Does life exist in outer space? Well, the Bible never directly addresses questions about extraterrestrials. But it gives us principles we can apply to these questions.

The Bible tells us God formed earth to be inhabited. Earth is God’s footstool and the focus of his attention. It was to earth that God sent his son, Jesus. But the other heavenly bodies were created as signs for days, seasons, months, and years. Other passages tell us the heavens were created to give glory to God. This difference in purpose suggests that earth is unique as a home for life.

Starting with God’s Word, we don’t expect to find alien life.

Dig Deeper

• Is Anyone out There?
• Did God Create Alien Life?

The world destroyed by the global flood of Noah’s day was very different from today. Here’s just one example: in the pre-flood world, there were towering stromatolite mounds built from algae and sediments washed in by tides. In today’s world, much smaller mounds still exist in a few places. These stromatolites are identical to ones in the past, just smaller. Why?

The fountains of the great deep broke apart and this forever changed the pre-flood ocean environment. The new conditions made it hard for stromatolites to grow like they did before. These algae mounds are a reminder of the flood and a world lost because of sin.

Dig Deeper

• Stromatolites—Rare Reminders of a Lost World
• Noah’s Lost World

When you think of vegetarians, spiders probably don’t come to mind. But there’s one species of spider that snacks on plants, only hunting occasionally. This shouldn’t shock us. This spider is just a reminder that even creatures with predatory features once devoured only veggies.

You see, God originally created man and the animals as vegetarian. It wasn’t until after sin that animals turned to carnivory.

And spiders aren’t the only reminder of the past. Some rather fierce-looking species eat plants including several monitor lizard species, fruit bats, and giant pandas. It’s all a reminder that the history in God’s Word is true.

Dig Deeper

• Vegetarian Piranhas’ Teeth Point to Pre-Fall Perfection
• No Taste for Meat?

Evolutionists have long portrayed Neanderthals as primitive human relatives, but they have to keep updating their story as Neanderthals just keep getting smarter. A DNA analysis of some Neanderthal teeth shows they used forms of penicillin and aspirin to treat disease.

These teeth showed that a teen had eaten a kind of fungus that fights infection, and he’d chewed on poplar bark, which contains the active ingredient in aspirin.

Neanderthals weren’t primitive. They knew enough about their world to use natural remedies to fight infections and pain. These humans were just that—humans, descendants of Adam and Eve, just like us.

Dig Deeper

• The Neandertals: Our Worthy Ancestors
• Did Neanderthals Practice Chemistry?

Did you know in India there are two rivers given the same legal status as humans? In New Zealand, a 150-year debate ended when a river was finally named a legal person. In Ecuador, nature is represented in their constitution with certain “rights”!

This silliness highlights the absurdity that results from a world in rebellion against the Creator. This kind of thinking ignores the uniqueness of mankind. We’re special, made in the image of God, with unique rights and responsibilities, including dominion over creation. Nature is important, and we’re to steward it well, but we’re distinct from it. A river will never be a person!

Dig Deeper

• God’s Image—The Difference Maker
• Should Animals Have Equal Rights as Humans?

Many people today think that Christians can’t bring their worldview to the public sphere. In this view, politicians can’t apply a biblical worldview when it comes to legislation, and Christians can’t operate their businesses on Christian principles.

But religious freedom doesn’t mean freedom to just believe what you want at church or in private. It’s the freedom to apply our beliefs to everything—just like the secular world does!

As Christians are faced with growing intolerance, we need to stand boldly on our unchanging foundation, God’s Word. Human reasoning comes and goes, but God’s Word stands forever.

Dig Deeper

• 54% of US Adults Think Religion Should Not Influence Political Decisions
• Is a Biblical Worldview Optional?

Throughout history, the majority of charities, food pantries, and rescue missions have been started and run by Christians. So why does the secular world treat Christians as if our beliefs are dangerous?

Because it’s a spiritual issue! The Bible tells us if we live a godly life in Christ we should expect persecution and that men love darkness, rather than light. No matter what we do, we will still get attacked because men hate God.

We should expect opposition because the gospel confronts people with their sinfulness and need for repentance. So how should we respond? By lovingly and boldly preaching the gospel!

Dig Deeper

• How Should We Then Give?
• When They Persecute You

All this week we’ve been dealing with criticism against Bible-believing Christians. Well, here’s something to remember—you can never please everyone. People will always find something they think is wrong. So how should we deal with that?

First, listen with humility and pray for wisdom. No one’s perfect or right all the time. Make the best decision you can and move on.

Second, do your best to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. We should never be characterized by a hateful or proud attitude.

Lastly, don’t go against your conscience. If your conscience convicts you and nothing in God’s Word says you’re wrong, follow your conscience.

Dig Deeper

• General Revelation, Special Revelation, the Gospel, and Science
• Where Does Spiritual Fruit Grow?

Many Christians oppose a literal interpretation of Genesis. Instead, they reinterpret God’s clear words to accommodate man’s ideas about evolution and millions of years. And many of these Christians mock and attack us for standing boldly on what God’s Word says. How should we deal with these attacks?

Well, by continuing to point out that compromising Genesis undermines biblical authority. You see, when Christians mix evolution and the Bible, they’re taking elements from the religion of naturalism and forcing them into Scripture. And this leads coming generations to doubt God’s words and reinterpret them in other areas.

Dig Deeper

• Overcoming Doubt
• Doubts Lead to Unbelief

There are many church leaders who claim to be shepherds but are really “false prophets” and “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Jesus warned us to beware these false teachers, and we need to remain vigilant, contending for the faith against error.

So, what should we do when we recognize false teachers by their fruit, judging them by the standard of God’s Word? I believe it’s important to publicly rebuke these people. This warns the church of their dangerous teaching and gives the false teachers a chance to repent.

We should have no respect for those who purposefully lead the sheep astray—rather we need to sound the alarm!

Dig Deeper

• Coping with Criticism
• How Colossians 1 Combated Erroneous Teaching in the Church

The secular world opposes Bible-believing Christians with false information, blasphemy, swearing, threats, and ad hominem attacks. How should Christians deal with these attacks, especially if they’re personal?

Well, understand that we shouldn’t be surprised by this opposition. We should expect it from a world that loves darkness rather than the light of Christ and his Word.

Secondly, don’t take the attacks personally. It might seem like people hate us but ultimately, they hate God. They’re lost, dead in their sins, and headed for a Christless eternity. We should be moved with compassion for these lost souls.

Dig Deeper

• Three Ways Atheists Reveal They Actually Believe in God
• The Burden of Standing for God’s Word

In our culture today, for “love and marriage,” pretty much anything goes. But there’s one exception: nearly all Americans say adultery is wrong.

This is so inconsistent. Where do people get the idea that divorce, same-sex relations, and premarital sex are all fine, but adultery crosses the line?

In a secular worldview, there’s no ultimate standard by which to condemn adultery except someone’s opinion. But in a biblical worldview, adultery is wrong because God says it is. Just like divorce, same-sex relations, and premarital sex, adultery goes against God’s design for marriage.

We have solid answers when we start with God’s Word.

Dig Deeper

• Sexual Immorality Increasingly Acceptable—Unless It’s Adultery
• Adultery—Justified by Evolution?

I once saw a study that said the majority of Americans think sex before marriage, same-sex relationships, and divorce are morally acceptable. Why? Because our culture is steeped in a secular worldview.

You see, in a biblical worldview, God created us and he makes the rules.

But in a secular worldview, we aren’t accountable to anyone, and we make the rules. So, really, “anything goes” because morality is just whatever’s right in our own eyes.

Now, it’s no surprise the secular world thinks this way. But many in the church are adopting this thinking too. We need to get back to starting our thinking with God’s Word.

Dig Deeper

• Exposing the Connection: How Evolution Impacts Morality
• Morality and the Irrationality of an Evolutionary Worldview

A few years ago,a study found that two-thirds of Americans think embryonic stem cell research, which kills unborn children, is morally acceptable. But only half think medical testing on animals is okay. So, more Americans think it’s all right to kill unborn children for medical testing than think it’s okay to do testing on animals.

How has human life become so devalued? Well, it’s all part of a culture that’s rejected God’s Word. When you ignore the Bible, you have no ultimate basis to believe humans are special or more valuable than animals. But, according to God’s Word, humans have a unique value because we bear God’s image.

Dig Deeper

• Sexual Immorality Increasingly Acceptable—Unless It’s Adultery
• God’s Image—The Difference Maker

Yesterday we learned that 81% of Americans see morality declining in this nation. So, what do they think is the solution? Well, a majority said the Bible is a solution to this mess. While it’s great to see that people respect the Bible, do they actually treat the Bible as if it’s the answer?

Research shows only 20% of Americans actively read and study their Bibles. And only 10% have a biblical worldview. So, while they may have a concept of the Bible as the answer, people aren’t actually turning to the Bible to see what it says.

As Christians, God’s Word must be our authority for morality. Do you know what it says?

Dig Deeper

• Survey: 81% of Americans See “Declining Morality” in the US
• Biblical Authority and the Book of Genesis

When speaking around the country, I often ask audiences, “Is America getting more or less Christian every day?” Crowds always answer “less.” Indeed, one study found 8 in 10 Americans see morality declining!

And that’s no surprise. With the abandonment of a Christian worldview comes a decline in morality. Without the absolute authority of God’s Word, right and wrong is just whatever’s right in our own eyes. And what’s “right” is increasingly what’s actually wrong according to God’s Word. So, what’s the solution?

Well, the only answer to this cultural crisis is God’s Word and the saving gospel.

Dig Deeper

• Survey: 81% of Americans See “Declining Morality” in the US
• Which Came First: Knowledge of God or Morality? (Or Both?)

All this week we’ve been looking at arguments from those in the church who want to affirm homosexual behavior. We’ve learned these people are twisting the Scriptures to say what they want them to say.

God’s Word warns over and over again about those teach what itching ears want to hear. They’re taking people captive through their human philosophies, but we’re commanded to take our thoughts captive to Christ. So, what does God’s Word say?

It says that God designed marriage from the beginning. It’s his institution, not ours to redefine. God has defined it as between one man and one woman for life. And that’s what marriage is.

Dig Deeper

• Homosexuality and the Authority of Scripture
• A Journey from a Homosexual Lifestyle to Christ

This week, we’ve been looking at arguments from Christians who claim the Bible affirms loving, committed gay relationships. This radical reinterpretation of the Bible puts sinful man in authority over God’s Word. And this isn’t the first time this has happened!

In Genesis, Satan tempted Eve with, “Did God really say?” He got her to question God’s Word and put her own ideas and desires above God’s clear instruction. And the results were catastrophic.

This new attack on God’s Word is no different. It’s just another version of “did God really say?” Instead of questioning God’s Word, we need to allow it to be our authority.

Dig Deeper

• Born This Way: Do “Biological Factors Drive Homosexuality?”
• Homosexual Behavior Remains a Sinful Choice

There’s tremendous pressure today for Christians to affirm same-sex relationships. And many in the church are caving by radically reinterpreting the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexuality. But this means the church has misunderstood the Bible for 2,000 years and only figured it out due to a huge amount of pressure to change what God’s Word says.

Those who accept homosexual behavior are reading their ideas into the Bible. They’re making it say what they want it to say. But God’s Word hasn’t changed. It says the same thing it’s said since it was written—marriage was designed by God for one man and one woman.

Dig Deeper

• Homosexual Behaviour vs. the Bible
• The Misplaced Identity of Gay Christianity

Many in the church today are trying to reinterpret God’s Word to accept gay “marriage.” For example, some claim that archaeology shows the New Testament only condemns abusive gay relationships, not loving ones.

But this means that for 2,000 years Christians have misunderstood what the Bible says about marriage and sexuality. It means Scripture isn’t clear, and we can only understand it now that we have archaeology. This subjects God’s Word to a higher authority—archaeology and man’s ideas. God’s Word’s is no longer the authority—sinful human beings are!

Let’s take God at his Word. He’s the ultimate authority.

Dig Deeper

• Can the Church Embrace Homosexual Behavior in the Name of Love?
• Was Paul Against Loving, Consensual Homosexual Relationships?

Many Christian leaders are now claiming the New Testament never condemns homosexuality, only abusive gay relationships, a common Roman practice at the time.

But if the Bible is accepting of loving gay relationships, why doesn’t it say that? And if it merely condemns abusive ones, why doesn’t it say that? Why does it give a condemnation of homosexuality that’s been interpreted as a complete condemnation for 2,000 years? Is Scripture really that unclear?

The only way to interpret the Bible this way is by ignoring the plain reading of the text. But we must let God’s Word speak to us, not twist it to make it say what we want it to say.

Dig Deeper

• Does Ancient Art from Pompeii Prove the Bible Supports Gay “Marriage”?
• Pro-Gay Theology: Does the Bible Approve of Homosexuality?

Scientists are increasingly seeing small adaptive changes popping up in just a few generations. They call this surprising observation “rapid evolution.” Now evolution is supposed to be very slow and gradual. But that’s not what we observe.

These rapid changes make sense in a biblical worldview. God created each kind with an incredible amount of genetic variability. This allows them to quickly adapt to changing conditions. It’s a very wise design because it allows kinds to adapt and fill a wide variety of environments in an ever-changing world. Otherwise, they’d quickly go extinct. It’s not evolution; it’s God design.

Dig Deeper

• Getting Enough Genetic Diversity
• 2.6 Variation, Yes; Evolution, No

Several years ago, parts of the southern United States experienced a severe winter. Researchers found that, in just one winter, a species of lizard “evolved a greater tolerance to cold.” They were shocked at how fast “evolution” happens.

But is this really evolution? No, it’s not. The lizards remained lizards, and they didn’t gain any new genetic information. This is simply adaptation and natural selection using genetic variety that already exists! Selection pressures, like this cold snap, force a species to adapt using this genetic variety. But nothing new is ever added so it’s not evolution, it’s just, well, lizards!

Dig Deeper

• Life: Designed by God to Adapt
• Natural Selection Is Not Evolution!

I once saw a study that claimed humans were driving lizard evolution in Brazil. You see, the construction of a new dam formed islands, isolating a population of lizards from the mainland. Within just fifteen years, these lizards had bigger heads and mouths to eat the larger insects on the islands.

But is this evolution? Well, the lizards remained lizards, and none of them gained any new genetic information. All that happened was the lizards adapted to their environment, using the genetic information they already had. This isn’t evolution in action! It’s just adaptation and natural selection.

Yes, it’s lizards producing lizards.

Dig Deeper

• Are Humans Driving Rapid Lizard Evolution?
• Variety Within Created Kinds