What’s the Ultimate Answer to America’s Problems?

Actually, as I write this, they haven’t happened yet! So as I sit here writing, I have no idea whether Republicans will maintain control of both houses of Congress, one house, or neither.

But you know what? Whatever happened in the election does not change the mission of Answers in Genesis one bit. Presidents come and go. Political parties gain and lose power. Congress changes. Supreme Court justices change. Laws change. Cultures change.

But God’s Word never changes. And mankind’s greatest problem has never changed either.

It’s sin. That’s why I’ve said for decades that the ultimate answer to America’s problems—or Australia’s problems or the problems of any nation—is not ultimately political.

The answer is God’s Word and the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

The answer is God’s Word and the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. Government is important. In fact, government is an institution ordained by God. Romans 13:1 tells us, “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God.”

After the Flood, in Genesis 9, God instituted human government and delegated to mankind the responsibility to administer justice. Because we live in a fallen world, government has a God-given responsibility to restrain evil, punish wrongdoing, protect innocent life, and maintain order.

So Christians should care about government. We should pray for those in authority. We should vote wisely. We should evaluate candidates and policies according to God’s Word.

But government cannot change the human heart. Government can restrain evil, but it cannot remove our sin nature. Congress cannot regenerate a sinner. A president cannot give someone a new heart. The Supreme Court cannot reconcile a person to his or her Creator. Only Jesus Christ can save.

That’s why Answers in Genesis has never been a political organization.

Our authority is not the Republican Party platform. Our authority is certainly not the Democratic Party platform. Our authority is the Word of God.

Where any political party agrees with biblical truth, we can commend that position. Where any party contradicts God’s Word, we must lovingly but boldly say so.

You see, as I teach so often, there is no neutrality.

That’s one of the foundational messages we’ve taught at Answers in Genesis from the beginning. There are ultimately only two foundations for our thinking: God’s Word or man’s word.

Every person starts with one of those foundations, and governments are made up of people. So governments aren’t neutral either. If God’s Word is rejected as the ultimate authority, then who decides what is right and wrong?

Fallible man does. And that’s exactly what we see happening in our culture. Who defines marriage? Who determines when human life begins and whether that life has value? Who determines what a man or a woman is? Who determines right and wrong?

If man is the ultimate authority, then ultimately these things are determined by human opinion, judges, politicians, majority votes, or whatever the culture decides at the time.

But when we start with God’s Word, we understand that our Creator has already spoken and He defines everything.

God created human beings in His image. God created us male and female. God created marriage. God determines the value of human life. God determines right and wrong.

That’s why the battle we’re engaged in is much deeper than politics. It’s a battle of worldviews because it’s a battle of foundations. It’s ultimately the same battle that began in Genesis 3 when the serpent asked Eve, “Has God really said?”

And that’s why the ministry you help make possible is so vitally important.

We want to see changed hearts and changed minds for eternity.

Yes, I’m concerned about what’s happening in America. I’m concerned about the younger generations. I’m concerned about abortion, gender confusion, the redefinition of marriage, increasing lawlessness, the rejection of Christianity, and the increasing hostility toward biblical truth.

But ultimately, we’re not going to change this culture merely by changing politicians. We need to see people change their foundation from man’s word to God’s Word. And above all, we need to see people repent and trust Christ for salvation.

Sometimes Christians talk about bringing “revival” to the culture. Of course, we should pray for revival. But we need to understand what genuine revival is.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the great preachers of the twentieth century, emphasized that true revival is not something human beings can manufacture. We can’t produce it through clever techniques, emotional experiences, bigger crowds, better music, or more impressive events.

Genuine revival is a sovereign work of God through the Holy Spirit. And historically, revival begins with God’s people. That’s why I’ve often said that before we talk about revival, the church desperately needs reformation.

We need Christians returning to the absolute authority of the Word of God and boldly preaching the whole counsel of God. We need Christian parents teaching their children to think biblically. We need pastors refusing to compromise God’s Word (as so many today do) with the secular thinking of our age.

We need God’s people returning to the authority of God’s Word beginning in Genesis.

Much of the compromise we see in the church in our time didn’t begin with Christians suddenly denying the resurrection. It began when generations of Christians were told they could take man’s ideas about millions of years and evolution and reinterpret Genesis.

We can’t manufacture revival. But we can faithfully proclaim God’s Word and call the church back to biblical authority.

Once we tell generations they don’t have to believe God’s Word in Genesis, why should we be surprised when they reject what God’s Word says about marriage, gender, sexuality, abortion, or salvation? Sadly, in the era we live in, the authority of God’s Word has come under massive attack in Genesis. In the church, this has led to massive compromise, catastrophic generational loss, and by and large, a lukewarm body of Christ. There are exceptions, of course! But sadly, so many Christian leaders have led the sheep astray in compromising God’s Word and doctrines (like marriage) founded in Genesis. We really do need reformation and revival.

Now, we can’t manufacture revival. But we can faithfully proclaim God’s Word and call the church back to biblical authority. We can proclaim the gospel, equip Christians to defend their faith, and teach generations how to think biblically.

And we can pray that God will graciously use all of this to change hearts and bring genuine reformation and revival.

And that’s really what Answers in Genesis is all about.

Sometimes people think of AiG primarily as the Creation Museum or the Ark Encounter. But those are only two parts of an enormous outreach the Lord has raised up.

Think of everything your support helps make possible:

• We produce books, videos, articles, apologetics resources, church materials, school curricula, homeschool curricula, and vacation Bible school programs.
• We reach millions through social media and online videos.
• We have Answers TV with thousands of programs presenting biblical truth and the gospel.
• Our speakers travel throughout America and internationally, speaking in churches, conferences, schools, and other venues.
• Our materials are translated into languages around the world.
• And then, of course, there are the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter—two of the most unique Christian outreaches anywhere in the world.

In everything we do, we’re trying to use cutting-edge technology and the best resources we can produce to communicate one consistent message:

God’s Word is true from the very first verse, and the gospel is the only message that can save for eternity.

And we’re seeing incredible fruit.

Around one million children each year are impacted through our vacation Bible school program. Think about that! One million children hearing biblical truth, being equipped with answers, and hearing the gospel.

Over the past five years, thousands have responded to the gospel during our 40 Days of Christian Music Festival.

At the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum alone, based on consistent research we’ve conducted, we estimate that over 100,000 people a year indicate they have trusted Christ.

And that doesn’t include the impact of our websites, social media, Answers TV, books, curricula, speaking events, conferences, international ministry, or the countless people who use our resources to reach others.

I wish you could stand with me at some of my meet and greets after I speak at the Ark or Creation Museum. People regularly come up to me and tell me how the Lord used Answers in Genesis in their lives. Some people tell me they became Christians. Others tell me AiG resources helped bring them back to the authority of Scripture. I have parents share how our materials helped save their children from walking away from the faith and young people who are excited to tell me that our resources helped them finally realize they could trust the Bible. And I hear from pastors who tell me their churches have been transformed.

And I often think—on this side of eternity, we have no idea how many lives God has impacted through this ministry. When one person is changed, that person impacts others. A father impacts his children, and a mother impacts her children. Grandparents impact grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A pastor impacts a congregation, and a teacher impacts students.

A young person equipped to defend the Christian faith may impact hundreds or thousands throughout a lifetime. That’s a spiritual legacy. And ultimately, that’s what I want my life to be about.

While the Lord gives me breath, I want to do everything I can to raise up godly generations who will stand boldly and uncompromisingly on His Word and proclaim the gospel.

That brings me to remind you of a very special opportunity the Lord has placed before us this year.

We have been given the largest matching-gift challenge in the history of Answers in Genesis: $12 million. That means gifts toward this challenge will be matched dollar for dollar, enabling us to receive up to $24 million for the work of the ministry.

This year, we’re particularly emphasizing support for the core ministry of Answers in Genesis. I sometimes describe our core ministry as the engine that helps drive everything we do.

It’s the biblical research, apologetics, writing, video production, web outreach, curricula, social media, technology, speakers, gospel resources, and the many dedicated people working behind the scenes that make all these outreaches possible. And that engine needs fuel. A significant portion of our mission has to be subsidized.

So I’m asking you to prayerfully consider helping us meet this historic matching challenge.

Please pray and consider a gift for this special end-of-year campaign. But I also want you to understand that when you invest in this ministry, you are investing in something with eternal consequences.

Buildings, governments, political movements, and even nations are temporary. But every person will live forever. That’s why reaching people with the truth of God’s Word and the saving gospel is the most important work we can possibly be involved in.

Government is God’s servant. But Jesus Christ is the Savior.

Whatever happened in the midterm elections, our mission hasn’t changed. We will continue proclaiming biblical authority, defending the authority of God’s Word beginning in Genesis, equipping the church, reaching children, challenging unbelievers, and use the best technology we can to take the message around the world.

And most importantly, we will continue proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Government is God’s servant. But Jesus Christ is the Savior.

Only Christ changes hearts. And changed hearts change families, churches, communities, and ultimately influence cultures and nations.

Thank you for standing with us, praying, and giving. Thank you for being a part of the Answers in Genesis family!

And please prayerfully consider making a generous gift at AnswersDonate.com toward this unprecedented $12 million matching-gift challenge. Together, as the Lord enables us, let’s keep the “engine” running strongly and reach as many people as possible with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel.

After all, it’s an investment for eternity.

In Christ,
Ken