Volume III, Issue 9
www.midwestapologetics.org
Welcome to the monthly Midwest Apologetics newsletter. Each issue is designed to keep you informed on the latest news concerning the ministry and provide timely articles to help strengthen your faith. Be sure to check out our website for articles, book reviews, and answers to some of the tough questions concerning the Christian faith.
Dismantling the Framework Hypothesis – Part One
Since the concept of an ancient earth became popular in the early 19th century, many Christians have tried to figure out a way to blend the biblical record with this idea. Several views have been advanced but each has serious flaws. Over the past few decades a new and dangerous approach to Genesis 1 has gained favor in many seminaries and Bible colleges. As a result of this, it is starting to be promoted in numerous churches.
This view is known as the Framework Hypothesis or the Literary Framework view. Essentially, this view attempts to identify elements in the text that should not be interpreted literally. Those who hold this view believe that if they can point out non-literal phrases or elements in Genesis then it would be wrong to interpret it literally. By claiming this, Framework adherents claim that the Bible does not teach anything about the age of the earth. As such, they think it is fine to believe in billions of years.
The Framework view is based on three major arguments. They are 1) Textual Parallelism, 2) Ordinary Providence, and 3) The Cosmogony Argument. One argument will be covered each of the following newsletters. For this article, we would like to highlight two flaws in this system before digging into the actual arguments.
The first problem with this view is that it is based on faulty logic. Even if it can be shown that non-literal elements exist in the text, it does not follow that the entire chapter should be viewed in a figurative manner. For example, it is entirely possible to write literal history and include figurative language.
The second problem is that the Framework Hypothesis violates a major interpretive principle of the Reformation. This is known as the perspicuity of Scripture. According to Theopedia.com, this principle states that “the meanings of the text can be clear to the ordinary reader, that God uses the text of the Bible to communicate His person and will.” This does not necessarily mean that every verse is easy to understand but it does mean that the ordinary Christian can come to an understanding of a given passage through careful and prayerful study.
In contrast the doctrine of perspicuity (also known as the clarity of Scripture), the Framework Hypothesis is difficult to understand and is definitely not based on an ordinary reading of the text. This is evidenced by the fact that the view was not “discovered” in the text until last century. If it came from the plain meaning of the text, surely the ancient Jews and Christians would have promoted it. Also, it is based on questionable interpretations of difficult passages.
In next month’s issue we will look at the first argument used to support this view. We will see that the Framework Hypothesis is not derived from the text at all. Instead, it is just another in a long line of attempts to deny the plain teaching of Genesis 1 – that God created the world in six ordinary length days approximately six thousand years ago.
Canyon Forms in Days –
Not Millions of Years
Young-Earth Creationists are often mocked by the secular world for denying that Grand Canyon is millions of years old. Of course, it is impossible to prove this one way or the other from a scientific perspective (since we weren’t there to watch its formation).
Nevertheless, there is a great deal of evidence that supports that a large canyon can be formed rapidly. Five years ago in Texas, an overflowed spillway carved a canyon that is 80 feet deep in some places and one and a half miles long. (For the full story, click on the Yahoo News link below.)
Unfortunately, the article makes the claim that Grand Canyon is 5 to 6 million years old. This new canyon, as well as the much larger “Little Grand Canyon” near Mt. St. Helens in Washington, provide strong evidence that Grand Canyon could have been formed quickly and recently. We believe that Grand Canyon was formed rapidly soon after the worldwide flood described in Genesis 7 – 8, which occurred about 4,350 years ago. Again, this does not prove our point of view on the Grand Canyon but lends support for it.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071006/ap_on_sc/new_canyon)
Upcoming Events
Below is a list of the places Tim will be speaking at in the coming months. If you would like to have Tim speak at your church, school, camp, etc., please visit our “Contact” page to reach us.
November 16-17 – Living Waters Bible Camp / Westby, WI (two talks at Creation Apologetics conference)
November 18 – Grace Church /
January 18-20, 2008 –
Miscellaneous
As always, if you have any questions, comment, concerns, corrections, ideas, prayer requests, etc., please email us and let us know. Also, thank you for your prayers. Please continue to keep us in your prayers throughout this month.
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