Masters of Implying Untruths

Secularists are often masters at what I would describe as “implying untruths.” Every now and then I like to give you specific examples of this phenomenon, just to remind you not to trust what you read on the Internet from secularists—and to check claims out carefully! You may be shocked to learn that there are many Christians who read something on a secularist website about us and just accept it at face value—then write or call us to (falsely) accuse us without checking out the matter with us first to see if the claim was even accurate!

It’s good to be reminded of Proverbs 18:13: “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.”

So here is my example today of a secularist implying something that only makes the reader believe some untruth about AiG. Because most secularists can’t logically argue against our teachings, they resort to such tactics in the hope that people will not check out what they are claiming. It’s all part of their attempt to disparage what we do and say.

Today on the well-trafficked Salon.com website (I know—we can’t expect accuracy from this site!), Sarah Gray, a part-time editorial assistant at the Salon Media Group, wrote an article about my recent response to Bill Maher’s TV program where he asked Neil deGrasse Tyson (host of the new Cosmos TV series) to comment on statements Bill Maher claimed I had made. However, Maher did not tell the truth (as usual when he deals with Christian things), which can be easily checked out.

Now here is what Gray wrote:

“An understanding of the gospel makes it clear that salvation through Christ is only for the Adamic race—human beings who are all descendants of Adam,” Ham wrote.

This blog post sparked many responses, including one from “Real Time” host Bill Maher and guest Neil deGrasse Tyson. When Maher brought up the post Tyson stated, “That’s messed up.”

Now, the quote from me is correct. But she is using it out of context. Earlier in my post, and to put my quote in context, I wrote, “And I do believe there can’t be other intelligent beings in outer space because of the meaning of the gospel.” If you read my original post, you will see I clearly state that I don’t believe in aliens and was using a theological reason to justify that belief.

Then Gray stated, “When Maher brought up the post . . . ” But Maher didn’t actually bring up the post. He regurgitated untruths that others were saying about my post. Maher said the following on his TV program:

Creationist Ken Ham who runs the Creation Museum . . . said this week that we should call off the search for extraterrestrial life because aliens haven’t heard the word of Jesus and thus are going to hell anyway.

So, Ms. Gray—where did I make that claim in my post? Check it out here.

Now, Gray does link to the video interview I did on Ray Comfort’s online program, where I made it very clear I did not say aliens “are going to hell anyway.”

But Gray of Salon.com didn’t want the truth get in the way of a good story in order to mock us!

Of course, we are used to reading such nonsense being spewed out over the Internet and through the mainstream media—and really, it’s all free publicity anyway for us. Dealing with untruths and reading ad hominem attacks, though, are nothing compared to what some people have had to deal with in standing boldly on God’s Word. We’ve had many attacks against us over the years—but it’s always good to be reminded of the passage below from Hebrews because the attacks we receive pale in comparison. As I read Hebrews 11, I often wonder, if we received real persecution like this, would we be counted worthy as these great Christians of the past? That’s an interesting thought to ponder for the day:

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. (Hebrews 11:32–38)

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken