Young Christian Leaders' Alliance

R. Josiah Magnuson

“That’s your truth. I have mine.” This is the fundamental assertion of a post-modernist. Postmodernism claims there is no absolute truth – no reality basic to all people. Rather, it holds that every person creates their own reality from their own experiences and perceptions.

A post-modernist may accept that Christ is the Savior for some people, but will reject the need for Christ as the only Savior for all humanity. Is there a way to defeat this philosophy?

First, God’s Word is the starting point to defeat post-modernism. Christ told us, “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) God’s worldview is the basis for knowledge. Unless we start with His perspective, we cannot understand existence, or even know existence is real. The Bible states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The Bible also indicates in numerous places that God cannot lie or contradict Himself. Thus, reality (as God’s creation) is valid and concretely definable. However, if we start with any other premise, we become irrational since we cannot trust our own minds. The big question for post-modernism is, “How do you know?”

Second, logic defeats post-modernism. A postmodernist asserts, “There is no absolute truth.” This statement is actually an absolute truth in itself. Thus, if that statement is true, then it is false. Something cannot be both true and false. In response, a post-modernist may assert that he does not agree; he does not believe in the law of noncontradiction. Your reply would be, “Thus you do believe in the law of non-contradiction?” to which he would reply, “No, I just told you I didn’t.” By making such a statement, he is demonstrating that he in fact does believe in the law of noncontradiction, because he believes in the existence of falsehood.

Third, love must be the foundation of our effort. It is the Holy Spirit who must make alive the hearts of those we speak to. The Spirit works through love in the actions and attitudes of believers. Our materialistic culture has bred pride, bitterness, and covetousness, which hinders people from accepting absolutes. It follows that it must be our purpose to reach out humbly, forgivingly, and sacrificially for others. We must “take up our cross daily” to serve Christ in serving those around us.

It is important to recognize that the post-modernist will not be won by logic, although logic is a help along the way.  It may also be that the Bible solely as a book of principles will not win the post-modernist. The post-modernist will be drawn to Christ through the love of God’s people, and the work of the Spirit, as he experiences the adventure of God’s living words!

Post-modernism ends in irrationality since under this way of thinking, the world might simply be our imagination. Presenting the wonderful stories of Scripture is the basis to breaking irrationality (John 20:31), because the hearing of Scripture brings faith (Romans 10:17). Further, as faithful brothers and sisters, our lives corroborate the truth of God’s family (John 13:55).

What would your life tell a post-modernist? Does your life conform to the truth of Scripture? Are you a disciple of the Person of Truth, Jesus Christ, or are you wandering on paths of peril?

By Joel Biester

I find it very interesting how some philosophy, which completely typifies the thoughts of the flesh, is so pervasive in our culture. Then again, though sad, it's not a surprise. Even some Christians “buy into” foolish philosophies. It's by God's grace that others don't.

One foolish philosophy is, "I am who I am, don’t change me!" Well, what if Hitler had said that? Do you think God will let him use that excuse when he is judged? Is it any more right because you use it? In reality, we are all inherently wrong and sinful. Humanity is fallen and our natures have been corrupted. God calls us to be more than we are!

Oh, and "Live life!" Most people who use this don’t have a life worth living. Why live life as though it were the only thing? Have you considered that life is a short phase that directs your future? (James 4:14) Will living "life" now truly give you the fulfillment you desire? The answer is it can’t. Only Christ can give true purpose, and living for Him will be just that fulfillment.

What about the phrase, "It’s my life!"? I’m sorry – at least if you’re a believer – because Christ is supposed to own your life! (Col. 3:3-4) Christ, as God, came down to Earth as a human, to die, and not just die but to die the death of a criminal. A criminal is one who has transgressed the Law – as we all have – which Christ never once did.

He died there, enduring humongous torture, ridicule, slander, scoffing, spite, and pain. His suffering was fully physical, but He also suffered under the weight of our sin – indeed, all of humanity’s sins – and there had part of Himself, God the Father, turn away. He did all this so that you could live apart from service to sin! Rom. 6:1-6

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet NOT I, but Christ lives in me. And the LIFE which I now live in the flesh I LIVE by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

Why think in terms of foolish philosophies? Give your mind to Christ and be free from the falsehood of this world.

David Killinger

I run across some interesting people in my job. One day in September of 2010 I was called to pick up a drunkard. We found the guy in a trailer park and he climbed into our ambulance. As part of my assessment, I asked if he was having any trouble breathing. He said, "I breathe when God gives me air." That gave me pause.

Taking a breath - filling your lungs with oxygen that you need to survive - is something that an adult human does automatically between twelve and twenty times per minute. Your body continues to breathe when you're not thinking about it. But how often do you think about something simple, like air? We take breathing for granted until we have trouble with it. You only breathe when God gives you air.

Many of us remember a time in our own lives when God pulled us miraculously through some sticky situation or other. These are easy to remember, especially if you are only alive today because of it. Though easy to forget, breath is a silent miracle. Sometimes I have to remind myself of the truth: I am not alive just because God lets me live. I am not alive just because my time has not yet come. I am alive today because my God cares enough, is merciful enough, and loves me enough to actively give me life through breath (e.g. Acts 17:24-25). I am thankful for that!

In sustaining us, God has a specific purpose. His continuing mercy demonstrates to us that He is a God of both consistency and love. Sometimes God shows mercy in ways we would not expect – even in humbling ways (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). But each of these gifts, including each breath of air, show us that we need the Lord, His Word, and His power in our lives.

The next time you are wondering where miracles are in everyday life, remember this: you experience a little miracle between twelve and twenty times per minute.

The Declaration of Independence was not intended as the instrument of legal separation from Britain.  So, what was its purpose?  Find out in the September issue of our YCLA newsletter!

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Here's a link to, and text of, my speech I gave this past Monday night, March 29, 2010 for an oratory competition.  I didn't win, but I think God used my speech to help some people understand the true nature of this issue better.

http://youngchristianleaders.org/Documents/Abortion%20Solution.wma

Worldview Transformation: A Plan to End the Abortion Tragedy

By R. Josiah Magnuson, March 29, 2010

Abortion: seldom in American history has a problem come about with such enormous and tragic consequences, and yet so few forthcoming solutions.  Every day, over 3,700 U.S abortions take place, amounting to close to 1.4 million abortions every year.  According to this conservative estimate from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion source, over 50 million individuals have thus been brutally brought to their graves through a legalized extermination, an amount greater than that of those killed by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao combined.  Yet, our country stands still and watches.  

While politicians make empty promises, the media conducts interviews, and lobbying groups send out petitions, innocent children are being slaughtered.  Why?

The fundamental problem in America is not a political issue, but a moral one.  The right to life is only one moral principle which must be upheld.  God’s commands to abstain from sex outside of marriage, love Him before all else, and love our neighbor, are concepts which will, when followed, completely eliminate the abortion problem.

First, the fact of premarital sex is one of the leading causes for abortion.  64.4% of abortions are performed on women who were never married.  According to David Barton of the organization Wallbuilders, premarital birth rates have increased over 200% since 1963, the year the Supreme Court ruled that Bible reading was not permissible in the public classroom.  God commands abstinence before marriage.  Children must be taught from an early age to honor Biblical authority, if they are to be expected to honor it later.

Second, God commands us to love our neighbor.  Abortion is not an act of love.  It is an act of violence.  How can we claim to be Christians and not stand against this practice?  Nearly 20% of women who have abortions currently identify themselves as “Born again/Evangelical.”  We should be ashamed.

Third, God commands that we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Children in a mother’s womb are the creation of God.  They are not evolutionary tissue, nor are they a “problem” or simple “inconvenience.”  Americans have become wrapped up in materialism, in maintaining our standard of living, and in doing what we want.  Have we forgotten that God is our Creator?  Have we forgotten the words of the Founders, that “all men… are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights”?  Have we forgotten that among these rights is the right to life, for all?

Abortion will end when the people of the United States turn back to God and allow Him to transform their worldview.  But transformation does not start “out there” – it must start in our own hearts and minds.  We must commit to upholding the authority of God’s moral code.  We must prepare ourselves to teach and train others.  We must pray and fast – and we must love God first.

When the people as a whole recognize the disaster of abortion, wheels will be put in motion which no one knew existed.  Perhaps Supreme Court justices will finally be appointed who will overturn Roe v. Wade.  Perhaps bills will be passed to take the abortion issue away from Federal court jurisdiction and return it to the states.  Perhaps abortion will be regulated out of existence.  But perhaps, the abortion clinics will close on their own, because there will be no more demand.

Samuel Adams once wrote: “…I have long been convinced that our enemies have made it an object to eradicate from the minds of the people in general a sense of true religion and virtue, in hopes thereby the more easily to carry their point of enslaving them.  Indeed, my friend, this is a subject so important in my mind that I know not how to leave it.  Revelation assures us that ‘righteousness exalteth a nation’….  The diminution of public virtue is usually attended with that of public happiness; and the public liberty will not long survive the total extinction of Morals.”

In conclusion, the plan to finally end abortion is one of more than political action.  It must consist of a consistent moral training operation in our own homes and families.  It must include a Biblical foundation which affects our entire worldview.  It must be a return to the God-honoring principles of America’s Founders.  Respect for life will be regained when we regain a lifestyle of respect.

The solution to the abortion problem does not revolve around who we elect.  It revolves around who we are.

Although Evolutionary scientists will assert that they have no biases or pre-existing ideas for their research, they are indeed biased towards a naturalistic worldview. Evolutionists believe that the origin of everything should be explained by natural means, apart from God. They are fitting their scientific theories to a prior view. On the other hand, many Christians believe the Bible simply because they have been taught it, and thus have the same kind of preexisting ideas.

How can we learn what the beginning truly was? It is important to note that the kind of science which puts men on the moon or explores a DNA genome is not the same as the "science" which attempts to explain where humans originated or how the universe was birthed.  Science is based on observation. Simply put, no one alive on Earth was there to observe how life began and continued through time. There are just some things pure science cannot tell us.  The key to finding truth on a past event is not setting aside our existing ideas, but finding an eyewitness account and testing it with logic and our current observations.

When we take our here-and-now observations and look at them through the Biblical Creation account, we come up with a consistent interpretation, but when we look at them through the Evolutionary view, we see a contradictory and unworkable interpretation.  

One example of this contradiction is that if Evolution were true, we would never be able to know it.  We would not be able to trust our brains if they are the result of millions of chance mutations, created in an unguided or Intelligence-deprived process.  What if the laws of logic were simply Evolutionary survival tools, but did not actually convey truth?  We could never find out, because to do so would be to assume logic to be true.  Also, the naturalist states that the laws of science have always been the same – and thus, he states that the universe must have formed in keeping with processes seen today.  However, the naturalist actually borrows from the Biblical system, because he assumes that the laws of science were established before the universe and everything in it began to form.  

In objectivity, the Biblical framework far exceeds the Evolutionary one in its ability to account for the evidence. God’s version of history is consistent, because He is its ultimate eyewitness! Just as in any historical research, we must allow the account of the One who observed the event to have precedence over ever-changing (and illogical) modern opinions. Ultimately, it is true that belief in Creation requires faith; but, belief in Evolution requires much more.

Adapted from the BEAMS Handbook

The conflict is picking up right now in the political realm over what the proper method is to right all the wrongs in America, especially the economic ones, so that each of our wallets can again experience great happiness and freedom!  However, there are also many Christians who have been speaking out against political action of any sort. They believe that earthly patriotism can only detract from heavenly patriotism, and thus Christians must only act for directly evangelistic purposes.

Both of these campaigns appear somewhat misguided when held to the light of Scripture.  On the one hand, the Bible is not a political manifesto. Its primary intention is not to effect social or economic change. On the other hand, the Bible does work in life and indeed contains important principles which political activists and government officials would do well to heed.

It should be our priority as believers to uphold God’s Word. If true improvement comes, not financially-motivated but cultural, it will come as a by-product of our presentation of God’s absolute morality and the Good News.

For example, the Bible commands us that “thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15) and “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (II Thess. 3:10). It further indicates that “a false balance is an abomination….” (Prov. 11:1). Thus, we can reasonably infer that much of our current economic system, e.g. Federal Reserve fiat (fake) money, is not pleasing to God.

So is it wrong for a Christian to be interested in politics? No. However, the strategy the Bible outlines is much different than is often used:

-Pray for our leaders. I Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

-Respect those in authority. I Peter 2:17 says, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

-Defend others’ rights. Proverbs 31:9 indicates there are those God calls on to “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

There is indeed a place for Christians in political action. However, we must be sure before we attempt modern strategies that we are carrying out the Biblical directives God has given us.  More importantly, we need to focus on being Christ-like in our individual lives. As Proverbs 14:34 reminds us, “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

- R. Josiah Magnuson

YCLA President

This article was taken from the YCLA monthly newsletter.  For info on how to subscribe, email ycla@youngchristianleaders.org.

The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes

By R. Josiah Magnuson

Q. Why is law from the Creator necessary?

A. Law from the Creator gives an absolute moral standard to secure freedom. Without such a standard, governments have no purpose but to achieve dictatorship status over their people.

Q. Does the First Amendment allow government to acknowledge the Creator?

A. Yes. In fact, the United States Congress has opened each of their sessions with public prayer since 1777. The early constitutions of the states also each spoke of dependence on God. The First Amendment only prohibits Congress from enacting legislation regarding "an establishment of religion," meaning Congress has no jurisdiction over what particular doctrines or traditions the country as a whole must support. Incidentally, the First Amendment also prohibits laws infringing on the free exercise of religion, which thus allows the acknowledgement of God by public officials.

Q. Were the Founding Fathers really Deists or atheists?

A. No! Almost all the Founding Fathers claimed unabashedly to be Christians. In fact, many declared that liberty could not exist without the acknowledgement of the Creatorship of God. However, it is true that several may have held less than orthodox beliefs regarding the inspiration of the Bible, miracles, and other divine acts.

Next Post: The Role of Government

Frequently Asked Questions on the Nature of American Republicanism

By R. Josiah Magnuson, YCLA President

The following post is the first in a series.  Note that the phrase "constitutional republican" does not denote a political party affliation, but rather a set of principles which we believe agree with those expressed by the Founders of the United States.  The ideas expressed in these posts have become the opinion of the author after much historical and philosophical research.

Democracy and Republican Forms of Government

Q. What is a republic?

A. A republic consists of two defining elements: the fact that the government is limited by law, existing only to protect the rights of its citizens, and the fact that the government is elected and accountable so that it will abide by that law.

Q. What is a democracy?                         

A. A democracy consists of the absolute rule of the majority of the people. A democracy is not based on the existence of individual rights.

Next Post: The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes.

By R. Josiah Magnuson, YCLA President.

The theory of Evolution is based on a self-contradictory setof ideas. It depends biologically on two main features: natural selection (theidea that the best-adapted organisms will survive) and the existence of mutations(random changes of genetic structure, in reproduction). It is said that overmillions of years, mutations will gradually occur which will be beneficial toany given organism, giving it a competitive “edge” over others in its class.The trait will thus be passed on as that organism reproduces, eventuallybecoming the standard for the entire species.

However, the fact is that the process of natural selectionhas no inventive capacity, even in combination with mutations. Natural selectionwas created to modify existing systems to keep species as a whole alive, butnot to invent new systems or species. The reason is that in order for amutation (the “fuel” for natural selection) to create new information, it wouldhave to occur simultaneously with an enormous number of other mutations. Everyoperation of life known depends on a system with a number of inter-dependentcomponents, each of which must exist for the operation to occur.

Evolution proposes that sets of mutations did not come to besimultaneously, but were added one by one over many generations. Naturalselection would thus serve not to preserve organisms with elements of the newinformation, but to root out each new individual mutation as it occurred! Farfrom having a competitive edge, the organism or its close descendants which possessedthe mutation would be out-performed by the others around them, having expendedenergy for a useless cause.

There is nothing in Evolution to “see” which mutations couldbe useful in the future. The only goal is for the creature to survive; it mustwork with what it has. Even if it were possible for carriers of the mutatedinformation to keep from being selected against, it would be extremelyimprobable that all the mutations would finally add up to something useful inthe genetic code.

The only option we are left with is that each function oflife was formed with all the necessary components intact. Evolution clearlydoes not provide this answer. However, there is no reason why the creation oflife’s systems could not have been accomplished by a hyper-dimensionalIntelligence. The Evolutionary assumption that the universe and everything init are self-existing is not only unnecessary; it is irresponsible and opposedto rational scientific investigation.

The only way all the inter-dependent components of life’ssystems could have formed is if each were created with advance knowledge as towhat each component was meant for and how each would relate to the other. Dareanyone mention… God?

For info on other scientific laws which Evolution violates, goto www.WorldRevScience.blogspot.com.

For answers to challenges to a literal reading of Genesis, wealso highly recommend www.AnswersInGenesis.org