Can you give an answer?

Wags--comics--have a new technique for ridiculing folks who believe the Bible.  It's the assertion that we "don't believe in science ."

As this nifty tomato circulates among the jeering mob, it becomes soggy and decays to the level of "don't believe in dinosaurs" or "don't believe in fossils."  Really.

Media are doing their propaganda/sales-driven job for the massive conglomerates who now own them and the government. 
(Okay, they lease the gov't.) 
Kneel Dewgrassy Tieson  is condescendingly explaining Everything to us, so we will soon have this species of peculiar people embarrassed, if not out of existence, at least into hiding.  Then we can put this laughable god/creator thing behind us.

This is the fulfillment of high level educational policies revealed in Ben Stein's classic documentary, "Expelled."

Meanwhile, there are thousands of published, professional scientists speaking out (and being ignored by media) and daily converts in every field to at least the concept of intelligent design (ID).  Unfortunately, the average "christian" in America knows even less about the Bible than he does about science, which is mostly learned through media and the educational system previously mentioned.

Most of us, though, do know some things about our brains--less than we don't know, of course,--but still enough to convince many to experiment with some of the new info about learning, memory, and cognition recent research has brought to light. Neural pathways have been shown to be something we can consciously establish and develop.  New perspectives can be taught to the brain through deliberate challenge and exercise.  Sadly, the Borg caught onto this before mankind, and most of us are already conditioned beyond recovery without help.

This, for believers, is where Scripture has so much to offer.
The Bible, itself, offers solutions to the predicament of the believing mind facing the faithless flood that is our culltour.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,"  (2Tim.2:15) "...and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..." (1Pet.3:15)  These verses tell us where to begin and why.

Study your Bible.  Use the helps available when you don't understand a passage.  (If you're at a computer often, an excellent resource is the Blue Letter Bible.)
Don't just skip over tough parts.  Act as though you were trying to learn more about, and how to please, Someone you love with all your heart.  The credibility of your witness is increased when it is clear you know what is, and is not in the Word.

"...Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called." (1Tim.6:20) 

"Avoiding profane and vain babblings" speaks simply to the futility of attempting a discussion with someone blasphemous, or who doesn't know what they're talking about.  Just excuse yourself politely.

That bit about "science falsely so called" is important, though.  Considerable real evidence abounds for the facts revealed in Scripture.  Simply being able to say "There's new research on that," and then citing it, is a very powerful argument turner, even for "intellectuals."

The "scientific" argument is presumptive of some knowledge of an empirical nature--something proved; yet most of these claims are specious, and easily refuted by someone who has done some homework. Reams of scientific evidence of ID have been published.  An excellent source for such info is In Six Days, subtitled "Why Fifty Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation."  There are many more.

Those allergic to reading can find many  audio ad video resources.  Among the best are the studies offered by Chuck Missler of, Koinonia Institute and by Answers In Genesis (regardless of the dismaying performance of Ken Ham in his "debate" with Bill Nye, the "science" guy).

Learn the Word.  Dwell in it.  Fit your brain with new neural pathways to Truth by memorizing passages you find powerful.  
Learn some actual science, and you won't be backed down by ignorant claims or assumptions.
Best of all, the sheer supernatural power of the Bible will transform your heart.

Here's a little something to get you started:

Making a difference

“Catch phrase” is one of those hybrid word pairs idiomatic in our increasingly short-hand, cobbled-together lingo.  My mind is prone to being caught; but I have always had another habit in a similar vein, i.e., quoting favorite lines from movies, musicals, sitcoms--any form of entertainment--particularly enjoyable when others laugh, remembering the shared experience.
 
In the 60s, my generation found a lot of this sort of material on comedy albums. 
Then came “The Firesign Theater.”

For the undergraduates I will explain that Firesign was a group of comics doing ensemble recordings as though they were radio shows, produced to play off the effects of psychedelic substances.  The result was a layered production with so much going on that most folks just couldn’t get it all the first time around.  By the time we had heard everything, and sifted through the layers of meaning, we had learned many of the key lines, and had great fun inserting them into our day’s dialogue.  They must have had a wonderful time writing and producing these complex romps through nonlinear satire.

To this day, breaking out one of those lines is a quick way to find those in a group with a similar background, or, at least, part of the same generational experience.

Nowadays we read Scripture with an advantage the “actors” in the script never had.  We have all 66 books right together where we can find the connections and see how the picture interlocks.  We even have teachers and study guides to help us.

We are the “in” crowd who get all the references and call-backs and images which prove these 44 disparate writers were directed by a single Author. 
(Over time, the Bible proves It is what It says It is.)

But, as it works out, fools don’t read it.  (So, don’t worry about the company in Heaven…No fools there, thank You, Lord!)

Now, the biblically illiterate don’t let their ignorance stop them from having lots to say about this book they have never studied.  They’ve heard and read plenty about the Bible, so they can be experts without  toiling through its unfamiliar organization and difficult language.
In fact, adding their many diatribes—books, articles, PBS specials—to the myriad of legitimate studies and commentaries makes the Bible the most written-about book in the planet’s history.  Sadly, it is the least read, especially in our used-to-claim-to-be-christian country, even among professing believers.

What if we became a trend--a movement of Bible fans who enjoyed quoting it back and forth, laughing with joy when a phrase was the perfect fit for what was happening?

At lease we’d be having more fun than the “out” crowd.

Stop trying to make a difference and just be it.

Here are some new "in" crowd memes for ya from my very favorite entertainer, Tim Hawkins:

The Bible

is like a puzzle disassembled and put back in the box sorted by color.  As good a way as any, one might say; but until the correct relationships of the sections begin to be seen, it can be hard to even imagine the overall picture.

You carefully separate the puzzle’s pieces to put them away for someone else’s enjoyment and a few fall to the floor.  Picking them up, you realize they fit together in a way you had not seen, revealing a new part of the picture!

After a while, all the pieces fit with all the others, producing limitless new pictures.  Not different pictures…new ones with the same subject.

I now see 66 books, by 40-plus authors over a period of literally (and literately) millennia, so dove-tailed—so completely self-reinforcing, it could only have been produced by Someone with an overview of ages and an understanding surpassing human intelligence.

I’ve heard the critics’ voices:  “It contradicts itself.”  “It’s unscientific.”    “It’s mistranslated.”  “Men conspired to put it together.”  “It oppresses women.” …and so on.  Until I began to study it myself, I believed some of that, and, as a result, did not understand it myself.  After 42 years of careful reading and serious study of this amazing collection of books, I know all those to be the false claims chanted by those who are afraid of even the idea of God.

I often encounter folks who get very upset at the mention of the Bible, and begin to shout these things they have heard.  It’s impossible to discuss any book intelligently with someone who has never read it.

Non-readers will grasp any straw, from the simple-minded by-faith imaginings of evolutionists to science fiction scenarios about aliens from other worlds.  They would rather believe anything than the possibility that a loving Creator gave these writings to us.

If you are a believer, and not immersed in this wonderful document, you are neglecting the most important thing in a believer’s walk: understanding.

What you thought you found when you first tried the puzzle is just the beginning of possibilities.  It is a written work so perfect, profound and intricate that it will last you at least a lifetime, providing its kaleidoscope of insights and beautiful views.

No longer a puzzle to me, it is ever a wonder.  What a great gift idea!

(Here’s a video that should help you to at least begin to trust the translations.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8hOKA9fR2p4