Creation
Why I "Barney Fife" Evolutionists
By Karl C. Priest September 27, 2009
(Revised 2-13-21)
While I was a middle school teacher my teaching team met daily to discuss topics which sometimes included student behavior. When a colleague brought up an issue of discipline, my philosophy was to "nip it in the bud" which was a line used by deputy Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show. When I retired, my team leader gave me a t-shirt with Barney's photo and that quote.
That philosophy is the one to which I adhere in dealing with evolutionists.
A friend once suggested I listen to hours of theology tapes by a compromised (corrupted) evangelist for evolutionism in order to better understand him and be more able to refute him.
I only have about 20 waking hours per day and I allocate very little of it to people like him.
There are many unsaved and open-minded folks that need my time. I can only get to a few of them.
The preacher had nothing new that hasn't been proposed by evil men since Satan's first lie.
His biblical arguments had no merit because he didn't even believe the Bible is inspired.
Later, while researching for an article it crossed my mind that, by preparing such articles, I might reach two children or a couple of open-minded adults. Actually I hope for much more, but “two” is a good example.
By the grace of God, two would be double the result of a successful long argument with an avowed evolutionist.
Dr. Joseph Mastropaolo proved that evolutionists/atheists are enamored with their own intellect and all they want to do is argue almost endlessly. That’s why the Life Science Prize was developed. The LSP is not for evolutionists. It is intended to edify believers and expose open-minded unbelievers to the truth in a way that “even six-year olds understand”.
Most people who believe in evolutionism do so because of attending public schools and being misinformed by the main-stream media. They are not anywhere near LSP material. I have much patience with folks like that and use an entirely different tact when conversing with them. I am patient with courteous defaulters, but I pounce on churlish defamers.
I do not hate evolutionists. I love them, but with a “tough love”. Granted, there is some righteous anger when I think of how seriously they harm innocent children. I have not given up on a prominent local levobortamite** and have tried to periodically persuade him for over ten years, but he is not high on my priority list.
The reality is that the local man, as almost all those on the Debate Dodger list (he is not on the list) have all the indications of having been given up (by God) to reprobate minds (And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Romans 1:28). Only God knows for sure, but I know this for sure—my time is best spent on people other than them.
His problem is not in his head—it’s in his heart. (Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Ephesians 4:18)
In Hebrews 11, the following three verses explain why we cannot "logic" someone to Christ. Of course we can discuss the logic of God with someone who has an open heart, but it is futile to spend precious time on the typical evolutionist/atheist that just wants to argue to bolster their ego. As someone said, "Anyone who can be talked into salvation can be talked out of it."
The verses speak for themselves.
1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Committed evolutionists refuse to diligently seek the Truth.
We all have an appointment (And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27) and I do not want to get side-tracked as I approach my appointment. It would be foolish for me to focus on avowed evolutionists.
Speaking of being foolish brings me to the label that fits those who proclaim evolutionism as reasonable. That label is “fool”.
Fool: A person lacking in judgment or prudence. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fool)
The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. (Psalms 14:1a and 53:1a)
Romans 1:
20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
Evolutionist fools enthusiastically embrace their folly.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, (Proverbs 18:2a)
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. (Proverbs 13:16)
God gives us guidance on how to deal with fools.
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. (Proverbs 23:9)
II Tim 3:
1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Turning away from wasting time on fools does not mean turning away from exposing their error.
Error is like leaven, of which we read, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died. H. A. Ironside (http://www.thebereancall.org/node/7958)
How we (Christian Creationists) go about exposing error may differ among personal preferences. There is the passive aggressiveness of the Answers in Genesis’ weekly “Feedback” articles (They do not respond to all who send them criticism.), the stealth set-up for a surprise technique used by Dr. Duane Gish in his debates (He didn’t debate all evolutionists.), the street-fighter approach I prefer, and other techniques (Varying from the methods of the Creation Research Society to Kent Hovind and son.).
Evolutionism must be confronted for the anti-science and anti-Christ belief system that it is.
However we go about it—we must nip evolutionists in the bud.
*levobortomite (lev oh bor' tow mite) noun.
Anyone who believes and/or promotes left wing extremism, evolutionism, abortion, and/or anti-family activities such as sodomite marriage. These people are not limited to any particular political party.
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A verse related to public school science teachers (who teach evolution): Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. (Proverbs 16:22) This is another reason why we must Rescue our Children.
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What about Proverbs 26:4-5?
4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Matthew Henry answers that question succinctly.
See here the noble security of the scripture-style, which seems to contradict itself, but really does not. Wise men have need to be directed how to deal with fools; and they have never more need of wisdom than in dealing with such, to know when to keep silence and when to speak, for there may be a time for both. 1. In some cases a wise man will not set his wit to that of a fool so far as to answer him according to his folly "If he boast of himself, do not answer him by boasting of thyself. If he rail and talk passionately, do not thou rail and talk passionately too. If he tell one great lie, do not thou tell another to match it. If he calumniate thy friends, do not thou calumniate his. If he banter, do not answer him in his own language, lest thou be like him, even thou, who knowest better things, who hast more sense, and hast been better taught.’’ 2. Yet, in other cases, a wise man will use his wisdom for the conviction of a fool, when, by taking notice of what he says, there may be hopes of doing good, or at least preventing further, mischief, either to himself or others. "If thou have reason to think that thy silence will be deemed an evidence of the weakness of thy cause, or of thy own weakness, in such a case answer him, and let it be an answer ad hominem—to the man, beat him at his own weapons, and that will be an answer ad rem—to the point, or as good as one. If he offer any thing that looks like an argument, an answer that, and suit thy answer to his case. If he think, because thou dost not answer him, that what he says is unanswerable, then give him an answer, lest he be wise in his own conceit and boast of a victory.’’ For (Lu. 7:35) Wisdom’s children must justify her.
Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
Available on line at http://www.biblestudytools.com/Commentaries/
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Jesus called out civil and religious leaders in the strongest terms possible: thieves, hypocrites, sons of the Devil, etc. He challenged the authorities in Jerusalem by violently clearing the Temple with a whip, overturning the moneychangers’ tables. He railed against them for making the Temple “a den of thieves.”
If we truly love and care about our neighbor we will do what we can to help him, including sharing the scientific facts proving that immoral practices are harmful.
And we speak out, not just for the sake of those engaging in evil, but for Christians weak in the faith, duped by the world (which includes those who would justify their silence by spouting the liberal creed, “We can’t legislate morality in a pluralistic society”). All too often, Christians — including some of our leaders — spout whatever the mainstream media say about sex, abortion, divorce, etc.
We speak out of love for our neighbor. “Love the sinner, hate the sin” — we love the sinner by sharing how harmful sin is and pointing to a better way. To be passive when people’s lives are being ruined is to be complicit with evil. It is hating our neighbor.
We look to ourselves first, always saying with St. Paul that “I am the worst of sinners.” So our internal approach is not that “I have the moral high ground,” but “you are better than me; I am nothing but a beggar telling you where to find food and warning you of good-looking foods that contain poison.”
(W)hen the religious governing authorities told the apostles to stop preaching, they replied, “We must obey God rather than men.”
We interact with love, but that doesn’t mean we’re always “nice” or compliant. Christians should speak out against evil in all its forms, including evil legislation, evil policies, and evil ideas.
We speak out not to condemn people, but to do just the opposite: to love people. For instance, sodomy harms people and the society that condones it. Sodomy hurts, physically, biologically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/spreading-the-truth-means-being-politically-incorrect-like-jesus
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