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Winning against suppression

Editorial

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©iStockphoto.com/jcgwakefield Winning against suppression

Romans 1:18 states:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

It should be evident to most that there are indeed powerful forces at work in the world today acting to “suppress the truth”.1,2

This often starts very young, especially in government schools, and even church schools.3,4,5 In line with this, we received this letter from a grandmother some years ago:

Grandson Jacob’s teacher gave the ‘party line’ on origins yesterday. “Two massive clouds of cosmic gasses collided and as a result our sun emerged … ”

Jacob raised his hand and interrupted, “I don’t believe that!”

“I beg your pardon, Jacob? Why not?” she asked.

“Because there was nothing but GOD and He just spoke and that’s where our sun came from” was the simple faith of this 8-year-old.

The teacher responded: “You know, Jacob, you are right. I don’t believe it [evolution] either. It happened just like you said but I’m not allowed to say it [creation] as a teacher. Thank you for saying it for me.”

This is no isolated case. On hearing the story, another Australian teacher said:

“Yes! That’s exactly how it is at my school, too. The principal read the ‘riot act’ out to us in the staff room: no mentioning creation in class, unless one of the kids … [raises] the issue.”

Thankfully, students are raising these issues, like Jacob above. Another example was after Creation magazine’s children’s pages told of dating tests on rock formed in 1949, 1954 and 1975 from lava flows at New Zealand’s Mt Ngauruhoe. The lab results ‘dated’ these rocks at up to 3.5 million years old!6

Feedback showed that the kids certainly understood the take-home message: If radiometric ‘dating’ is wrong on rocks of known age, why should we presume it’s right on rocks of unknown age? An excited mother told us,

“Johnny’s teacher telephoned me to ask, ‘Where did your son get this information?’ I replied, ‘From Creation magazine’!”

So, relaying the information in this magazine to young people is a proven way of fighting the suppression of teaching on creation imposed by education authorities.

Fighting suppression: same battle, new tools

With Creation magazine now in its 35th year, the dramatic and rapid cultural changes in an increasingly ‘online’ world present new challenges—but also opportunities. Hence why, with an increasingly tech-savvy younger generation, Creation magazine is now also available in digital format. (See p. 49.)

Thus parents and grandparents, at little extra cost, can keep the ‘hard copy’ for themselves while giving five of their children/grandchildren simultaneous digital access to the latest Creation magazine.7 (Which means no longer competing/queuing for reading access, as we’re told often happens.) Students so equipped can show Creation magazine content to their teachers the instant an issue arises. So there’s no need to surrender to those who would ‘suppress the truth’, e.g. regarding the earth’s special place in the universe (p. 38), the legacy of Noah’s Flood (p. 44), or the fact that archaeology supports the Bible’s account of history (p.48).

Fight ‘truth suppression’. Spread the word!

Further Reading

References

  1. Catchpoole, D. and Sarfati, J., Origins questions : evolutionists puzzled, creationists muzzled, creation.com/muzzled, 20 October 2006. Return to text.
  2. Woodmorappe, J., The frightful level of thought control in American academia, Journal of Creation 25(3):18–20, 2011, creation.com/crocker. Return to text.
  3. Statham, D., Evidence for creation now banned from UK religious education classes, creation.com/uk-schools-ban, 19 July 2012. Return to text.
  4. Cosner, L., Erring on the side of censorship: US schools are becoming Christ-free zones, creation.com/christfree, 21 July 2006. Return to text.
  5. Australian Christian schools in creationism row: Many are calling this the thin end of the wedge for Christians everywhere …, creation.com/australia-schools-ban, 9 March 2010. Return to text.
  6. Leitha, D. And Byers, S., Dating methods, Creation 24(3):34–37, 2002; creation.com/creation-for-kids-dating-methods. Return to text.
  7. Actually, we’ve already received unexpected delighted feedback from older people (even up to age 90!) saying they prefer the digital version, as they can enlarge the print size on their screen view.) Return to text.

Helpful Resources

Readers’ comments

Pieter B.
AU May 15th, 2013
Thanks for this little gem - the suppression of the truth in public schooling is one of the key reasons for the rapid growth of Christ centered homeschooling and private schooling.

We have been using CMI's and other Creation science based material to develop our little girl's curriculum, and continue to be amazed by how she soaks it all up.

Your material has blessed us abundantly, and will hopefully continue to bless generations to come. God bless!
Q. T.
US May 13th, 2013
One church I visited had a saying I really like. They said "A lie has speed but the truth has endurance". The lie of evolution has spread really fast, but the truth is coming out and evolution has nowhere to hide.
David D P.
ZA May 13th, 2013
This article also makes it so evident how very important it is that Christians themselves need to be very secure in their own complete belief and trust in the Scriptures - the truth and veracity of God's Word.
Cheri F.
US May 13th, 2013
This is very encouraging! I'd really like to get this kind of information into the hands of kids around the world. Is there a place I can find out the "rules" for bringing up creation like the Australian teacher mentioned in various countries (English speaking at the moment)? If kids have free rein to speak out on this issue, I want them to know!
David Catchpoole
May 14th, 2013
If there are readers familiar with whatever educational institution 'rules' might exist in official written form in their country, please advise, that we might publish that information here for all to see.
Rabbi Chaim D.
GB May 13th, 2013
I call on all believers in Creation of all faiths to petition the UK government to allow Creation to be taught in schools and not insist in evolution teaching. Government representatives lie in saying that evolution is supported by evidence in order to brainwash children into believing in their false theories. Those knowledgeable in science should make a particular effort to petition the government in this matter in order to show the government the truth of where scientific evidence points to. The UK is not a totalitarian atheist country, and Dawkins and the BHA should not be given the power to change this. Initiate a KEEP CREATIONISM IN SCHOOLS and CREATIONISM IN SCHOOLS IS SCIENCE campaign.
David Catchpoole
May 14th, 2013
There are some possible pitfalls to be aware of though. See: The teaching of creation in schools, and Creation and evolution: teaching two histories.
Mat H.
GB May 13th, 2013
I am shock that the teachers are saying these things. There are well understood models of say the formation of a sun that if the teachers don't understand or believe than they're only doing a disservice to the students.

I see this as extremely poor examples of teaching abilities and teachers.
Robert S.
AU May 13th, 2013
Overall, there should be no problem in getting God’s truth to where it is needed, since His word is able to destroy any argument and break down any barrier.

“Is not my word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29
Chandrasekaran M.
AU May 13th, 2013
Suppressing the truth is the nature of the fallen human, the nature of the fallen first Adam. Unfortunately suppressing the truth is there in the legal systems and even in the Church nowadays just as it was in Jesus’ time.

As I read this article I am reminded of the following incident described in the gospel of Matthew where chief priests and the scribes were trying hard to suppress the truth and even accused Jesus of not doing the same like them.

Mat 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant
Mat 21:16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus *said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?"
R. D.
GB May 13th, 2013
Always worth bearing in mind something Paul said later in that letter as well...
"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
(Romans 8:31)
The Humanists start at a huge disadvantage because they are fighting God and fighting truth. The message of truth is certainly getting out, and has been getting out stronger for the last five decades than it had been for upwards of a century previously, and more so than ever in the last decade or so with the increased sharing of information online. The ever-more-draconian measures which Humanist organisations are having to lobby for to try and stem the tide attests to just how much of a threat they realise this is.

None of this will make a great deal of impact. So long as there are servants of the Lord willing to spread the truth, nothing can contain it.

Keep it up guys, you at CMI (and various other apologetics ministries) do a fantastic job!

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