Bombardier Beetle Defies Evolution

In response to the above video an evolutionist wrote: “Evolution by natural selection is *not* random chance.” The video itself does not mention the words “random chance” although it does talk about slow gradual processes being unable to justify evolution. This is true. Natural selection simply cannot be the power behind evolution.

Regarding natural selection and the proposed idea that it is the driving force behind evolution, let’s consider a few things.While it is true that natural selection is very much an observable truth, it must be pointed out that it is indeed random and not ordered & definite. Natural selection (which is really just gene reshuffling) generates varying “species” within any one kind of creature group (e.g. The “Dog Kind” - Poodles, Jack Russells, Dingos, Coyotes, etc). The genetic material in question is limited to the “creature group,” in this case the Dog Kind, and so what we see through natural selection is a vast myriad of animals produced that fit within this group. Of course, we see artificial selection as well, animals produced through the intervention of man, e.g. the Mule. Yet all the while we are seeing variation that results in different species that are bound within a creature group. This is why different species of dogs can still mate, however you will be hard pressed to find a dog mating with a cat.

Notice that the Bible says that God created creatures according to their kinds (Genesis 1:24). This means that they reproduced according to their kinds. Today this still happens. There are many animals in Africa, for example, that live in proximity and share the same environment, yet we see them reproducing according to their own kinds. The Bible is not a book of make-believe stories, and the world we see today certainly makes sense within a biblical/creationist worldview.

Audio of Open-Air Preaching (Leicester Square, 14th May 2010)

Is It Time For God To Show Himself?

Recently at work a colleague started to ask me questions regarding my faith. The conversation started off quite peaceably and he even said that he admired me for my faith. He mentioned that he had no faith so I quickly corrected him, for people exercise faith every day, whether it be in the mechanics of an elevator or in the skills of a bus driver. Granted, it is not faith in God, but it is still faith.

As the conversation progressed I continued to make a case for God's existence. It was interesting to note the change in demeanour of my colleague as I did this. He had been quite pleasant to me until now. However, he was starting to dig in as I talked. Then he came out with this statement: “It's time for God to show Himself.”

Many people will be quick to say that they will believe in God if He would show Himself to them in all His glory. But is this really the case? Would they believe in Him to the degree that they would surrender their lives to Him? There are two things to consider in answering this. Firstly, we see in Scripture examples of people not believing, even after seeing great miracles performed by God (John 12:37). Secondly, the Bible makes it clear that a person cannot submit to God and trust in Him completely unless God first does a supernatural work in His heart (John 6:44). It is not that a man will not believe in God, rather it is that he cannot believe in God (Romans 8:7). He is dead in his sin and must first be made alive (Ephesians 2:4-5). God must cause him to be born again (1 Peter 1:3).

I responded to my colleague by telling him that God had already shown Himself to this world and people still did not believe (John 1:11). Besides all this, His creation alone is sure proof of His existence, and it leaves all people without excuse before Him (Romans 1:20). He dismissed this and said that Jesus's death was too long ago to count, and that modern science had provided a far better and rationale answer for our existence.

It was a response I have heard time and time again. If I'd had the time to sit down with him and if he was willing to listen I could respond appropriately to his objections. But my window was short and we were already talking on work time, so I simply said: “Ultimately people do not believe in God because they don't want to believe in God. Evolution is embraced because to admit that there is a God is to admit that one day you will have to stand accountable before Him. God has already offered salvation to all who trust in Jesus Christ. God has indeed shown Himself, and His creation and His Word is a testimony to the truth of He is and what He has done.”

I praise God for this window of opportunity. I didn't get to say a lot, but the Lord uses many to sow, and He uses many to reap.

Do pray for my colleague and those who were listening near by.

Buddha is Dead, But Jesus is Alive!

Operation 513 London Report (14th May 2010)

The team was back out on Friday evening armed with the Word of God and the strength of the Lord. After meeting for a time of fellowship, devotions and prayer in our favourite cafe we headed into the square. Straight away we noticed that there were some festivities happening and it soon became clear that it was a celebration of Buddha’s birthday. I found this to be particularly interesting.

Andrew stood up first to preach. It’s really great to see him preaching with such boldness and confidence, and with a deep burden on his heart to see people saved. He’s still growing as a preacher but through the Lord’s help I think he’s doing a great job.

I stood up to preach next. Depending on crowd interaction I decided not to preach for too long in one sitting, but instead decided to preach a second time later on. I think this gives the rest of the team a bit more opportunity to get into one-to-one conversations. As it happened I didn’t preach for a second time, as I was engaged in a number of conversations, but I think it’s a good way to go and it’s something I will implement again next week.

During my message I spoke of the fact that there have been many great men through the years and many have accomplished great feats in the eyes of the world. People have been influenced by world leaders, particularly regarding world religions. However, they are all dead. Buddha himself is dead, but Jesus Christ is not dead. He has risen and is alive for evermore, and in Jesus Christ is there freedom from sin and death for all who trust in Him.

After I finished preaching I was pleased to see that the team was involved in conversation with people who had stopped to listen to the preaching. I managed to have a number of conversations throughout the evening.

Rowina and Ayo sharing the Gospel (in the background is a banner that says "Buddha's Birthday")

I spoke with a man named Derek, who is from Trinidad and Tobago. He professed to be a believer so I asked him a few questions regarding his conversion. I asked him if he was saved because of something he has done or because of something God has done for him. I was hoping to hear the latter, but instead he answered with the former. This of course concerned me so I shared the Gospel with him and stressed that salvation is by grace alone and that no amount of good works can save us. I had only a brief time with him but my prayer is that the Lord will impress upon his heart the truth of the Gospel. Do pray for him.

Next I spoke with a young woman from Egypt. She expressed a religious disposition and I surmised that she was Muslim, and although I did not ask her this she told me that she was. As we were talking she mentioned that we were not very different and that Christianity and Islam are very similar. I agreed with her that there are some similarities but I also stressed that there are some fundamental differences. As an example I told her that in Islam a person can earn salvation, whereas according to the Bible it is impossible to earn salvation. This really surprised her and she said that she had never heard this before. As I began to explain to her why this is the case her friends arrived. My window of opportunity had closed, as they all had movie tickets to see a film and needed to head off. I gave them all an in-depth Gospel tract and so do pray with me that they would read it and think upon its message.

Afterwards I spoke with Mohammed, a Muslim gentleman who comes to Leicester Square often to engage in conversation with us. Barney had already been speaking with him and I also noticed that he had a friend with him. We got talking and during our conversation I had to answer a number of false claims that are often made by Muslims. One in particular concerned the notion that the Bible speaks of the coming of Mohammed, who Muslims believe to be the last prophet sent by God. The proof text given for this was Deuteronomy 18:15 which reads: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen.” Here in this context Moses is talking of a future prophet, and although the identity of this prophet is not confirmed in this verse, later we read in Acts that he is aligned with the Messiah, that is, Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:22-24; 7:37). This verse is most definitely not speaking of Mohammed.

Later on I got to talk with two young men that believe in evolution. We spoke at length about natural selection and I stressed to them that natural selection is incapable of increasing or providing new information for the genome of a cell, which is what is necessary for evolution to be true. We got only so far in our conversation and as time was getting on I asked if they would like to continue the conversation through email. They agreed and so do pray that I would be able to continue to reason with them concerning the truth of God’s Word.

We all had some great opportunities and so praise the Lord for a good night.

Soli Deo Gloria!

All Charges Dropped Against Street Preacher and Friend, Dale McAlpine

In my last post I spoke of a good friend of mine who was arrested back in April while ministering the Gospel in his home town of Workington. He was arrested for saying that homosexuality is a sin and was charged with harassment, alarm and distress, which falls under section 5 of the public order act.

Many I’m sure have been praying for Dale and as a result we can now greatly rejoice. Cumbria Police have decided to drop all charges. You can read about it by clicking here. You can also watch a video where Dale speaks of his relief at the charges being dropped.

Let’s all give thanks to the Lord!

Trust Not in Man, Trust in God!

Operation 513 London Report (7th May 2010)

Tonight was a great night of ministry. Meeting at Cafe Nero before heading into the square we enjoyed a blessed time of fellowship and prayer. Barney spoke with us about the importance of standing biblically on the issue of homosexuality. There is a good reason for this.

Recently, a good friend of mine and fellow open-air preacher, Dale McAlpine, was arrested while preaching in his home town of Workington. It involved speaking about homosexuality and the charge was that he had caused harassment, alarm and distress, which falls under section 5 of the public order act. A person is guilty of this offence if he:

(a) Uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or

(b) Displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.

Having spoken to Dale, clearly these charges are completely fabricated and untrue. While he was preaching from a ladder Dale did not mention the sin of homosexual practise at all. He was approached by a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), who told him that if he said homosexual conduct was “sinful” it would be a crime. Dale correctly responded by stating to the PCSO that it is not a crime to describe homosexual practise as a “sin.” Police officers arrived later on the scene and Dale was arrested.

Dale is due to stand trial, yet we are confident that he will be found innocent of all charges. He is currently being represented by The Christian Institute. A trial date has yet to be set. You can visit www.christian.org.uk to learn of any new developments.

Barney gave us a good summary of how we ought to defend our position should any of us be pulled up by the police:

1) The Bible teaches that God loves sinners (Mark 2:17).

1. The Bible teaches that homosexual practise is sinful (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
2. The Bible teaches that everyone who repents from their life of sin and turns to follow Jesus will be saved from the eternal punishment they deserve (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

After we headed into the square we quickly got ready and then Andrew stood up to preach. It was great to have him back with us after he had recently gone back to Australia to visit with his family. After preaching a solid message on the Gospel and the importance of turning to Christ, I stood up to preach.

Andrew preaching open-air.

I asked people where their hope resides. Recently the U.K. had a General Election and people are looking to a new government to bring us out of the many problems that the country is facing. But ultimately our hope needs to be in God and not man. The Bible says, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord, than to trust in man” (Psalm 118:8). During my message I was able to engage with a young man named Aiden and I took him through the good person test and into the Gospel. He seemed to listen with a keen interest.

After I had finished preaching we all got busy talking with people one-to-one and handing out Gospel tracts. I got talking with a young man named Constantine. He is from Greece and grew up Greek Orthodox. Our conversation became quite philosophical and we spent some time wrangling over the issue of morality and how we can make sense of the belief that says there is no God even though we have an absolute morality in this world. Where did this absolute morality come from and why is it that universally we know things to be wrong at a fundamental moral level if there is no ultimate standard that tells us what is right and what is wrong? We are all moral agents and so for sure there is a Moral Law Giver.

Towards the end of the evening Aiden and his friend Frank came up to me just to say thanks for my message and that it was certainly going to make them think. We gave them all some in-depth Gospel tracts and that told them to really think upon the things they had heard. Do pray for them.

Soli Deo Gloria!