apart from Him ridden by the interests of actual healthy, innocent newborns, even nothing came into being that has people (parents, family, society) when others would love to adopt come into being” (John 1:3, NASB). to pursue their own well-being…. the children.12 “[I]n Him all things hold together” Actual people’s well-being could (Colossians 1:17, NASB). Even now, be threatened by the new (even Thus, some of the world’s lead- He is “upholding all things by the if healthy) child requiring energy, ing atheists have justified murdering word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). money and care which the family human beings, even when doing so “[H]e Himself gives to all man- might happen to be in short means the taking of the only life kind life and breath and everything. supply of….10 that child will have (according to And He made from one man every Giubilini and Minerva concluded, naturalistic atheism). So how exactly nation of mankind to live on all saying: can atheists objectively and non- the face of the earth” (Acts 17:25- If criteria such as the costs (social, hypocritically condemn God for 26, ESV). psychological, economic) for taking the lives of various human the potential parents are good beings? A biblical view of God, life, and enough reasons for having an death cannot possibly be grasped abortion even when the fetus is THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF without first understanding that healthy…then the same reasons God created everything, and thus which justify abortion should D LIFE AND DEATH He owns everything. God rhe- also justify the killing of the OES a defendant have a torically asked the patriarch Job, potential person when it is at the right to a fair trial? Does “Who has been first to give to Me, stage of a newborn…. he get a chance to take that I should repay him? What- [W]e do not put forward any the stand and testify on his own ever is under the entire heaven is claim about the moment at behalf? If the God of the Bible is Mine” (Job 41:11, NASB). “Indeed which after-birth abortion would going to be criticized for His taking heaven and the highest heavens no longer be permissible, and we of human life at times throughout belong to the Lord your God, also do not think that in fact more history, then it is only fair to allow the earth with all that is in it” (Deu- than a few days would be nec- the Bible to explain God’s actions teronomy 10:14). “The earth is essary for doctors to detect any (to the extent that it does). Instead the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the abnormality in the child. In cases of hastily condemning the Creator world and those who dwell therein” where the after-birth abortion as an unjust, unloving murderer, an (Psalm 24:1). “It is He Who has were requested for non-medical honest-hearted, fair-minded person made us, and not we ourselves.13 reasons, we do not suggest any would give God a sufficient hearing. We are His people and the sheep of threshold, as it depends on the His pasture” (Psalm 100:3). neurological development of Did You Create Yourself? newborns, which is something Adam and Eve did not give them- neurologists and psychologists Where did you come from? Did selves life, nor did we bring ourselves would be able to assess. you come into existence of your own into being. “It is He Who made us” [W]e do not claim that after- will and power? Where did the first (Psalm 100:3, NIV). Thus, “We birth abortions are good alter- humans come from? How did the are His people” by creation. By His natives to abortion…. However, Universe and everything in it come own doing, God created and owns if a disease has not been detected into being? the Universe and “those who dwell during the pregnancy, if some- therein” (Psalm 24:1), including you thing went wrong during the Whereas atheistic evolution con- and me. Though perhaps not the delivery, or if economical, social tends we are ultimately the result deepest nor the most meaningful or psychological circumstances of one big cosmic accident, the way to make sense of life and death, change such that taking care of Bible says just the opposite. The the fact is, the Creator can do with the offspring becomes an unbear- all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal the lives of His creation whatever able burden on someone, then God intentionally “made the heav- He so chooses (in harmony with His people should be given the ens and the earth, the sea, and all Divine will).14 When Jesus proph- chance of not being forced that is in them,” including human esied of the God-glorifying way in to do something they cannot beings (Exodus 20:11; Genesis which the apostle Peter would die afford.11 1:26-27). Out of nothing, He cre- (John 21:18-19), impetuous Peter Yes, some leading atheists have been ated everything. Out of non-life, He wanted to know how the apostle bold enough to take their earthly, made life. “[A]ll things were created naturalistic, evolutionary ideas to by Him and for Him” (Colossians R&

John would die: “But Lord, what us and has the authority and right inhabit physical bodies on a physical about this man?” (21:21). How did to remove us from the Earth, just as Earth for a relatively short period the Creator and the One Who has He had the right to put us here to of time. At death, the spirit sepa- “[a]ll authority…in heaven and on begin with. This is not to say that rates from the body. When Rachel earth” respond to His dear friend God caused all or even most deaths died, Genesis 35:18 says, “her soul Peter (Matthew 28:18)? Jesus said: throughout history. But make no was departing”; it separated from “If it is My will that he remain mistake about it, if God, in His all- her lifeless body. After the death until I come, what is that to you? knowing, holy, just, and loving ways, of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus com- Follow me!” (John 21:22, RSV). In chose to remove you or me from this manded her to “arise,” after which response to his immense suffering, Earth, He has every right to do so “her spirit returned, and she Job reasoned: “Naked I came from (without Him being morally defec- arose immediately” (Luke 8:54,55). my mother’s womb, and naked shall tive). Implied in this statement is the fact I return there. The Lord gave, and that her spirit had departed from the Lord has taken away; blessed be Did You Create Your Soul? her body at death. As James wrote: the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). “[T]he body without the spirit is We cannot begin to understand dead” (James 2:26). Where did the Interestingly, in 2016 Dr. Neil the depth of the life-and-death ques- spirits of Rachel and Jairus’ daugh- deGrasse Tyson, one of America’s tion until we come to the acknowl- ter go? To the realm of departed most well-known agnostic evolu- edgment that we are more than spirits, known as sheol in the Old tionary astrophysicists, made some mere matter. We are not measly Testament and hades in the New telling admissions at the American “meat machines.” We are not simply Testament (cf. Psalm 16:10; Acts Museum of Natural History about chemicals bouncing around in cir- 2:27; Luke 16:23). At the crucifix- the nature of the Universe. Accord- cles. Those who are critical of the ion, Jesus told the penitent thief on ing to Dr. Tyson, “the likelihood Creator’s handling of human life the cross, “[T]oday you will be with of the universe being a simulation and death must recognize that the Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). The ‘may be very high.’”15 News organi- physical death of our body is not the reason Jesus could truthfully make zations reported that Tyson indi- end. this statement is that, while Christ’s cated “it’s not too hard to imagine dead body was placed in a tomb for that some other creature out there is God formed Adam’s body “from three days, His spirit went to the far smarter than us.”16 Perhaps we’re the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7, part of the hadean realm known as just “some sort of alien simulation.”17 NIV) and Eve’s body from Adam’s paradise (Acts 2:27; Luke 23:43), Tyson went so far as to say, “[I]t is side (Genesis 2:21). Since then, along with the spirit of the thief on easy for me to imagine that every- humankind multiplied21 according the cross.22 thing in our lives is just the cre- to God’s created Law of Biogen- ation of some other entity for their esis. Just as vegetation and animals According to Scripture, man nei- entertainment. I’m saying, the day have reproduced “according to their ther created his body nor his soul. we learn that it is true, I will be the kind” since Creation (Genesis 1:11- Both logically belong to God by only one in the room saying, I’m not 12,21,24-25), Adam and Eve and creation. He brought human bodies surprised.”18 all of their descendants have multi- and souls into existence, and when plied after their kind. More impor- we die, all souls return to God (ulti- Though he contends that he’s tant, every time a human being is mately) for judgment (Ecclesiastes never seen evidence of the existence “formed…in the womb” (Jeremiah 12:7,14). Thus, Jesus taught: “My of God, Dr. Tyson has no problem 1:5) according to the Creator’s laws friends, do not be afraid of those admitting that he would not be sur- of biology and sexual reproduction, who kill the body, and after that prised if god-like aliens made our God also “forms the spirit of man have no more that they can do. But Universe for their pleasure. Ques- within him” (Zechariah 12:1). God I will show you whom you should tion: if such were the case (theoret- is “the Father of spirits” (Hebrews fear: Fear Him who, after He has ically speaking), would the aliens 12:9). Indeed, when we die, “the dust killed, has power to cast into hell; not own their creation and have the returns to the earth as it was, and yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke right to do with it as they please?19 the spirit returns to God Who 12:4-5). gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, ESV). Truly, human life and death only Are You the Perfect Judge? begin to make sense upon first From the beginning to the end coming to the conclusion that (1) of the Bible, readers are informed Whereas humanity is quite lim- God exists,20 and (2) He created us. and repeatedly reminded that we ited in knowledge and is flawed What’s more, by creation, He owns are actually immortal souls who R&

with sin by choice,23 including being poral or capital punishment are not receive the death penalty (Leviticus susceptible to such things as dishon- antithetical. 24:21,17). esty, self-deception, greed, and injus- tice, the Creator is supremely good Prior to conquering Canaan, God Second, unlike the foolish, (Mark 10:18), all-loving (1 John 4:8), commanded the Israelites, saying, impulsive, quick-tempered reactions perfectly holy (Leviticus 11:44-45), of humanity (Proverbs 14:29), the and 100% just. “His work is perfect; You shall not hate your brother in Lord is “slow to anger and great in for all His ways are justice, a God of your heart…. You shall not take mercy” (Psalm 145:8). He is “long- truth and without injustice; righ- vengeance, nor bear any grudge suffering…, not willing that any teous and upright is He” (Deuter- against the children of your should perish but that all should onomy 32:4). The psalmist declared people, but you shall love your come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). of God: “Righteousness and justice neighbor as yourself…. And if a Immediately following a reminder are the foundation of Your throne; stranger dwells with you in your to the Christians in Rome that mercy and truth go before Your land, you shall not mistreat him. the Old Testament was “written The stranger who dwells among for our learning, that we through The atheist says that God you shall be to you as one born the patience and comfort of the is a murderer. How could among you, and you shall love Scriptures might have hope,” the a good and loving God kill him as yourself (Leviticus 19:17- apostle Paul referred to God as “the millions or billions of people? 18,33-34; cf. Romans 13:9). God of patience” (Romans 15:4-5). The faithful Jew was expected, as Throughout the Old Testament, the face” (Psalm 89:14). “God shows no are Christians, to “not resist an evil Bible writers portrayed God as long- partiality nor takes a bribe” (Deu- person” (Matthew 5:39) but rather suffering. teronomy 10:17; cf. Acts 10:34-35). “go the extra mile” (Matthew 5:41) There never has been and never and “turn the other cheek” (Mat- • Though in Noah’s day, “the will be a Judge as good as God. He thew 5:39). “Love,” after all, “is the wickedness of man was great in knows everything, sees everything, fulfillment of the law” (Romans the earth” and “every intent of and judges everyone perfectly—in 13:10; cf. Matthew 22:36-40). the thoughts of his heart was complete harmony with His holy, Interestingly, however, the Israelite only evil continually” (Genesis loving, and just nature. was commanded to punish (even 6:5), “the Divine longsuffering kill) lawbreakers, including (and waited” (1 Peter 3:20). (It seems But the atheist says that God is especially) fellow Israelites. Just as though God delayed flood- a murderer. How could a good and five chapters after commanding ing Earth for 120 years as His loving God kill millions or billions the individual Israelite to “not take Spirit’s message of righteous- of people? First, killing evildoers is vengeance,” but “love your neighbor (cont. on p. 104) not necessarily antithetical to love. as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), God Loving, merciful police officers, who twice said that murderers would are constantly saving the lives of the innocent, have the authority (from Reason & Revelation is published monthly by Apologetics Press, Inc. Periodicals postage God and governments—Romans paid at Montgomery, AL. Postmaster: Send address changes to Reason & Revelation, 13:1-4) to kill a wicked person who is murdering others. (Do atheists 230 Landmark Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117; issn:[1542-0922] usps# 023415. not want terrorists killed when doing such would stop the killing of Apologetics Press is a non-profit, tax-exempt work dedicated to the defense of New others, including their loved ones?) Kind, just judges have the authority Testament Christianity. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. to sentence depraved child rapists to death. Loving-kindness and cor- Editor: Orders: Dave Miller, M.A., M.Div., M.A.R., Ph.D.* Phone: (800) 234-8558 Fax: (800) 234-2882 (*Communication, Southern Illinois University) On-line Web store/catalog, subscription Associate Editor: order/renewal form, current issues, archives, and other information (all orders processed Jeff Miller, M.S., Ph.D.* on a secure server): (*Biomechanical Engineering, Auburn University) Annual Subscription Rates: $14.00 Domestic URL: w w w. A p o l o g e t i c s P r e s s .o r g $12.00 Domestic Bulk E-mail: [email protected] (5+ TO SAME ADDRESS) Discovery—Scripture & Science for Kids is a sister publication for children. For $14.00 Canada & Overseas more information, please contact our offices or visit the Discovery Web site at: (PLUS SHIPPING) URL: www.DiscoveryMagazine.org General inquiries, changes of address, or international callers: Phone: (334) 272-8558 Fax: (334) 270-2002 R&

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SCIENTISTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT GOD & EVOLUTION • The scientific community is thoroughly dominated by naturalists and atheists. • However, a considerable number of credibly credentialed scientists reject the naturalistic framework and organic evolution. • Many believe instead in the God of the Bible and the Bible’s depiction of Earth history and the “origin of species.” • Join six credentialed scientists as they explore: Proofs of God - God’s Electrical Heavens - Flight Design - The Laws of Thermodynamics - Natural Attenuation - Autonomous Control of Creation - Morphing Flight - Harmony of Science and Scripture - Design Rules Proofs Against Evolution: APOLOGETICS PRESS - Evolution is Religion (800) 234-8558 - Life: Not Made from Scratch - “Recycled Genes” APOLOGETICSPRESS.ORG - Heterozygous Lethal Mutations - Assumptions and the Age of the Earth - Horizontal Gene Transfer - Science vs. the Big Bang

ness was preached to a wicked the inhabitants of Canaan, whom It surely brought God no joy to see world—Genesis 6:3; 2 Peter God justly destroyed. the innocent suffer momentarily 2:5.) alongside their wicked counterparts • In the days of Abraham, God But What About All of the Innocent whom He judged, but to borrow the ultimately decided to spare the Whom God Has Killed? words of the apostle Paul: “[T]he iniquitous city of Sodom, not sufferings of this present time are if 50 righteous people were The children in the Flood, in not worthy to be compared with the found living therein, but only Sodom and Gomorrah, or in the glory which shall be revealed in us” 10 righteous individuals (Gen- land of Canaan were not guilty of (Romans 8:18). By the grace of God, esis 18:16-33). their parents’ sins (cf. Ezekiel 18:20); “[O]ur light affliction, which is but • And what about prior to God’s they were sinless, innocent, precious for a moment, is working for us a far destruction of the Canaan- human beings (cf. Matthew 18:3- ite nations? Did God quickly 5).25 So how could God justly take The ending of human life decide to cast them out of the the lives of children, any children, as we know it neither makes land? Did He respond to the who “have no knowledge of good God a bloodthirsty murderer peoples’ wickedness like an and evil” (Deuteronomy 1:39)? impulsive, reckless madman? Or nor is it something that was He, as the Bible repeatedly First, as we noted earlier, God humanity has to dread. states and exemplifies, longsuf- owns all life and has the right to fering? Indeed, God waited. He remove us from the Earth (for the more exceeding and eternal weight waited more than four centu- righteous purposes that He has), of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). ries to bring judgment upon just as He had the right to put us the inhabitants of Canaan. here to begin with. At times in his- Consider one other comparison. Although the Amorites were tory, God took the physical lives of The New Testament repeatedly already a sinful people in Abra- wicked human beings out of righ- reveals that Jesus will return at ham’s day, God delayed in giving teous judgment. At other times (as some point in the future (Matthew the descendants of the patriarch in the case of children), lives were 24:36-25:46; Acts 1:11). Jesus “will the Promised Land. He would taken for merciful reasons. descend from heaven with a shout, wait until the Israelites had with the voice of an archangel, and been in Egypt for hundreds of But how could the killing of with the trumpet of God” (1 Thessa- years because at the time that innocent children by the Creator lonians 4:16). When He does return, God spoke with Abraham, “the ever be loving and merciful? Surely the normal earthly existence that iniquity of the Amorites” was it would be when such an ending of every human being on the planet “not yet complete” (Genesis physical life among terribly wicked has at that time, will immediately 15:16).24 In Abraham’s day, the human beings immediately results cease. The (perhaps) billions of inhabitants of Canaan were not in the innocent being ushered into people on the Earth at that moment so degenerate that God would paradise (cf. Luke 16:22a; 23:43).26 may not die a normal death, but in bring judgment upon them. No one ever says, “God was mean” a sense, they might as well have. However, by the time of Joshua for cutting short Enoch’s righteous Their temporal, mortal bodies will (more than 400 years later), the earthy life, taking him away from be changed into bodies fit for eter- Canaanites’ iniquity was full, his family and friends, and ushering nity. Our current “flesh and blood” and God used the army of Israel him into a blessed afterlife (Genesis will neither inherit heaven nor hell.27 to destroy them. 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5). No one con- Thus, in reality, God taking the lives Yes, God is longsuffering, but demns the Creator for taking Elijah of innocent human beings in peri- His longsuffering is not an “eter- “up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 ods of earthly judgment upon the nal” suffering. His patience with Kings 2:11) rather than dying of wicked throughout history (trans- impenitent sinners eventually ends. natural causes and being “buried porting the innocent into paradise) It ended for a wicked world in the at a good old age,” as was Abraham is no more inappropriate than God days of Noah. It ended for Sodom (Genesis 15:15; 25:8). Admittedly, and Gomorrah in the days of Abra- the ascensions of Enoch and Elijah ham. And it ultimately ended for were not immediately preceded by deaths in a flood or fire, but were the ultimate effects not the same? Enoch, Elijah, as well the innocent in Sodom, etc., were on Earth one moment…and in paradise the next. R&

discontinuing the “normal” earthly and emotionally, no one has to be death” of death, God says, “Pre- lives of billions of people upon the scared to die (Hebrews 2:14-15). In cious in the sight of the Lord is the return of Jesus.28 The fact is, the fact, such hopeful confidence in a death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). ending of human life as we know it peaceful, painless, and spectacular While billions of people are para- neither makes God a bloodthirsty life after death is the message of the lyzed by the fear of dying, Paul says, murderer nor is it something that Gospel. “to die is [actually] gain” (Philip- humanity has to dread. In truth, pians 1:21). Why? Because for the God actually wants everyone to be “[A]ll have sinned and fall short Christian, “to depart and be with able to look forward to it. of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christ…is far better” than anything And, since God is 100% pure, holy, this world has to offer (Philippians You Do Not Have to Be Scared to Die and just, and cannot fellowship sin,29 1:23). “the wages of sin is death” (Romans Instinctively, all living creatures, 6:23)—an eternal separation from An eternal afterlife with the including humans, seem to want to God and all that is good (2 Thes- Lord certainly beats all the earthly live. Antelopes do not walk up to salonians 1:9). The Good News is stress, suffering, and sorrow. But, lions in hopes of being eaten. Seals that “the gift of God is eternal life it also beats the best day you have do not waddle up to hungry polar in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23). ever had. Much better than any bears on purpose. Animals and Jesus, the “lamb without blemish rest, relaxation, or recreation; humans seek to escape death, not and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19), much better than any wedding day, seek it out. People (including Chris- was the perfectly pure sacrifice birthday, or holiday is the day that a tians) often exert much mental and Who took the punishment of our born-again child of God leaves this physical effort to keep from drown- sin upon Himself and died in our physical realm to go be with God ing, being run over by a car, getting place. “God so loved the world that (John 3:3,5). Paul rejoiced that “we shot, or catching some deadly dis- He gave His only begotten Son, that are always confident knowing that ease. Even the apostle Paul eluded whoever believes in Him should not while we are at home in the body we “deaths often” (2 Corinthians 11:23- perish but have everlasting life. For are absent from the Lord…. We are 27). The Creator seems to have God did not send His Son into the confident, yes, well pleased rather hardwired into His creation a desire world to condemn the world, but to be absent from the body and to to preserve our physical lives. It is that the world through Him might be present with the Lord” (2 Cor- natural (and involuntary) simply to be saved” (John 3:16-17). inthians 5:6,8). breathe. If someone tries to suffo- cate us, survival instincts kick in as The apostle Paul began 1 Corin- A CONCLUSION we “fight for life.” thians 15 by reminding the Chris- THEISM says there is noth- tians in Corinth that “the Gospel” is ing to look forward to after Having a desire to live, and even summarized in these words: “Christ this physical life. Agnosti- to live a long life (Genesis 15:15; died for our sins according to the cism says life beyond the grave is 25:8; Ephesians 6:2-3), is certainly Scriptures…was buried, and…He unknowable. Skepticism scoffs at not unnatural or sinful. However, in rose again the third day” (15:1-4). anyone who claims any understand- His infinite love and wisdom, God Paul concluded this same chapter ing of life after death. Yet, Jesus said, has made it so that no one has to be by asking, “O Death, where is your “[Y]ou shall know the truth, and the scared of mankind’s most dreaded sting? O Hades, where is your vic- truth shall make you free…. I am the foe: death. We may instinctively tory?... But thanks be to God, who resurrection and the life. He who not want to die, but intellectually gives us the victory through our believes in Me, though he may die, Lord Jesus Christ” (15:55,57). Jesus’ he shall live. And whoever lives In His infinite love and victorious resurrection from the and believes in Me shall never die”31 wisdom, God has made dead has made death’s sting impo- (John 8:32; 11:25-26). it so that no one has to tent. Death is only momentary, not be scared of mankind's eternal. By the grace of God, some- Yes, the way of Jesus Christ is to most dreaded foe: death. thing much better lies ahead for all “always be ready to give a defense who trust in Jesus. to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter Through Jesus’ perfect life, pain- 3:15). This hope (an expectation ful crucifixion, and triumphant res- of resurrection and eternal life) urrection, God defeated the devil30 is based on real, rightly-believed and turned death upside down. reasons,32 which logically lead to While most people are “scared to R&R

an eruption of positive feelings and Collective Responsibility for Infectious as “the age of accountability”) so that he emotions about the “inheritance Disease” (https://www.practicalethics. or she understands what sin is (cf. 1 John which is imperishable and undefiled ox.ac.uk/people/dr-alberto-giubilini). 3:4; 5:17) has sinned (Romans 3:10,23; and will not fade away, reserved in 8 Dr. Francesca Minerva is currently a 1 John 1:8). heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4, NIV). research fellow at the University of 24 “The Amorites were so numerous and Until that time, Christians can and Milan. Much of her work is in the area of powerful a tribe in Canaan that they should joyfully meditate on, look applied ethics. She is also the co-founder are sometimes named for the whole of forward to, and “eagerly wait for the and co-editor of the Journal of Contro- the ancient inhabitants, as they are here.” Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who versial Ideas. For more information, see [Robert Jamieson, et al. (1997), Jamieson, will transform our lowly body that www.francescaminerva.com. Fausset, Brown Bible Commentary (Elec- it may be conformed to His glori- 9 Alberto Giubilini and Francesca tronic Database: Biblesoft).] ous body” (Philippians 3:20-21; cf. Minerva (2013), “After-Birth Abortion: 25 See Kyle Butt (2002), “Do Babies Go 2 Peter 3:10-13). Why Should the Baby Live?” Journal of to Hell When They Die?” Apologetics Medical Ethics, 39[5]:261, https://jme. Press, https://apologeticspress.org/do- How can a person make sense of bmj.com/content/medethics/39/5/261. babies-go-to-hell-when-they-die-1201/. life and death? How can we realisti- full.pdf, emp. added; https://jme.bmj. 26 Children living among very wicked cally not fear it but actually look for- com/content/39/5/261. people are exposed to depraved behav- ward to it? (1) Know God. (2) Know 10 Ibid., 39[5]:263. ior which they almost always begin to His Word. (3) Know Jesus. And by 11 Ibid., emp. added. emulate. For God to remove children God’s grace, (4) faithfully and fer- 12 Giubilini and Minerva wrote: “What from such an iniquitous environment vently “seek those things which are we are suggesting is that, if interests of is quite compassionate. above, where Christ is, sitting at the actual people should prevail, then after- 27 “[F]lesh and blood cannot inherit the right hand of God. Set your mind on birth abortion should be considered kingdom of God,” so faithful follow- things above, not on things on the a permissible option for women who ers of God “shall all be changed—in earth. For you died, and your life is would be damaged by giving up their a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, hidden with Christ in God. When newborns for adoption” (39[5]:263). at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians Christ Who is our life appears, then 13 “We are His” (ASV, NIV, RSV). 15:50,52). They will “be caught up…in you also will appear with Him in 14 That is, God’s perfect attributes of hon- the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).33 esty, love, holiness, justice, etc. have never (1 Thessalonians 4:17). On the other been and will never be compromised in hand, all those who rejected Jesus as their ENDNOTES His interaction with and treatment of Creator, Savior, and King—those who His human creation. refused to submit to Him in this life— 1 In his New York Times best-selling book 15 Kevin Loria (2016), “Neil deGrasse will be sentenced by Jesus to “everlasting The God Delusion (2006), Dr. Richard Tyson Thinks There’s a ‘Very High’ punishment…prepared for the devil and Dawkins (arguably the most famous Chance the Universe is just a Simula- his angels” (Matthew 25:46,41). Those atheist in the world today), called God tion,” Business Insider, https://www. individuals will have some kind of form an “infanticidal, genocidal…capriciously businessinsider.com/neil-degrasse-tyson- that will feel the pain of eternal punish- malevolent bully,” p. 248. thinks-the-universe-might-be-a-simula- ment in a place of “fire that shall never tion-2016-12. be quenched” (Mark 9:43). 2 Jean-Paul Sartre (1989), “Existential- 16 Ibid., emp. added. 28 What’s more, death itself, for everyone ism is Humanism,” in Existentialism 17 Michael Lazar (2016), “Could the Uni- at any time, in a sense is “God ending from Dostoyevsky to Sartre, ed. Walter verse Be a Simulation? Neil deGrasse their lives.” We may call the death of a Kaufman, trans. Philip Mairet (Ogden, Tyson Thinks It Might,” Huffington 100-year-old person a “natural death,” UT: Meridian Publishing Company), Post, May 1, http://www.huffingtonpost. but it is God Who designed death and http://www.marxists.org/reference/ com/michael-lazar/could-the-universe- allows it to happen (apart from the Tree archive/sartre/works/exist/sartre.htm, be-a-s_b_9816034.html. of Life). Thus, death is merely a “timing” emp. added. 18 Ibid. and “manner” issue, and not an “if ” 19 And would any human have the right question. 3 Jo Marchant (2008), “We Should Act to challenge the aliens as being under a 29 Habakkuk 1:13; Isaiah 59:1-2; 1 John Like the Animals We Are,” New Scientist, particular code of ethics? 1:5-10. 200[2678]:44, October 18-24. 20 See https://apologeticspress.org/cate- 30 Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:14. gory/existence-of-god/. See also https:// 31 That is, “Though he die a temporal 4 George B. Johnson (1994), Biology: Visu- apologeticspress.org/issue/does-god-exist/. death, he shall not continue under its alizing Life (New York: Holt, Rinehart, 21 Genesis 1:28. Cf. Genesis 3:20b. power for ever; but shall have a resur- & Winston), p. 453. 22 For more discussion on what happens rection to life eternal” [Adam Clarke when we die, see Dave Miller (2002), (1996), Adam Clarke’s Commentary 5 Marchant, p. 44. “One Second After Death,” https:// (Electronic Database: Biblesoft)]. 6 Peter Singer (2000), Writings on an Ethi- apologeticspress.org/one-second-after- 32 E.g., the resurrection of Jesus—1 Peter 1:3. death-1188/. 33 For a free PDF copy of Receiving the Gift cal Life (New York: Harper Collins), p. 23 Everyone who has reached the level of of Salvation, see https://apologeticspress. 193, emp. added. mental maturity (sometimes referred to org/issue/receiving-the-gift-of-salvation/. 7 Dr. Giubilini is a “Senior Research fellow on the Oxford Martin Programme on R&R

\"Unknown Tongue\"? for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers” (1 Corinthians Dave Miller, Ph.D. 14:22). Unbelievers would hardly be impressed if a Christian merely babbled in mindless gibberish. But he would be very impressed—and would sit up and take notice—if a Christian began speaking his language, well knowing that the speaker did not know that language on his own.2 ENDNOTES IN Paul’s discussion of miraculous KJV translators was not intended 1 AMPC, BRG, JUB, MEV, NMB, VOICE, YLT. capabilities bestowed upon first to convey the idea that the tongues 2 I am reminded of the 1947 film Miracle century Christians in the church were unknown to all humans and, at Corinth, he repeatedly refers to as such, were non-earthly, non- on 34th Street in which a Dutch girl, the gift of tongue-speaking. The human languages. newly arrived from an orphanage in insertion of the word “unknown” Rotterdam, is brought by her adopted before the word “tongue” (glossa) in Acts 2 illustrates how tongue- mother to Macy’s to see Santa. The for- 1 Corinthians 14 occurs six times speaking functioned in the early lorn child is clearly in the throes of loneli- in the KJV (vss. 2,4,13,14,19,27), church. The miraculous endow- ness as she is separated from her country with some other translations gen- ment by the Holy Spirit enabled and culture, and unable to converse with erally reflecting the same practice.1 the apostles to speak foreign human others in her birth language. When Kris The Greek word for “tongue” was languages (which they had not Kringle suddenly addresses the girl in used in antiquity to refer both to studied) to people from a variety her native tongue, she instantly lights the physical organ of speech, as well of geographical locales (e.g., Par- up with excitement and wonder that as to spoken languages. Unfortu- thians, Medes, Arabians—Acts Santa can speak Dutch. Therein lies the nately, the word “unknown” lends 2:9-11). That is precisely why Paul power of 1st-century tongue speaking. itself to the misconception that the made the point that “tongues are For a lengthy discussion of this subject Corinthians spoke in ecstatic utter- and miracles in general, see Dave Miller ances or “heavenly” languages that (2020), Modern-Day Miracles? Do Mir- no humans naturally spoke. Such acles, Tongue Speaking, & Holy Spirit thinking has provided impetus for Baptism Occur Today? (Montgomery, the charismatic movement’s practice AL: Apologetics Press). of unintelligible gibberish to which the speaker or interpreter may then SPEAKING SCHEDULES assign subjective, alleged meanings. Kyle Butt Florence, AL (256) 764 - 0104 However, both the context, as September 7 (417) 256 - 6317 well as the occurrence of tongue- September 16-18 West Plains, MO (205) 822-5610 speaking elsewhere in the New September 21 Birmingham, AL Testament, demonstrates that the practice consisted solely of known Eric Lyons (662) 837- 4806 human languages that were September 11-14 Ashland, MS (303) 986 - 4521 unknown to the one speaking the September 15 Denver, CO (256) 895 - 8717 language, i.e., the speaker had no September 16-18 Huntsville, AL (734) 485-2930 prior training by which to learn or September 23-25 Ypsilanti, MI (205) 822-5610 know the language. He spoke the September 28 Hoover, AL language strictly by God’s miracu- lous empowerment. Undoubtedly, Dave Miller (256) 776 -2695 the insertion of “unknown” by the September 9-11 Gurley, AL September 16-17 Denver, CO (303) 986-5800 September 18 Montgomery, AL (334) 264 -2985 Jeff Miller Montgomery, AL (334) 264 -2985 September 4 September 11-16 AZ, UT, CO (501) 760 -3110 R&R

APOLOGETICS PRESS • 230 LANDMARK DRIVE • MONTGOMERY, AL 36117 Periodicals Postage PAID The Ed itor New Book: Scientists Speak Out About God & Evolution Growing up in post-World War II America, sev- ertheless, one inconvenient truth is the fact that eral generations of American children have been a considerable number of credibly credentialed treated to a thoroughly post-Christian worldview. scientists reject the naturalistic framework. The Consequently, many Americans no longer believe fact is that many well-qualified scientists reject in the Bible as the Word of God. They do not believe the biblical organic evolution and natural- account of Creation in Genesis ism. Many believe instead in 1-2. Instead, they have been con- the God of the Bible and the vinced by their public education Bible’s depiction of the natural that the Earth is ancient, that order. life upon Earth arose sponta- neously and gradually evolved AP is pleased to announce over millions of years into the the release of a new book that variety of animal life now on responds to this current state the planet—including the natu- of affairs. The book contains ralistic origin of human beings. an assimilation of a variety The propaganda has been so of evidences that are inexpli- intense and so widely perpe- cable apart from the Divine trated that it would be diffi- Being. This scientific evidence cult even to get the attention is presented by six creden- of those who have embraced the tialed scientists who possess atheistic viewpoint. They have the knowledge, expertise, and become accustomed to living insight that qualify them to set life without any sense of moral accountability to a forward their findings. Higher Being. Why would they now want to alter their belief system? Dave Miller The scientific community is thoroughly domi- See Center Spread nated by a naturalistic, atheistic outlook. Nev- for More Details