Tue, Oct 26th - 5:42PM

KEEP A BALANCED VIEW OF EXPERTS

Many unbelievers turn a deaf ear to the Gospel and Bible truths because of the influence of “experts,” and many Christians have been persuaded to reject and oppose Bible teachings, often while insisting and believing that they are Bible-lovers, by the influence of “experts.” (Isaiah 29:13-14; Jeremiah 6:16, 19; 8:8-9; Hosea 4:6; Colossians 2:8) Journals and books often leave the impression that creationism and other Bible truths and Christian values are unscientific or flawed because writings, even secular writings, that present Bible truths and Christian values (even without mentioning Scripture or Christianity) are usually rejected by editors or the peer review because of bias toward the theory of evolution and secular humanism. It is amazing that so many are quick to assume that an expert opinion, documentary, or media presentation is an honest, unbiased, and objective viewpoint and above scrutiny. It has become common for Christians to assume that something they read in a book or magazine, heard from a schoolteacher or professor, hear on the radio, or see on television or in a movie is the last word and makes them an instant expert on a topic or subject and that this expertise or enlightenment eliminates the need to personally study to examine whether those assumptions or theories line up with facts and Scripture, especially religious broadcasting, pop psychology, and the latest junk on TV talk shows. 

All too often there is a tendency to place the opinions of experts (e.g., scientists, psychologists, historians, theologians, etc.) in the status of inerrancy. Experts are often idolized as it is easy to forget that they are still mere humans. This is dangerous because experts often assume an intellectual arrogance and claim an inerrancy or accuracy which they do not have. Experts possess intellectual power to deceive and manipulate and are often revered as intellectual gods. Experts (especially evolution-scientists) often put forth their opinions with the zeal of false prophets, and ordinary people are often deceived by dogmatizing experts like the dedicated worshipers of a pagan god. (Jeremiah 5:30-31) Experts in subjects with an extremely high rate of mistakes (e.g., psychology) often try to appear more accurate by associating themselves with a subject that has a very low rate of mistakes (e.g., mathematics), such as when they point out the use of a large computer to reach their conclusions. (A computer does not increase accuracy. A computer is merely a large calculator that files information electronically and enables the user to reach his equally dubious conclusions much faster.) Because experts are usually correct on their facts, often too much trust is put in their opinions. At any time and on any subject, there are disagreements among qualified experts in the same fields, and they cannot all be right. A majority opinion is still an opinion, and all too often the majority opinion of experts in a particular field is considered proof or verification of assertions or theories even though what is the majority opinion of experts in certain fields changes often enough to make the majority opinion dubious. For example, the main reason a teacher or professor normally does not use a thirty- or forty-year-old textbook on evolution to teach evolution is that so much of what was the majority opinion of evolutionists in previous years and decades has been disproved or discarded by evolutionists. Experts often come to wrong conclusions due to unknown factors. Experts are fallible humans and are just as vulnerable to emotional pressure and the influence of preconceived ideas as anyone else. Experts are just as capable of dishonesty and distorting facts to support their pet theories as other humans, and many experts have been caught deliberately deceiving the public.

In the 1960s and ‘70s movements against traditional family values gained a lot of ground (New Age Movement, feminism, gay rights movement, youth subculture, free love, new morality, etc.), and in the ‘70s many experts (including theologians) blamed the alarming increases in divorces, unwed pregnancies, venereal diseases, violent crime, juvenile delinquency, youth rebellion, and other social maladies on everything but the decline in Christian influence and subsequent increase in rejection of the Bible and Christian values (and they still do). In the 1970s experts were saying we are heading for an ice age and those who disagreed were shrugged aside as ignorant and uninformed; now those who disagree with theories about global warming are often shrugged aside as ignorant or uninformed. More examples could be given, but for now these should suffice as reminders that, while we must rely on experts at times, experts are still human.

We should also keep in mind that “experts” have often been instrumental in creating or helping to create a police state. There is a simple method to creating a police state that has been used throughout history (e.g., Nimrod, Napoleon, Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler used this, to name just a few.). First, a crisis-type situation is utilized or created. (Terrorism, crime rate, child abuse, counterfeiting, sex trafficking, drug money laundering, contagious disease, etc.) The "crisis" (which can be real or imagined) is emphasized and propagandized till it becomes a great concern to a significant percentage of the population. Then the would-be tyrant or oppressive government (and its accomplices and followers) appear to come up with the best or most effective solution to the crisis so many are concerned about. Of course, the "solution" just happens to increase government intrusion and police power or eliminate safeguards against governmental abuse, but at this point the average citizen is so concerned with dealing with the crisis and finding or effecting a solution that he is willing to go along with what appears to be a good solution without considering and analyzing the potential effects and repercussions. Here are just a few important points to keep in mind:

· Be wary of “solutions” offered by “experts” that sound more like a Marxist or Fascist wish list than facts, logic, or actual science. (Look for facts and hard evidence, and remember that the truth can withstand questions, criticism, and analysis.)

· Be wary of so-called solutions to crises and social maladies offered by “experts” that depend on an assumed natural goodness of man, or an assumed goodness or benevolence of human government, for the solutions to work. (How many parents ever had to teach a child how to be bad? Humans can choose to do right but sin comes natural because of natural depravity. History demonstrates that any human government, even good government, is dangerous, which is why government must be limited and restricted.)

· We do not live in a perfect world; because humans are flawed from the start there are no perfect solutions, only trade-offs.

When presented with the facts ordinary people can and often do come to better conclusions than experts, which is one reason that a trial verdict is decided by a jury of ordinary citizens and not a panel of legal experts. Since I do not read ancient Hebrew or ancient Greek I read and study a translation of the Holy Bible (KJV) which was translated into my language by scholars of Hebrew and Greek, and in my study of the Bible I sometimes read the writings of experts in history, science, archaeology, anthropology, linguistics, and other fields where my knowledge is limited to aid my understanding of the Bible. At times when I have been sick or injured I have trusted a physician, a medical expert; it does not make sense to hire an automobile mechanic to perform surgery. While we need experts and we must rely on experts at times, we must remember that they are human. (Psalm 146:3-6)

Much damage has been a result of too much trust in experts, especially experts in psychology and evolution-science. Of course, psychologists are not always wrong, but some teachings are damaging as well as counter to Scripture. The Genesis account of creation is supported by genuine science, but many are deceived because they think the experts are agreed on evolution. Personal study and research in these and other subjects is needful.

Critical thinking is essential. Propaganda is merely information in favour of a cause and can be good or evil, reliable or misleading, and informative or deceptive; the danger is that propaganda serves the function of self-delusion when logic is not used. For example, when you come across the argument or assertion that the findings or conclusions of certain scientists are inaccurate or wrong merely because they differ from the findings or conclusions of other scientists, or even most scientists, or merely because an essay or thesis did not pass a peer review, it is important to keep in mind that most scientific findings or conclusions are educated opinions and reviewers are often biased.

Beware of efforts to persuade you to park your mind. While we do not always understand everything, God’s Word is not counter to reason and the Bible encourages you to use your mind. (Proverbs 2:3-11; consider Romans 12:2; Colossians 2:8; I Thessalonians 5:21; Hebrews 5:14)

Beware of Philosophy, by Mike Ford www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/526/beware-of-philosophy.htm?fbclid=IwAR3OtWiEco_UK_f5pLn5eEYdTlp1yZETuyHgvIX-n374q-P6z8pgDjqTdho

The Tyranny of Consensus Thinking, by Randy J. Guliuzza www.icr.org/article/the-tyranny-of-consensus-thinking 

The End of Science, by Jeremy Egerer www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/10/the_end_of_science.html?utm_source=akdart

Top 20 Questions to Ask an Evolutionist... www.christianevidence.net/2017/09/top-20-questions-to-ask-evolutionist_2.html?fbclid=IwAR0KfUWfnrqrbk4BF5U-5uZx6ooHaT-pELhUY-JSoac__lcQo_Bhh4kqiz4

Scientists Say It. We’re Forced to Believe It. That Settles It. By Gary Demar www.americanvision.org/posts/scientists-say-it.we-re-forced-to-believe-it.that-settles-it   

Columbus and the Flat Earth Myth, by Gary Demar www.americanvision.org/3040/columbus-and-the-flat-earth-myth/?fbclid=IwAR0CO0-oIVtKgzngyPF3BWEqTAzCuIHaUK_bdZBxBmP56KtkcsykStXxYos 

Peer review as a way of validating research is bunk, by Apostolos Koutropoulos www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/peer-review-way-validating-research-bunk#:~:text=Peer%20review%20is%20seen%20as%20a%20way%20of,to%20ask%20questions%20and%20try%20to%20get%20clarifications 

Marxism: the Bug Wearing an Edgar Suit www.thedeclination.com/marxism-the-bug-wearing-an-edgar-suit/?fbclid=IwAR2nCNR0r3WCEdQ0HIJoLM52X3zgXhLrwNguO_iffQmBy6L-Tq3QPH63sqo

Top 10 Signs Americans are Living in a Police State, by Ryan Cristián www.wakeup-world.com/2016/08/23/top-10-signs-american-are-living-in-a-police-state/?fbclid=IwAR23Voje-k9IItmlQOD9ycx9LAcmxZUK14c9BhIiCyhoOJsNeAOETDAZ2p4 

You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists) by Dr. Fred C. Schwarz www.schwarzreport.org/resources/you-can-trust-the-communists-to-be-communists?fbclid=IwAR05foAJc3BfxSRMR1ZKhafF3cx_dQjNF7S87yuoqwtkGjl1DUCaga29vUI