The Conversation Won’t Stop

Well, the conversation simply won’t stop! The debate became an Internet phenomenon. My debate with Bill Nye “the Science Guy” trended number one on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook for many hours (all at the same time). And the debate trended top on Yahoo News.

It is conservatively estimated that well over 10 million people watched in homes and at least 13,000 groups in 212 countries and territories watched online.

From a human perspective, we could have never imagined the level of interest the debate would draw from around the world. Some have called it “historic” and dubbed it “Scopes 2.” It is conservatively estimated that well over 10 million people watched in homes and by at least 13,000 groups (churches, colleges, etc.) in 212 countries and territories on YouTube and our special debatelive.org website. Most important, my debate with Bill Nye stimulated ongoing “water cooler” conversations worldwide about origins, the Bible, and the gospel. I praise the Lord for providing such an incredible outreach!

Over 70 credentialed media (from across the USA and other countries) attended the debate. Many of the major media—such as ABC, MSNBC, and CNN—were in attendance, reporting on the debate’s massive online audience.

The day after the debate, 250,000 people visited answersingenesis.org—and web traffic has continued to be extraordinary. Our Facebook “reaches” have gone up beyond what we could have ever imagined, with a reach of over 3.5 million on the AiG Facebook, and a reach of over 1.3 million on my public Facebook. Our social media has gone crazy—with thousands of people posting comments. People all over the globe were talking with each other and Christians were witnessing to non-Christians.

Now, some of the aggressive atheists were so angry about the debate response that they started posting vulgar and harassing (and sometimes pornographic) material on our Facebook pages. This incredible intolerance only revealed how bankrupt their belief system really is.

Who could have ever thought such a global response could have happened? It’s beyond human explanation. Before the debate, someone said to me, “it seems obvious God has orchestrated this.” Yes—that’s the only explanation. God has done and He is continuing to do something I’ve never experienced. God has honored and blessed the message of a ministry that stands on the authority of the Word of God without compromise, so that multi-millions around the world could hear it. And the conversation after the debate has by no means stopped!

Before the debate, secular and Christian media representatives asked me what I wanted to see happen from the debate. I answered with something like,

One of the greatest things that could happen is that the debate will open the way for a very public discussion about the origins issue, and about the Word of God and the gospel message. After all, some very aggressive secularists have largely shut down public discussion about origins. By and large they refuse to debate biblical creationists—and they help pass legislation to protect the teaching of naturalism (which is atheism) in public schools.

I added,

Secularists have intimidated Christians to the extent that many of them have retreated into their church buildings. I pray this debate will stimulate God’s people to become bold and rally to stand unashamedly for the authority of God’s Word and the gospel. I pray the conversations will begin in a big way and continue. It’s time Christians stood up for their faith and got involved in the spiritual battle raging around us. We are soldiers of the King!

And that’s what happened after the debate—the conversation won’t stop.

Comments Pouring In

Let me share just a few of the thousands of comments that have been posted to our social media sites (and are still pouring in):

When debating my evolutionist friends of mine (they have all seen the debate) . . . I even heard some good comments regarding Ken, which took me by surprise. What I noticed the most, however, is when debating my friends, now I can sense they have less confidence in what they are saying. It's definitely impacted the atheist community. God is at work. He’s used Ken in an amazing way.

Yes—the post-debate conversation won’t stop!

My daughter just told me that she heard a student talking to their biology teacher about the debate today!!! Pretty cool!!!!

I’m so thankful for your ministry. I’m sharing the debate with my colleagues and students so they can check—and also learn about—the truth of the Bible.

I know he opened eyes to people that I know who claim to be agnostic!

Yes, Christians are rallying right now so that the conversation won’t stop:

I really appreciate this debate. It shows that Christians don't have to be afraid of hard questions or of talking about controversial things in our culture. You showed tremendous heart and the glory of God was radiating as you handled Mr. Nye and his condescension with amazing grace.

Thank you for all you do and the resources you are providing so we can continue to engage a culture that is hostile to the Bible. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

In this day and age, it was a debate that needed to be heard—our world is getting worse and worse, and if one person came to know Christ as their personal Savior, it’s all worth it. And it very well may lead thousands to Christ before it’s said and done, and that should be the goal of any Christian! Thank you.

And we know of at least 13,000 groups, like the following, that told us they were live streaming the debate:

We had our church live-stream the debate in our Sunday school room, and the room was filled to capacity.

Many people also made comments like this:

I want to say thank you for glorifying the Lord with your unshakable faith.

You always start with God’s Word . . . that’s the reason that I love Answers in Genesis.

Thank you for your uncompromising stand on the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. You are an encouragement to me, as well as many of the body of Christ.

And do you know why Christians made such statements? Because at AiG, we have always taught what God’s Word instructs us to do—to become more like Christ every day:

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

And what is one of the characteristics of Christ we read about in His Word?

And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)

Yes—speak with authority—and don’t be like the Pharisees (or sadly, like the many I see in Christian leadership today), “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43) One media report stated the following:

In perhaps the most compelling moment of the debate, Nye and Ham were confronted with the question “How did consciousness come from matter?” Nye replied bluntly with, “I don’t know. That is a great mystery.” . . . “Bill, I want to say there is a Book . . .” Ham said.

Yes there is a Book—with a message of who we are, where we came from, what our problem is (sin), and what the solution is in Jesus Christ. Yes, we have a Book—the infallible, inerrant Word of God.

So, What’s Next?

The conversation won’t stop—and you can help keep it going through your personal witnessing as you boldly and unashamedly proclaim Christ. And you can help keep the conversation going through your continued prayer and financial support of AiG.

Following the debate, one reporter asked me, “So what’s next?” I replied, “We are building a full-scale Noah’s Ark to reach millions more with the gospel.” Yes, that is our ultimate motivation: to see more people won to the Lord Jesus Christ to be in heaven with us!