10 REASONS TO TRUST THE OLD TESTAMENT

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1 10 REASONS TO TRUST THE OLD TESTAMENT THE CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST (#17) SERIES: THE TEXT AND TRANSMISSION OF SCRIPTURE (BTS-101) LECTURE: 4 REASON #1: IT CLAIMS TO BE THE WORD OF GOD SURVEY OF CLAIMS The Old Testament contains over 3,000 phrases like Thus says the Lord, indicating the prominence of prophecy and the prophetic spirit throughout its pages. The Old Testament contains records of direct revelation from God beginning to end. The Pentateuch was written by Moses who received his words from God on Sinai. The historical books were viewed as prophetic texts in the Hebrew mind, not so much containing the doctrine of the prophets as the description of their times, both of which go hand-in-hand. Thus, the historical books were contained in the Nevi im, the prophetic division of the Hebrew Bible. The poetic books are embedded with divine wisdom and come from prophetic authors such as David and Solomon. The prophetic books clearly claim to be from God in that they are His words transmitted to the people directly. INTERNAL AFFIRMATION Daniel quotes Jeremiah. I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years (Daniel 9:2). The Torah is unquestionably mentioned. Consider Psalm 119, a psalm devoted entirely to the love of God s Law. Consider Malachi 4 where he speaks of returning to the Law of Moses as if Israel needed their foundation again. Malachi affirms Elijah s prophetic office by predicting Elijah II (John the Baptist). Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). Promises in historical books were taken seriously. Compare 1 Kings 8:46-61 and Daniel 9. EXTERNAL AFFIRMATION 1 Maccabees 9:27 "So there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets ceased to appear among them (NRSV). This admits a prophetic period marked by a definable beginning and end. (See also 4:46 and 14:41). Sirach 1:1 (the Prologue) "Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets and the others that followed them, and for these we should praise Israel Page 1

2 for instruction and wisdom. Now, those who read the scriptures must not only themselves understand them, but must also as lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to help the outsiders. So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our ancestors, and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, so that by becoming familiar also with his book those who love learning might make even greater progress in living according to the law... Josephus "For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting one another, [as the Greeks have,] but only twenty-two books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine... it is become natural to all Jews immediately, and from their very birth, to esteem these books to contain Divine doctrines, and to persist in them, and, if occasion be willingly to die for them. (Taken from Against Apion, Book 1, Section 8) WHY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT A book from God would be self-aware. That it is self-aware is proof, for it does not claim mere general wisdom, but exact words from God. If it is an ultimate authority, it will be its own best proof. If something is an ultimate authority, it cannot be validated by anything higher than itself, thus being ultimately circular (just as logic is circularly proved by logic, science by science, and existence by consciousness). Therefore, if the Bible really is from God, it is true because God has said so. How do we test an ultimate authority? We test it (1) by its claim to be so, and (2) by its consistency with that claim. We test an ultimate authority, not by something higher than it, but by all things lower than it to see if they truly flow from that authority. REASON #2: IT DEMONSTRATES ITSELF TO BE GOD S WORD IT EXPLAINS THE SUPERNATURAL What Nature Tells Us About God o He is the Creator (Acts 17:24a, 28). o He must therefore be at least intelligent, personal, and linguistic since the pinnacle of His creation (man) is those same things. o He is spiritual and infinite (Acts 17:24). o He is self-sufficient and sustains all things (Acts 17:25). o He is the reason for the brotherhood of humanity (Acts 17:26). o He is higher than human conception (Acts 17:29). o His invisible attributes are clear (Romans 1:20). o His eternal power is clear (Romans 1:20). o His divine nature is clear (Romans 1:20). o He is worthy of honour and thanksgiving (Romans 1:21). o He is a moral God since the conscience exists (Romans 1:21, 28). The Old Testament Explicitly Reveals This God o It tells us His name, not just that He is Creator. o It tells us that man is made in His image and is one race. Page 2

3 o o o It confirms to us His divine attributes and tells us how He displays them. It tells us what kind of morality God demands and the judgment that follows sin. It tells us that He is the only God and how He triumphs over idolatry. IT IS SUPERIOR TO OTHER ANCIENT BOOKS Examples of Ancient Books. The Vedas (Hinduism), the Book of the Dead (Egyptian religion), Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumerian Legend), Sutras (Buddhism), Tao Te Ching (Taoism). How they Support Biblical Revelation. o The somewhat historically-rooted legends confirm Biblical history, such as the flood, creation, and a utopia in ancient times. Thus, traditions from eastern culture often have some variation of the Biblical story, indicating an oral tradition that was corrupted by the time Scripture came to be. o They confirm the historicity of Scripture s description of idols and false gods, such as the attempts of the Egyptians in Exodus or the primitive worship of Canaanites and Babylonians. Isaiah 45 is heart-rending when it speaks of those who pray to a god who cannot save. So, history is marked by vague and hopeless religion, striving with no assurance of victory. How they Fall Short. o They do not root themselves in historic or apologetic accountability. They are clearly and openly traditions of the ancients and nothing more; thus, they must be believed philosophically but not scientifically. They cannot conform with all of reality, nor can they engage in meaningful self-defence. o Either their view of deity is very unspecific, or their view of deity is clearly superstition based on observations from nature. This tells us that these books do not meet the standard of explicit revelation because they neither add clarity nor go beyond what is physically observable. That Egypt, Greece, and Rome had a pantheon of gods associated with different aspects of nature shows, not specific revelation, but an attempt to make sense of nature. That oriental religions are more philosophic and ethereal than they are substantial makes them very unhelpful in adding clarity to life. o They are often more self-help-related rather than revelation-oriented. IT IS FREE FROM ERROR The Old Testament has made itself accountable scientifically, historically, religiously, and prophetically. Yet, in all these areas and those below, the OT passes the test with flying colours and proves itself to be entirely reliable and inerrant. This is certainly the mark of a divine book. In the Law, the nature and dealings of God are presented; the Old Testament therefore must present an adequate worldview if we should believe it. And it does. In the Prophets and Histories, countless historical statements and predictions are made; the Old Testament therefore must be accurate if it is to be believed. And it is. In its writings and poetry, it presents a way of life for man in light of God; therefore, it must provide a way of living that works. And it does. That there are 39 books make the issue more serious, for they should contain no contradiction if they are from God. And they do not. Page 3

4 ITS THEOLOGY IS DIVINE Monotheism. In an era that glorified local deities, distant gods, and even sinful gods, how refreshing to come to Scripture and find that there is one God, Creator of all things, Who alone is the center and goal of the universe and of man s knowledge. Hear, O Israel, Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Justice. The Law taught man eye for eye, whereas other ancient law codes were relative based on who committed the sin and who was offended. Thus, punishments would vary, often retributing more than what was just. Mercy. How full the Old Testament is of mercy! The people of Israel only exist because God had mercy and was faithful to keep His promises to Abraham. Yet it also teaches man to love mercy. The Law was to be administered by government (Genesis 9 contain those beginnings), whereas individuals were to do justice and love mercy (Micah 6:8). Beauty. The Psalms are the loveliest literature in existence. Yet, they are not exceptions to Israelite thought and experience; rather, they arise from the narratives and laws of Israel. They encapsulate the beauty of God throughout all of life, for the psalmists had learned God and reflected upon God. Who can surpass such words as The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want or Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion. This is the unique God of Israel, and His beauty draws us to His book. Hope. There is confidence in an afterlife as various passages will show (2 Samuel 12:23; Psalm 16; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 73:24). Thus, there is serenity in trial and peace in opposition. Types and Prophecies. Study the portrayals of Christ in Genesis 22, Exodus 12, Leviticus 1-7, Leviticus 16, Numbers 12, Psalm 88, etc. Study the prophecies of Christ in Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 18, the Messianic Psalms, the Servant Songs, etc. Christ FILLS the Old Testament before He came to earth. How could multiple human authors present such a single, unified picture both explicitly and implicitly of Christ? The depth of the Old Testament cannot be explained by coincidence or collusion; the hand of God gave us this book. Themes. Surely we can rejoice in its main themes as well. Consider God s faithfulness in His covenants. Consider God s unfolding of redemption. Consider God s progressive revelation of Himself, never contradicting but only enlightening past revelation. Consider the glory and holiness of God. Consider the sinfulness and neediness of man. These are exactly what we need to make sense of reality and view life as worth living. Anticipation for the New Testament. The Old Testament in itself is a marvelous book for the ancient Jew with no anticipation of Christianity. But the fact that the New Testament presents new revelation and still agrees fully with the Old Testament is staggering. Christians embrace equally the Old and New Testaments in beautiful harmony. The Old Testament is its own revelation in a sense, yet it completely supports the New Testament. This is surely the hand of divine purpose and design. REASON #3: IT DEFENDS ITSELF INTELLIGENTLY AND TIMELESSLY The polemical and apologetic nature of the Old Testament reflects its confidence in truth. The God of Israel pursues and humiliates man s gods and ideas, and He wins every time. Man s ideas have either proven false or destructive, but the enduring Word of God has stood the test of time when even skepticism, which claims neutrality, cannot be consistent in its own claims. Page 4

5 God Proved to Be the God of All Creation. This we find in the Exodus account (Ex 7-12). There was no fear in confronting the Egyptian gods. In the ten plagues, God dismantled primary deities of Egypt, represented by the various aspects of nature God controlled. The Nile, the frogs, the dust, the flies, the cattle, the boils, the hail and fire, the locusts, the darkness, the firstborn all of these reflected some Egyptian deity, and God humiliated the Egyptian pantheon by proving His supremacy over all. God Proved to Be the God of Truth. This we find in the consequences for false prophecy. God does not fear having His words tested. They are not broken under man s scrutiny; rather they break man s scrutiny. Deuteronomy 18:22 says, When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. Jeremiah 23:28-29 says, The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain? declares the LORD. Is not My word like fire? declares the LORD, and like a hammer which shatters a rock? God Proved to Be the God of All Territory. This we find with the Mount Carmel dual (see 1 Kings 18:17-40). Ancient communities viewed their gods as being territorial. Judah had its God. Philistia had its god. Babylon had its gods. Whatever god one was subject to depended on the territory. So, Elijah challenges 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah in their own territory to test whose God was true. They both set up altars, and the one that answered by fire would be the true God. So, Baal was tested first, and the prophets humiliated themselves calling on their god for hours. Then, Elijah went further then they had and soaked his offering and altar, resulting in a trench filled with water. He called upon Yahweh, and God s fire consumed everything, the offering, the altar, and the water. Baal was nothing, even in his own territory. Yahweh was supreme, over all. He alone is the true God. God Proved to Be the Living God. This we find in the exposure of the false gods in Isaiah. To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse And weigh silver on the scale Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it. They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; They set it in its place and it stands there. It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; It cannot deliver him from his distress (46:5-7). There you have it. Put God to the test and be humiliated. REASON #4: IT GIVES US A RELIABLE WORLDVIEW Embraces the good and the bad, thus facing things as they really are. This book records failures of some of God s chief men. Obviously, the concern of the Old Testament is not idealism or legend. It comes from the God Who is real and therefore is realistic. Allows us to interpret reality around us consistently. Since the God of reality inspired Scripture, it follows that life reaches its fullness when lived according to His Word. We can make sense of the world through God s eyes. Ecclesiastes proves that the world is vanity if not viewed from a transcendent perspective. Proverbs proves that the best way to live is in the fear of God. The Christian does not live in a bubble; rather, in every area he excels because He serves the God of reality. The world makes sense with the Old Testament. Page 5

6 Explains the uniqueness and the nature of man. Why is the world fine-tuned to life? Why are we the only life-inhabited planet in the universe? Why is man moral and clearly above the animals? These things cannot be explained by evolution or even most religions. The Old Testament explains why man is unique and thus makes sense of creation, society, the heart, sin, etc. Without the Bible, there is no reasonable explanation for the existence of mankind. Prescribes goodness and empowers changed lives. Scripture teaches the young man to be pure (Psalm 119:9), the worried to be at peace (Proverbs 3:5-6), the oppressed to rejoice (Psalm 3), the death-encompassed to be fearless (Psalm 23), etc. It teaches us not to relive the mistakes of the past, though so often we do. It gives us a standard of morality and the sufficiency of God Who empowers morality. That Scripture changes lives shows the power of its pages. Explains the rise of our presuppositions, such as science, logic, math, emotion, morality reality, etc. Chance cannot explain timeless realities such as these. These are not pursuits so much as they are presuppositions by which we live. We assume these things because they are embedded in us. Only a single, all-powerful, personal, moral, immanent God can account for these things. The God of the Old Testament is true because His evidence is everywhere. REASON #5: IT CONTAINS FULFILLED PROPHECIES MESSIANIC Below are some of the most specific prophecies of the Messiah, yet we must remember that there are many other prophecies in the Old Testament. As well, Christ fulfilled more than prophecy: He fulfilled the types and shadows under the Law as well as the Law itself. The harmony of Christ with the Old Testament statistically and spiritually demands a better explanation than mere coincidence. This book is from God. His Davidic Lineage: Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5; cf. 1 Chronicles 17 and Matthew 1). His Birth in Bethlehem: But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (Micah 5:2; cf. Luke 2). The Time of His Cutting Off: So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:25-26; cf. Matthew 21, and consider the destruction of A.D. 70). The Details of His Crucifixion: My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning... Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted Page 6

7 within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:1, 11-19; cf. John 19 and remember that Roman crucifixion was not known at David s time.). The Nature of His Death, Burial, and Resurrection: But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed... He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth... His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. (Isaiah 53:5, 7, 9-10; cf. John 18-20). NATIONAL Israel s Captivity. God promised that Josiah s eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place (2 Kings 22:20). After Josiah died, the kingdom of Judah was judged, and Babylon invaded and brought Judah into captivity. This is recorded in the chapters following 22 and 23. Cyrus and the Rebuilding of the Temple. It is I who says of Cyrus, He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire. And he declares of Jerusalem, She will be built, And of the temple, Your foundation will be laid. (Isaiah 44:28). World Empires and Their Developments in Daniel o Succession of world empires (Babylon > Medo-Persia > Greece > Rome in 2:36-45). o Medo-Persian empire arising, with Media being stronger than Persia (8:3-4, 20). o Alexander the Great conquering swiftly, having his kingdom broken between four generals after his death (8:5-8, 21-22). o Antiochus Epiphanes devastating the Jews in the time of the Maccabees (8:9-14). REASON #6: IT IS CONSISTENT WITH SCIENCE Confirms the consistency of the Biblical worldview that claims that the God of creation is speaking and thus describes what He designed accurately. These facts are advanced and clear, indicating that superstition is not its basis. The earth floats freely in space (Job 26:7). The life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). The sea contains paths or ocean currents (Psalm 8:8). The universe had a beginning (Genesis 1:1). The earth is spherical (Isaiah 40:22). The earth revolves and has simultaneous day and night (Luke 17:34-36). Fossils and canyons are accounted for by the Flood (Genesis 6-9). Immoral sex brings bodily retribution and disease (Romans 1:27). Page 7

8 Hydrological cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7, Jeremiah 10:13, Amos 9:6). 8 th Day circumcision ideal (blood clotting peaks on 8 th day) (Genesis 17:12, Leviticus 12:3). Stress, laughter, and health explained and connected (Proverbs 17:22, 18:14). REASON #7: IT IS CONSISTENT WITH HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY The Old Testament is not merely a book of teaching, but it is also filled with narrative, making its teaching accountable to its accuracy. That it is filled with narrative means there is much room for error if it were not from God. Since it is not filled with error, this staggering accuracy must have divine origins. Consider a few archaeological discoveries. History of civilizations go no further than Genesis. The fact that world history cannot speak meaningfully of history before the time period of Genesis helps us see that evolutionary progression of man doesn t work historically speaking. If man progressed slowly, so would his writing and his records. Yet, we cannot find records until an explosion of writing (if the evolutionary timescale is accepted) in the second and third millenniums before Christ. Those who speak of history up to 10,000 years ago have to use much speculation since such historical records simply do not exist. Thus, it makes sense that God created the world around 4,000 B.C. from which point man began using shelter, art, and craftsmanship (Genesis 4:20-22) like civilized beings. It is no wonder the history of civilization cannot be traced further than this: there was no history before it. Flood Legends. Scientifically, the Flood has no problem since it accounts for the Canyons, seasons, and fossils that exist today. Historically, the Flood is no problem since many ancient civilizations had some great flood legend. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a popular Babylonian account of a great flood and Noah-like figure. It would seem unusual for a legend to be propagated so far and wide and variously unless there was some seed of truth that was transmitted diversely through different cultures. The Biblical account contains what really happened, and so we expect to see such a great world event be passed down extra-biblically as well, yet without the same accuracy. The Hittites. For years the Hittites, mentioned in the Bible, we a basis of much criticism against the Bible. Simply put, no evidence for them existed. In 1906, an archaeologist excavated a Turkish city and unearthed temples, buildings, sculptures, and most importantly thousands of clay tablets. This was the Hittite capital, and Biblical criticism was embarrassed. Sodom and Gomorrah. The location of these allegedly consumed cities was unknown, even though Scripture says they were near the Dead Sea. In the 1970s, researchers found cities in that general area that were evidently destroyed abruptly. The remains of ash, crushed towers, buried victims, and burned artifacts show that these cities were indeed destroyed by fire in the timeframe specified by Scripture. The Hebrews and Egypt. The Hebrews obviously sojourned in Egypt for some time. This is evidenced from the fact that many Israelites bore Egyptian names around Moses time and that many Egyptian city names are connected to Hebrew. The Walls of Jericho. Archaeology has discovered that Jericho was indeed subject to destruction of its walls and the burning of its city, as recorded in Joshua. Tel Dan Stone. This ancient inscription references the House of David and the king of Israel that was conquered by an Aramean king. Such proves that the historical characters Page 8

9 of Scripture interacted with the world around them and were recognized and spoken of by surrounding nations. Moabite Stone (The Mesha Stele). This is another example of an enemy speaking of Israel in relation to battle. The Moabite king, Mesha, speaks of Omri the king of Israel and his son (Ahab). It speaks of the tribe of Gad. It references Yahweh as the God of Israel. It also references the House of David. 2 Kings 3:4-5 references Mesha the king of Moab and speaks of his rebellion against paying tribute after Ahab s death. This is a tremendous confirmation for things like the existence of alphabetic script in Canaan, the validity of the kings narratives in Scripture, and the existence of Moab itself. Sennacherib s Prism. This records Sennacherib s attack on Israel. Isaiah 37 and 2 Kings 19 say that his campaign was thwarted by the Lord and that Israel was protected by her God. Though his claims are untrue and do not record his humiliation (kings would rarely admit or popularize their defeat), it confirms the existence of Hezekiah and his resistance to Assyria. REASON #8: THE JEWISH NATION HAS STOOD AGAINST ALL ODDS The judgment of the nation makes sense for God s people who rejected Him. Consider the Captivity, the dispersion, the oppression of the Selucids, the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in A.D. 70, the Holocaust, the constant hatred and political antagonism pitted against the Jews. The longevity of the nation is unbelievable unless it were protected by God. After all the nation has endured, after being unidentifiable as a nation for hundreds of years, the nation still revived in 1948 and still stands despite multiple threats and challenges. Why is Israel so hated though so small if not because God has chosen the nation? What is so special about Israel that makes it the center of the news and a constantly relevant party through history? Surely, this country is unique. The Biblical account and description of Israel is consistent with the history of the Jews. The Bible is only strengthened in its testimony when we consider the Jewish people. Their history and their blindness and perseverance all make sense within a Biblical framework. Nothing of the Old Testament has failed regarding the Jews. REASON #9: ITS TEXT HAS BEEN RELIABLY TRANSMITTED It has been transmitted diversely. This is demonstrated by the various ancient versions that exist, such as the Septuagint (Greek translation), the Targums (Aramaic paraphrases), the Peshitta (a Syriac Version), the Samaritan Pentateuch (self-explanatory), the Latin Vulgate, and of course the Hebrew text. This diverse transmission shows that the text was not manipulated for religious agendas but was rather passed down in sincere desire to have the Word of God in multiple forms. It has been transmitted carefully. This is demonstrated by the Masoretic Text, copied by Masoretes whose religious commitment to accuracy was perhaps even overkill by our standards. Their middle letter had to correspond with the middle letter of the original manuscript they were copying. They had to bathe before writing the holy name of God, the tetragrammaton (YHWH). They kept a rigorous notation system for correct readings and interpretations of the text by the rabbis. They would not allow pagans to copy their Hebrew texts. The Jews would not dare let their Scriptures be corrupted. Page 9

10 It has been transmitted accurately. This is demonstrated by the Dead Sea Scrolls whose copies of the Old Testament (especially Isaiah) are remarkably close to the Masoretic Text which came over 1,000 years later. One thousand years without meaningful change is remarkable. REASON #10: UNBELIEF IS IRRATIONAL CHRISTIANITY S ALTERNATIVES ARE UNTENABLE The world is not really filled with millions of belief systems but rather variations of key errors and claims. When we meet the foundations of these claims, they present no intimidation to the Christian. Even if (and this is certainly not the case) the Bible had very little support, there would be nothing else to rely on. It is ridiculous to claim that God does not exist, for design is undeniable. It is ridiculous to knowingly reject God, for secularism and evolution destroy society. It is ridiculous to believe polytheism, for such religions are clearly superstitious and traditionbased. It is ridiculous to believe in Islam, for it falsely claims to be an Abrahamic faith and rests on works-based salvation. SKEPTICISM IS BASED ON NATURALISTIC ASSUMPTIONS Skeptical scholars feel they have the right to reject all supernatural claims of the Bible simply because they are supernatural. They begin with the presupposition that everything can be explained by science. However, they do not have this right, for 1. They do not live by science only since the immaterial nature of the soul, morality, and emotions must be acknowledged. 2. They are in the embarrassingly small minority in terms of history, for believe in a deity is normative across all cultures and times. Naturalistic thinking rejects the Bible before considering it, and therefore it will never believe it. This is unfair and shows the purposeful bias of skeptical scholars. Who made the rule that the supernatural is unreal or unreasonable? SKEPTICISM IS MORAL AT ITS CORE Much of Biblical criticism stands, not on well-founded evidence, but a moral bias against the teaching and contents of the Old Testament. First, it describes a God Who is holy, and that is unacceptable for a rebel at heart. Second, it mandates accountable living, and that is terrifying to the lover of pleasure. It also describes gender distinctions and cultural conditions that counter postmodern thinking. These are things that man hates, not for scholarship, but for sin. Romans 1 is an ever-relevant assessment of the modern academic field: For even though they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools (Romans 1:21-22). Page 10