A Secular Obsession—Escaping Death?

A Secular Obsession—Escaping Death?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 26, 2025 (Donate)

From a Christian perspective, life has value, and human life has eternal value. This is why Christians share the good news of Jesus Christ—so others can have eternal life. Being made in the image of an eternal God means our souls go on forever, and we look forward to a general resurrection of all people, where we will receive new bodies when Christ returns (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Yet, the secular world has an obsession with wanting to live longer in this sin-cursed and broken world. For instance, they have studied the genetics of death with progeria (a genetic point mutation where a single glitch leads to aging and dying of old age by the time one is a teenager).

NewScientist magazine (September 20–26, 2025)

In the NewScientist magazine (September 20–26, 2025; pp. 30–34), there is a cover article on how to live to 100. This article looks at food and exercise considerations and how the body reacts to internal maintenance and repair. The following article (ibid., pp. 34–35) examines tech millionaire Bryan Johnson’s quest for longer life.

Over and over again in secular literature, there is an obsession with escaping death—even for just a little while. But goals of immortality remain elusive. Meanwhile, the secular world dwells on abortion (forced death of the preborn) and euthanasia (forced death of the elderly) while praising “millions of years of death” as the hero that drives evolution.

The point is that in the heart of hearts of unbelievers, like these secularists, they know death is bad and that it is coming for them. The problem is that their worldview offers no solution. It is a “dead end” with no hope.

Have you ever stopped to think about a secular humanistic worldview? Everything came from nothing, life is an accident, and everything is going to die—without any ultimate meaning or hope.

You can see why so many give up and have no desire to do great things. Others try to gain temporary sanity and fight death for a while, only to succumb sooner or later.

The fact is that death is an enemy—and the secularists realize this deep down. As a Christian, I actually commend them on this realization! That might surprise you.

Death is an enemy, but not in a secular mindset. In the secular worldview, death is a natural part of life and is vital and necessary for evolution to “hopefully” move forward for a little while—until the universe eventually dies of a heat death. Then it was all pointless again.

The secular view cannot explain why death is an enemy, but the biblical worldview does. Death is the punishment for sin, and we’ve all sinned—both when our life was wrapped up in Adam and his first sin, and through our own personal sins (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12). So, when secularists realize death is bad and want to escape it, that’s good! But this recognition comes from a Christian worldview, not a secular one.

This provides a perfect springboard to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, who took the death we deserve to satisfy God’s punishment for sin. This is how we receive everlasting life—not by exercise, diet, or other experiments, but by having the death we deserve taken for us. The God of life, who created and sustains life, will grant us eternal life when we believe in Jesus Christ, who suffered, died, and rose again to save us.

Then Christ’s perfect righteousness (because He committed no sin per 1 Peter 2:22 and Hebrews 4:15) is credited to us, and we are seen as spotless for all eternity—enjoying God’s blessings forever. There is no fear of a heat death, only hope and eternal purpose.

Christians have recently been reminded in several ways that death comes for us all because of sin. But God has made a way of escape through His Son, Jesus.

With the recent passing into glory of great men of God—John MacArthur (who once walked into my office because he wanted to meet me!), James Dobson, Charlie Kirk, and my friend Voddie Baucham (just yesterday)—we are reminded of the power and promises of God. They are now comforted and will rise again with new glorified bodies, just like Jesus did.

Voddie, Bodie, Buddy, Bodie, Voddie, Cody—we had fun with our names! Photos by Bodie Hodge

Yes, our hope is in Christ, not the world. Our hope is in God, not diet, exercise, or scientific experiments. These things may offer temporary help and benefits, but death is coming for us all. The question is: on which side of the grave will you stand? The side standing with Christ, or the one standing opposed to Him, awaiting eternal judgment?

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children. 

 

The Doctrine Of The Canon

The Doctrine Of The Canon

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 25, 2025 (Donate)

Why 66 books of the Bible? Some churches, like Rome after the mid-1500s, profess a few more by adding in some apocryphal books. Though arguably the most popular Catholic in history, Jerome, who translated the most time-honored translation in history (Latin Vulgate) that was used for well over 1000 years, held to 66 books. So, what gives?

Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

This brings us to the issue of the doctrine of the canon. The canon (which means reed or measuring stick) is about inspired Scripture. So how do we know what books are contained in the canon? And why 66?

How To Get Started On The Subject?

Some suggest we should set the Bible aside and look at the subject of canon and decide for ourselves. Some suggest we let the church decide what the canon is. The problem with both of these methods is that it puts people (i.e., man, autonomous human reasoning) as the authority over God.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

When we look at the canon, God’s Word should not be neglected. It should still be treated as the authority that it is. As you can see, it is a unique quandary, because what makes up God’s Word is the very question at hand! Nevertheless, you can use your sword to defend your sword and an army can use a hill defend a hill. That analogy might be fitting here.

We’re going to use the 66 books of God’s Word to defend God’s canon.

God’s Authority On Canon

The canon of Scripture through a presuppositional apologetic framework (i.e., starting with the 66 books of the Bible), begins with the fact that God exists, that His Word is true, and that human reasoning must be subject to divine revelation rather than standing in judgment over it. This perspective shapes the way God understands and defends His own canon.

God is the ultimate authority, and because Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), it carries His authority. Therefore, the recognition of the canon is not primarily a human decision or council ruling but the result of God giving His Word and imposing its truth. In other words, the canon is self-authenticating.

From a presuppositional standpoint, to question the canon using autonomous human reason is to start with the wrong foundation. Instead, the believer must begin with God’s revelation and interpret all evidence, including canonical evidence, through that lens.

Self-Authenticating Nature Of Scripture

The Bible, by its own attestation, is the very standard that mark it as God’s Word. Confirmations of this are seen in:

• Non-contradiction since God cannot deny Himself
• Godly qualities—unity, harmony, fulfilled prophecy, miracles, written across ages with one theme, and spiritual power.
• Apostolic authority—books were written and affirmed by prophets and apostles of Christ.

To clarify, the church did not create the canon; rather, the canon generated the church by delivering God’s authoritative message through the power of the Holy Spirit. This rejects the Roman view that church tradition determines Scripture’s authority and canon.

Man was never in a position to determine canonicity. The Holy Spirit was. Instead, God’s Word has always been inherently authoritative from the moment it was revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Presuppositional Response To Challenges

Critics often claim the canon was the product of late church councils or political processes (e.g., the Council of Nicaea). One should respond by presuppositionally exposing the faulty starting point of these arguments:

1. Unbelieving assumptions—Skeptics appeal to a lesser authority in themselves to deny God’s existence or authority and therefore misinterpret historical data. This is a faulty appeal to authority and historical truth fallacy.
2. Historical evidence rightly interpreted—Early Christians already viewed Old and New Testament writings as authoritative long before any council, as seen in Peter calling Paul’s writings “Scripture” (2 Peter 3:16). Early church fathers immediately quoted New Testament books, which are apostolic-imposed books on the church as authoritative.

New Testament apostles and prophets knew what was Scripture and it would be naïve to think otherwise. As apostles imposed the canonical books on the church, people, therefore, knew what they were right from the apostolic age forward.

If anything, subsequent generations began struggling with the question of canon later. Even so, by starting with the truth of Scripture, councils merely confirmed what was already previously known and recognized, similar to how a jeweler identifies real gold rather than creating it.

Canon And The Old Testament

The Old Testament canon was completed and accepted long before Christ’s earthly ministry. Jesus Himself affirmed this canon when He referred to the Law, Prophets, and Writings (Luke 24:44). Thus, the Old Testament was already fixed, and Christ’s endorsement provides divine confirmation. Any later additions (e.g., the Apocrypha) are rejected because they lack prophetic authority and were never recognized by Jesus or the apostles.

Canon And The New Testament

The New Testament canon emerged as the apostles and New Testament prophets, under divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote Scripture. These writings were immediately authoritative and recognized as such by the early church as they were imposed by the apostles as authoritative. This recognition flows naturally from the Spirit’s work in the apostolic church rather than from later institutional decisions. Later, some quested certain books after the apostles were laid to rest, but like God said, He would preserve His Word and did so (e.g., Psalm 12:6-7).

We can know with certainty that the New Testament books are 100% Scripture from God by starting with God’s authority rather than man’s reasoning. Using a presuppositional approach, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and that His Word is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, when God reveals His Word, it is inherently perfect and trustworthy.

To recap this important point, from the moment the apostles or New Testament prophets, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote these books, they were immediately authoritative.

The church did not create the canon; instead, believers simply recognized what God had already given by imposition of the apostles as the office of Christ’s representatives. In the same way, the prophets of the Old Testament imposed their books and writings, which were produced by the power of the Holy Spirit, prior to Christ.  

Con sider these confirming factors:

1. Apostolic authority—Every New Testament book was written by an apostle or a direct associate under apostolic oversight (e.g., Luke with Paul, Mark with Peter) including New Testament prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28).
2. Consistency and harmony—Scripture does not contradict itself. The New Testament writings are perfectly unified with the Old Testament—being a natural fulfillment of their prophecies and with the teachings of Christ.
3. Early and widespread acceptance due to apostolic imposition—even in the first century, churches circulated and treated these writings as Scripture. For example, Peter explicitly referred to Paul’s writings as “Scripture” (2 Peter 3:16).

Testing God’s Word?

In the 1800s, an idea was introduced by some Christians that we could test God’s Word and see if it was canonical. The problem with this method, first and foremost, is that man, is suddenly thrust in as the judge to evaluate God’s Word. In other words, man is putting God and His Word on trial—subject to our fallible opinions and whims—to see he and His Word lives up to man’s imperfect standards.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

The “test method” of determining the New Testament canon is flawed because it starts with man’s authority rather than God’s authority. The test method suggests that we can examine God’s Word using human-devised criteria—such as apostolic authorship, harmony with other Scripture, and widespread acceptance—to decide which books are truly inspired. While these factors may describe what God has done, they do not actually determine whether a book is the Word of God.

This approach places human reasoning above divine revelation, making man the final judge over God’s Word. If people have to “test” the books to see if they meet certain standards, then the authority ultimately rests in human hands, not in God. Furthermore, where do the test come from? The mind of man!

This leads to the dangerous idea that the Bible’s authority depends on human approval, which undermines its very nature as the self-attesting Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). When starting with God's 66 books, they ward of any attack. 

The New Testament writings were immediately Scripture the moment they were written by the apostles and New Testament prophets under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The early church did not make them Scripture through testing or councils; instead, they simply recognized what God had already given. Tests are not the foundation for why the canon is true and complete.

The test method opens the door to skepticism. If man’s reasoning can “approve” certain books, it could just as easily reject them or accept false writings, such as the Apocrypha or Gnostic gospels or cultic books and alleged neo-prophecies. This creates instability and doubt, rather than certainty (and the possibility of an open canon).

The problem with the test method is that it is a man-centered foundation. The proper approach is presuppositional: starting with God’s truth and acknowledging that His Word is self-authenticating, authoritative from the moment of its divine inspiration, and recognized by the church through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

If someone uses the test methods, such as various popular tests of canonicity, it creates serious problems because they unintentionally undermine the very books they are meant to confirm. Consider popular test questions:

• Was the book written by an apostle of God?
• Was the writer confirmed by acts of God (performing miracles, etc.)?
• Does the message tell the truth about God?
• Did the book come with the power of God?
• Was it accepted by the people of God?
• Whether the book had been written by one of the Apostolic circle or closely related to it
• Whether a book bore the marks of inspiration
• Whether it was Christ-centered in its teaching
• Whether it was read in the worship services of the Church

If these tests are applied strictly, they would cast doubt on certain New Testament books such as Jude and Hebrews. For example, Hebrews has no named author, and Jude was not one of the twelve apostles and never performed any recorded miracles. By this standard, both could be rejected, even though the early church recognized them as inspired.

Some books, like Hebrews, 2 Peter, and Revelation, took longer to gain universal recognition. Strictly following this test would suggest these writings were not inspired during the time of early discussion, which is false because they were always Scripture from the moment they were written.

The point is that these tests have fatal weaknesses. The test method ultimately places human judgment above divine revelation. It implies that a book only “becomes” Scripture once it passes human-devised criteria, which contradicts the biblical teaching that all Scripture is God-breathed from the moment of its inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16).

These tests should be viewed as descriptive and confirmatory in many instances, not prescriptive. They can help explain how the later church retained the canon but cannot serve as the foundation for certainty. If used prescriptively, the tests could eliminate hosts of Bible books like Hebrews or Jude (etc.), proving the method unreliable and inconsistent. A presuppositional approach should be obvious, where God’s Word is self-authenticating, and the church’s role is to recognize, not determine, His inspired writings.

Conclusion

The New Testament was always self-authenticating. Because God is sovereign and faithful, He preserved His Word perfectly and reveals His Word by final authority. Our confidence rests not in later councils or traditions, but in the unchanging character of God, who gave His Word and ensured that His people would know and receive it as 100% His true and infallible Scripture.

God’s Word is self-attesting and carries its own authority. Humans do not determine the canon; they submit to what God has revealed. Historical evidence, when interpreted correctly, supports the early and consistent recognition of both the Old and New Testament canons. Any objection by skeptics ultimately fails because they start with faulty assumptions rather than the truth of God’s revelation.

By beginning with God’s authority (the 66 books of the Bible) rather than man’s, the canon is not a fragile human construct where people can add or subtract books but the providentially preserved Word of the living God.

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council. 

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

 

The Authority Test: Christianity Or Humanism?

The Authority Test: Christianity Or Humanism?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 24, 2025 (Donate) 

 

Part 1: Testing Christians’ Ultimate Authority

Why The Need For This Test? 

There are many Christians who say they believe in biblical authority. They may even claim to adhere to biblical inerrancy and say they take the Bible “literally,” or as it is written. However, in practice, many of these Christians often ignore the Bible. 

The primary reason many Christians do not adhere to biblical authority in practice is that they are influenced by the religion of humanism—and may not even realize it. Humanism is the common religion of the times. As Christians, we need to be able to effectively recognize and refute it. In this article I will present the “authority test” to help Christians recognize when humanism is trying to overstep the authority of God. But before I explain what I mean by “the authority test,” let’s look at the influence of humanism. 

Influence Of Humanism 

In today’s culture, the religion of humanism has infiltrated the thinking of Christians, whether laity, pastors, elders, or professors. Humanism is a religion that essentially places humans on top and everything else below. So, in this religion, God would be lower than man—or there is really no God at all.

Image from Presentation Library

Humanism really began taking hold in the western world with the widespread rejection of God as the authority beginning about 200 or so years ago. Humanism has become the staple religion in universities and state schools around the world and is directly opposed to biblical authority. 

Some famous humanists are Dr. Eugenie Scott, who heads up the National Center for Science Education, and Dr. Richard Dawkins, who openly professes atheism and writes books that attack Christianity. Both were signers of the Humanist Manifesto III. However, many people think "humanisticly" (having autonomous man as the authority), whether they realize there is a Humanist Manifesto or not. With humanism being the prime religion taught in today’s schools, it is no surprise that younger generations think as though mankind is the authority. 

God Is The Authority 

Contrary to what the world believes, we know that God, being the Creator and Sustainer of all things, is the ultimate authority in all things. Consider God’s Word: 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (NKJV). (2 Timothy 3:16–4:5)

 

Image from Presentation Library

God determines what is right or wrong. Therefore, His Word, i.e., Scripture, is useful for rebuking and correcting. Even people, families, and governing authorities for various cultures can get laws and rules for civil life correct from time to time, but this is because they are borrowing from what God has determined as right and wrong. 

The context surrounding 2 Timothy 3:16 reveals that there is a time when people will no longer adhere to sound doctrine from God but will leave the concepts of right and wrong up to their own desires. When one raises up his own desires to be the authority, this is humanism, where humans think they can sit in authority over God. Paul writing to Timothy here says that this philosophy will influence teachers and turn people away from the truth to fables. In today’s culture, this is exactly what is happening with universities and schools and why Christians need to be exceptionally discerning lest they be led astray to fables by humanism (e.g., molecules-to-man evolution) instead of resting on Scripture. 

The Authority Test 

Image in original article

1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 (NKJV) says that we must “Test all things; hold fast to that which is good.” God helps us think through the issues, using the standards of Scripture, to determine what is good and right. Then we should hold fast to that. 

Using the following authority test can play a big part in the process of thinking through the issues. The authority test is this: “Does the idea/statement/presupposition that I am confronted with have man as the ultimate authority or the God of the Bible as the ultimate authority? Are man’s thoughts exalted above God’s Word, or is the Word of God honored?” 

This authority test can be used two ways: 

1. To better yourself by realizing where humanism has infiltrated your life and accordingly changing to align with God’s Word (2 Corinthians 13:5)

2. To recognize when others are thinking “humanisticly” and being able to reveal that fallacy to prepare to refute it (2 Corinthians 10:3–6)

 Brief Examples In Scripture 

There are quite a number of examples in Scripture where God’s authority was reduced and man’s ideas were raised up to be greater than what God said. Here are a few of the many biblical examples that illustrate this: 

1. Adam and Eve, Genesis 3: When the Woman (later named Eve in verse 20) was presented with two different options (what God said and what the serpent said), she raised her thoughts up to be the authority on the subject. The Woman saw the fruit and desired it. She raised her own thoughts of the fruit above what God said about the fruit in Genesis 2:17, which she was more or less aware of (Genesis 3:2–3). She, thus, was first to exhibit this humanist trait. Then Adam followed suit.

2. Cain, Genesis 4:1–12: Cain’s sacrifice didn’t mimic sacrifices of animals as God did in Genesis 3:21 for Adam and Eve (coats of skins). His sacrifice for this or other reasons was not acceptable compared to Abel’s, who did have animal sacrifices. God advised Cain, yet Cain did not listen to God, and, in his anger over God’s authority to determine what is and what is not acceptable, went out and killed his brother Abel. This violates God’s transcendent law against murder. So, Cain raised up his own thoughts to be greater than God’s by rejecting them. Once again, humanist thinking.

3. Saul, 1 Samuel 15: Instead of listening to God, Saul decided to keep back what he considered the best animal plunder to supposedly sacrifice to God, as opposed to destroying them as the Lord had commanded. Saul opted to have his own thoughts on the matter to be greater than God.

4. Pharisees, Matthew 12:38: The Pharisees wanted to see a sign from Jesus. They placed themselves in authority by trying to force Jesus, the almighty God, to submit to their wishes to prove Himself to them, thus putting themselves in authority over God. 

Putting Ideas And Comments To The Test In Today’s Culture 

Christians should learn from these types of examples, because once one reduces God as the authority, then man’s ideas, by default, become the authority. Sadly, many Christians fail to realize that when this happens, the authority is transferred over to man’s erroneous ideas and philosophies and no longer comes from Christ for some. Consider: 

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8, NKJV) 

As Christians, we need to be able to discern if the ideas of men (even our own) are sitting in a position of authority over God’s Word. Here are three examples: 

1. Cults: Many cults claim to add to the Word of God. In reality, they are raising up man’s words to be equal to or greater than God’s Word. This is a form of humanism. As soon as one refers to a book, magazine, organization, etc. as having equal or greater authority than the Bible, then that should be a red flag to anyone that humanism has infiltrated.

2. The deity of Christ: John 1, Colossians 1, and Hebrews 1 are clear that Jesus Christ is the Creator God. Some people demean this and reduce the deity of Christ. This is man sitting in authority over God’s Word—again. For more on this see Is Jesus the Creator God?

3. Millions of years: In no place in Scripture is the idea that the earth is millions of years old. Adding up genealogies will not get anyone even close to millions of years. The idea of millions and billions of years comes from fallible man’s ideas about the past. These fallible men interpret the geological rock layers as accumulating over millions of years, and hence, these men reject God’s Word in Genesis 6–8 about a global Flood. If one accepts these ideas, knowing that these ideas contradict God’s Word, then they are putting man’s ideas over God’s ideas. Isn’t it clear how humanistic this really is? Unfortunately, even sincere Christians can begin to adjust their methods of interpretation so that their interpretation of the Bible becomes consistent with the secular “findings” of science. These Christians may not be willfully setting up their ideas over God’s Word, but they are being heavily influenced by the results of humanistic thinking. There is no legitimate reason to reject a plain reading of the Genesis record of creation and the Flood. It is when Christians examine the “evidence” of secular geology in light of God’s Word, rather than the other way around, that they will be able to understand that the evolutionary timeline is in error. The antidote for the influence of humanistic thinking is to view Scripture as authoritative. 

Consider these comments and try to spot the humanism in these: 

a. My pastor said that our particular church agrees that evolution and the Bible are compatible.

b. The Bible doesn’t mean a normal day in Genesis 1 because science says it is much longer. 

With [a], the writer of this statement appeals to the pastor, who appeals to the specific local church, which appeals to man’s ideas about millions of years and evolution. There can be multiple levels to search through before you spot the humanism at the root. 

With [b], again the person appeals to “science,” but really they mean a secular interpretation of scientific facts. 

We must use our God-given mind to reach logical conclusions, but if our minds interpret facts in such a way that our conclusion contradicts God’s Word, then we must reject that conclusion and give God the benefit of the doubt. Otherwise, we are guilty of humanistic thinking. We must allow God’s Word to be the ultimate authority. 

My prayer is that each one of us will use the authority test on a daily basis to correct our thinking. This is one of the first steps to get back to biblical authority. 

It is important to realize that when man tries to sit in authority over the Word of God, then man is trying to judge God. But God makes it clear that it is He and His Word that will judge us. 

Part 2: Testing Humanism And Witnessing 

Once Christians begin to get themselves back to biblical authority, then the next challenge is humanism in the culture. Consider these comments that are common in today’s society and try to spot the humanism in these: 

1. The paper from the latest scientific journal says dinosaurs and man didn’t live at the same time.

2. Most scientists believe in evolution, so it must be true.

3. The Bible can’t be true because it is full of contradictions. 

In [a], the paper from the journal is given authority over the Bible’s statement that on Day 6, God created both man and land animals (dinosaurs). Where did the paper come from? Fallible man. 

In [b], it appeals to multiple humans (scientists) as an authority over God and implies consensus is the method by which we determine truth—but how often has that consensus changed? The consensus in Noah’s day was that there would be no Flood! 

In [c], the person is sitting in authority over God’s Word claiming there are contradictions (which there aren’t), and, in effect, that God is lying or can’t get His facts straight in what He claims is His Word, true, perfect and complete (Revelation 22:18, 19; 2 Timothy 3:15,16; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 3:2; Romans 2:16; Hebrews 4:12, etc.). 

Following Up The Test In Practice 

The authority test simply allows you to recognize the root of a belief system—either going back to God or going back to humanity. But what is the next step? The goals are threefold: 

1. To reveal to that person the real religion that they believe or have been influenced by is humanism

2. To show the foundational problems with that view

3. To present what the Bible says and culminate with the gospel 

Many people who think humanisticly simply don’t realize it. So, the first goal is to reveal this to them. Perhaps challenge a humanistic worldview (in kindness) by asking questions about how they view the world and how their beliefs relate to things in reality. This is usually a non-threatening way to get people to think about their beliefs (Christian or not) more deeply because they probably haven’t—especially the foundation for their belief system. 

This also reveals problems with the foundation of humanism. For example, ask that person why people wear clothes in general. The person may be a bit taken aback, but what this shows is that a humanistic view of the past really doesn’t explain the world. Ultimately, of course, clothing is a Christian aspect that goes back to sin, shame, and sacrifice in Genesis 3. 

Or ask about marriage—where does the idea of marriage come from? (Ultimately, it comes from the Bible, too). Ask why death exists and if “right and wrong” exist and what is the ultimate standard by which we judge what is right or wrong. Ask if truth exists; if so, what exactly is it? And then ask if truth is the same for everyone. Ask where the world and universe came from; and where the stars came from; and where life came from; and so on. 

A few questions like these should get the person thinking—without being “preachy.” What will likely happen, though, is that a person will reveal what they really believe about origins . . . which is probably a mixture of some big bang, long ages, and evolution with some spirituality—or even some Christianity—mixed in.

When some of that comes out, point out the areas in which they are thinking as a humanist (evolution, naturalism, long ages, big bang, etc. are subsets of humanism). You may even have to explain it. Once they realize how humanism has influenced them, then proceed to point out that humans (or even that person individually) are really raising themselves up to be “a god” by placing themselves as the ultimate authority. Point out that humanism is really a polytheistic religion where each human is his own “god.”

 Image from Presentation Library

This should get through any humanist thinking, but then suggest to them that the Bible does explain things like the origin of matter, space, time, stars, marriage, clothing, truth, and so on. Then go into the doctrine of sin and that a perfect God originally created everything perfect. It was due to man’s sin that the world is like this—full of death and suffering. Then this can lead into the gospel, and how Christ came to save us from sin and death. 

While witnessing, remember to be kind and patient (1 Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:24). After all, we were each enemies of the gospel ourselves at one point (Colossians 1:21)—but Jesus Christ was patient with us and performed the ultimate act of kindness on the cross. 

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.   

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.  

Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.

 

Mr. Hostile

Mr. Hostile: A Hostile Gap Theory Call! 

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 23, 2025 (Donate) 

Years ago, I had a fellow call up who told the receptionist that he had “one question about dinosaurs”. When the receptionist rang me to for some advice, I thought we that we could send him a complimentary copy of a booklet on dinosaurs that would answer a number of related questions on the topic. So, the receptionist asked for his address so we can send him a complimentary booklet on dinosaurs, he refused and really wanted to talk to someone. That threw up a red flag to me. 

So, I said to send his call over, but I told her I thought this was a “set up”. I answered with my name and he didn’t respond with his but he said “he had a one question about dinosaurs.” But he asked several about dinosaurs and I could tell this gent knew a bit about the Bible, and ministry as well as the biblical answers we provide. Nevertheless, he tried not to let on that he knew much—yet he knew each answer as I was saying them. 

But quickly, he turned the conversation to gap theory (where he tries to take geological evolution which is millions of years and cosmological evolution like aspects of big bang and place them between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2). He heightened his voice and began cutting me off quite often and aggressively. Clearly, he didn’t want answers but wanted to assert his opinions on the subject. 

Image from Presentation Library

Apparently, he had talked to another person at the ministry before, which means he was obviously familiar with the ministry and he knew exactly what we believed. So, what he was asking was indeed a set up. He was calling because he was mad and wanted to take it out on us. 

As he began to push old earth ideas such as gap theory around as the truth, I kindly responded about the Hebrew waw disjunctive to refute the alleged millions of years split between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. I discussed death before sin, which is a major theological problem. I also pointed out that if Satan fell between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 then Satan, in his sinful state, would be very good and sin would be very good. He really didn’t want to talk much about this but kept trying to change the subject.  

I then brought up Mark 10:6 and that gap theorists have no choice but to say Jesus was in error on this point (Jesus says human male and female came at the beginning of creation which is the basis for marriage). He said he didn’t want to talk about that either. He was avoiding the major theological problems in his professed gap theory worldview. 

I could tell he was blatantly angry at this point and didn’t want to learn but had the mindset to attack. He tried cutting me off on all sort of stuff at this point. I had no choice but to step up to the challenge riposte method to counter the way he was attacking—I was going to be direct in response. 

What he really wanted to push was that the sun (and somewhat the moon) and stars were allegedly created on Day 1. Of course, gap theory people must have this for their alleged previous creation. 

Further, he tried to use the laws of thermodynamics to say matter could neither be created nor destroyed effectively saying God couldn’t create them on Day 4. I pointed out that this law works within the universe and God, who created the universe had every right to create or destroy and is not bound by His created laws. He was trying to appeal to this law for uniformitarian sakes and make God bound by such a law! I pointed out that the God of the Bible is not bound to His creation, but beyond it. 

I asked if he really thought God cannot create. He really struggled to answer this and I asked again, but to no avail. It was almost like he was appealing to an infinite and eternal creation and God was bound to this universe—which is not the God of the Bible! His argument was that God somehow did manage to created [or more properly move into place] all the heavenly host (stars, sun, etc.) on Day 1 and God is merely stating on Day 4 that they are to give light on the earth. So I asked—what did God make on Day 4? 

He struggled with this one too. I pointed out that in his theology, God essentially rested on Day 4 and that is inconsistent with the Bible. Finally, he said that God made the moon on Day 4, but then I said that contradicts his worldview where said these things were made on Day 1 as part of the heavens. 

His lousy counter was that God basically had it in his back pocket and flung it and gravitational forces grabbed it to go around the earth. Thus, I reiterated that the theology he was presenting really had God resting on Day 4 and not making anything. 

He wanted to discuss the light so I pointed out that the light source on Day 1 was simply unknown to us since God doesn’t inform us what it is. He said then that is a contradiction in our worldview and I ask how so? He really couldn’t prove his claim.  

I pointed out that whatever that light source was doesn’t matter as the sun took over those responsibilities on Day 4. Though he was adamant that the light was the sun—but I pointed out that light can come from sources other than the sun. I told him I have flashlight and it gives off light. He really didn’t have much to counter with! 

Then we got to the crux of his issue and why he was mad. He said that it was due to people like us that kids are walking away from the faith because we say that God made the sun on Day 4 and plants can’t survive without the sun. I came back and said plants can easily survive without the sun for a day (12 hours—it happens all the time as the earth rotates), so why is that a problem? 

He said kids are walking away from the faith because we say the sun was made on Day 4 and people see through this logic—even his own kids have walked away from the faith! I asked on what basis do non-Christians have to say logic even exists in their worldview; they must borrow from the Bible to even make a case. I received no answer when I pointed this out. 

Then I corrected him and said that the reason kids are walking away from the faith is due to Christian leaders (and parents) who say you can trust millions of years or evolution, and not trust Genesis as it is written (hypocrisy). Essentially Christian leaders (in some cases, their own parents) are saying the Bible is not true and when kids believe the Bible is not trustworthy, it is because of them. 

Image from Presentation Library

Kids can read Genesis and they do not get big bang, evolution, and millions of years out of it. I pointed out that there was a book with stats addressing why kids walked away from Christianity called Already Gone that gives these reasons from the kids who have walked away themselves![1] I said I would send him a copy. But he apparently didn’t want one. He gave me no name and no address. 

He continued to want to argue about moving things around in Genesis 1 and attacking biblical creation without much support (his mere arbitrary opinion). I asked a number of times where these things were in the Bible and his response fell short over and over. He was pushing strange views in an unchristian-like manner but obviously not wanting to trust Genesis the way it is written. He refused to listen and continued with just being “nasty”. I even asked several times: “why not just trust what Genesis says?” and repeatedly, he never wanted to answer.  

After all of his aggressiveness and attacks, I decided to call him on something. I said didn’t you tell the receptionist that you had “one question on dinosaurs” and when I answered didn’t you also tell me you had “one question on dinosaurs”. He agreed. I asked “did you lie to us?” He seemed flustered as he knew I caught him in this lie. He knew that he called up for another reason. 

He changed the subject to talk about something else; I asked again “did you lie to us?” Again, he wanted to the change the subject and continued attacking. I realized at this point we were getting nowhere. Though interestingly, he did not deny that was intentionally lying to us. 

So a long story short, after a very heated discussion about these and other things in Genesis 1, I had to tell him this conversation was over. I wished him the best and he acted as though he did nothing wrong. 

It is sad to hear when he did not want to trust the Bible and blame everyone else for the problem of his children walking away from the faith. This is not the first call I’ve received from someone whose children had walked away from the faith and they wanted to blame us. 

All the while they were telling their children not to believe the Bible as written but to accept many of the secular claims (like millions of years, big bang, or evolution), and then they wonder why their kids stop trusting the rest of the Bible.  

So often this is the case. It is the children in the next generation that suffer by walking away when their parents or Christian leaders compromise the faith. And yet, they want to blame others instead of repenting and getting back to the Word of God. It makes you wonder what kind of example a parent could set for their children if they repent and got back to the authority of the Word of God; and openly told their children they were that they had been wrong about Genesis and origins. 

How powerful would it be to their kids, if they confessed that the Bible really is true from the beginning! I’d suggest that many of the children would have a new respect for God and His Word as well as a new found respect for their parent who had been compromised. 

But be praying for this man. We didn’t know his name but God does. Even though this person had premeditated to call and lie to us just to attack us in an effort to blame us, God knows what his underlying issue is. Be praying that he will learn to trust God, over secular ideas and repent.   

And this is reminder to all of us. It is time to recognize the real culprit—sin! It is time to get back to the authority of the Word of God. And it is time to do it for the sake of this next generation.  

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.   

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.  

Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission. 

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[1] Already Gone, Ken Ham and Britt Beemer, Master Books, green Forest, AK, 2009.