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The Biblical Worldview of Race

The Biblical Worldview of Race

“And He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…” 

Acts 17:26

Have the daily reports of turmoil in our nation over race relations alarmed you? If so, it is a good time to ask: what is the biblical worldview of race? Acts 17:26 tells us that all people are of one blood, originating from one man (Adam). Therefore, God created one biological race—not many! We are all relatives! Multiple scientific studies have confirmed that there is only one biological race, as we would expect.

If we are all relatives, why do we have so much strife? The answer is the corruption of mankind due to the fall (Genesis 3). As we are all descendants of Adam (Genesis 1:26-28), we all carry his sin nature (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12). After a while, God’s tolerance of the sinful mess mankind created ran out, and He sent a catastrophe (the worldwide flood) to destroy the evil culture except for the few who were righteous (Noah’s family).

In their seminal book on the topic, One Race, One Blood, Charles Ware and Ken Ham describe the biblical worldview of race. Ken Ham is the CEO of Answers in Genesis (AiG) and Charles Ware is Executive Director of Grace Relations and Special Assistant to the president at AiG. If this is important to you, Ken Ham has relatively light skin and Charles Ware has relatively dark skin. The material in this article is based largely on their book and other materials from AiG.

After the flood, humans continued to be disobedient. They did not spread out and fill the earth as God desired. Instead they built a tower for their own glory. God caused confusion by creating different languages, so they separated and spread across the world (Genesis 11).

The explanation for the external differences we see in people can be understood based on the incredible genetic diversity that God gave Adam and Eve in the beginning. We believe that Adam and Eve likely had medium brown skin because God gave them maximum genetic diversity. When people separated as discussed in Genesis 11, they adapted to their environment, and distinct biological traits (e.g., skin “color”) that were advantageous in their environment predominated and became perceivable. We all have the same pigments in our skin but in different combinations. This leads to darker or lighter skin shades. There are no “black” people or “white” people. We are not different “colors”—we are different shades of brown. Other biological characteristics can be explained in the same way.

The fact that our outward appearance and some internal biological characteristics are different contributed to the concept of multiple biological races. Due to our fallen sinful nature many people consider some “races” to be superior to others or consider some “races” objectionable. Even though we have minor biological differences, our biological similarities far outweigh these differences. There is only one biological race and all humans are of the same race. The biblical worldview would suggest we should eliminate the term “race” and talk about different “people groups” all of whom are equal in God’s eyes.

God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34). He looks on the inside, not the outside. Christ died at the Cross for all people who turn to him (John 3:16). It is our spiritual, faith-based relationship with Christ that is important to him (John 3:3). There is only one biological race, but there are two spiritual races. Those who accept Christ as their personal savior due to his grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) are saved from the ultimate justice—death due to our sin nature (Romans 6:23). As a result of his grace to us, we should strive to live in harmony (Romans 15:5) and love (John 13-34-35).

Although there is only one biological race, racism is alive and well. What is the biblical solution? We should get back to the true biblical history of the world as given in Genesis and understand we are all one race and all of the same family. Yes, we can point to evils in the past and current wrongs that should be corrected, but who of us is deserving of salvation and living with God in eternity? None of us—we are all sinners deserving of eternal separation from God. Race relations as defined by fallen humans is based on the worldly definition of race and has failed miserably. It is time to turn to the biblical worldview and strive for Grace Relations as exemplified by our Creator, Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Want more information? Get the One Race, One Blood book or search the internet for the One Race One Blood video given by Ken Ham or the Grace Relations video given by Charles Ware.

Chris Basel is Chair of the STEM Department, and Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Calvary University.

Calvary Launches a Science Focused Warrior’s Choice Option

Calvary Launches a Science Focused Warrior’s Choice Option

Calvary University recently approved the initiation of a Warrior’s Choice Interdisciplinary option for a bachelor’s degree with a focus on science. Our interdisciplinary biology and chemistry degree is a pre-professional combination of minors to prepare students for application to a medical, dental, or other health-related school.

The degree combines minors in biology and chemistry. Courses include general biology, microbiology, genetics, anatomy & physiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and physics.

The degree will offer flexibility for students regardless of their needs. All classes will be offered in the blended format which consists of on campus and recorded online lectures or problem sessions. Many of the laboratory sections will be offered either as traditional on-campus experiments or as online/at-home experiments.

Most importantly, the degree holds firm to Calvary’s first distinctive, standing firm on the Bible. With the opportunities Calvary offers, students do not have to go to a secular college that teaches from a naturalistic perspective. All science at Calvary is taught from the biblical worldview. The blended format of Calvary’s courses enables students across the country to take advantage of low cost, high quality education in biblical degree programs.

Are Models Accurate?

Are Models Accurate?

Chris Basel  

M.S.

Department Chair of STEM, Assistant Professor of Chemistry 

During the past few months, we have heard a lot about “models” that predict what’s going to happen during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have all become familiar with phrases like “flattening the curve” and “will there be a second peak?” The models are designed to predict such things as the number of people that will be infected by the virus or the number of deaths from the virus. That is a somewhat gruesome business. But what are models and how are they made? Perhaps more importantly, how reliable are they?

For the last 20 years, I spent my professional life developing pharmacological models. These models help predict what happens to drugs in the body and how effective they are. Some of the models are useful, some are not. A brief look into the basics of modeling will help clarify this confusing field.

A model is typically a mathematical prediction that is based on information related to what you are trying to predict. Some models are very simple, some are very complex. They can be divided into two major types: “top down” and “bottom up” models.

Let us take a simple example to gain a better understanding of what is going on. By searching the internet, you can easily find a calculator that will predict how tall an infant will grow to be. How do they do that? One way is to collect the height of infants (say 2 years old) and check their height later (say when they are 18 years old). After gathering this clinical data, a mathematician then would create a relationship between a typical two-year-old’s height and a typical 18-year-old’s height.  Wait a minute – what is a “typical” person? The more limited you make your model by defining what you mean by “typical” or breaking this down into different groups (for example, one model for males, another for females), the better the model. This is a top down model – using actual measured height data to generate a prediction tool.

On the other hand, another way you could predict how tall an infant will grow is to look at their genetic makeup, the environment they live in, what you expect their diet to be, and so forth. With the knowledge of which genes control height and how the environment and diet typically affect height enables one to make predictions of how tall someone will grow. The better you understand how this information affects height, the better the model.  This is a bottom up model – using the factors that affect the phenomenon (in this case, height) to generate a prediction tool.

Anyone who has worked with models very long learns that the accuracy of models can vary greatly. It is a tricky business and creating good models typically takes a long time. Biological variability (we are not all the same!), unknown factors, and inaccurate data are just a few things that lead to poor models. In reality, models are an educated guess and might work even if they have nothing to do with the phenomenon (height in the examples above). This has led to the common aphorism that “all models are wrong, but some are useful” (first attributed to the statistician George Box).

Models can be useful, sometimes very useful, in making predictions. In our current situation, most of the models have been created quickly and changed frequently as more data is collected. There are many factors at play and honest experts in the field state the obvious – they are not sure what is going to happen. As much as possible, avoid stressing over models – but do not ignore advice from scientists and medical professionals! And never forget that the Lord is in control.

STEM head Chris Basel excited as program expands

STEM head Chris Basel excited as program expands

Calvary’s commitment to educating from the biblical worldview means Calvary’s program is rare.

With Calvary’s addition of a chemistry minor, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) head Chris Basel looks forward to further expansions of the program. He said, in long-term goals, Calvary looks to add other STEM minors, such as math and biology. “The goal is for the minors to partner with the Warrior’s Choice degree,” enabling students “to go on to any professional school.” This opens opportunities for Calvary graduates in graduate studies such as medical science, biology, and chemistry.

Basel highlighted the importance of Calvary’s first distinctive, standing firm on the Bible. With the opportunities Calvary offers, students “don’t have to go to a secular college that teaches from a naturalistic perspective… You can come to Calvary and you can get Education, Bible and Theology, and now you can get Science and Math, too.”

Calvary’s commitment to educating from the biblical worldview means Calvary’s program is rare. Basel said, “[Because] we hold the Bible to be true and authoritative from the very first word, we are a creationist college. You can go to Answers in Genesis and search creationist colleges; we’re on there.” This standing makes Calvary one of “a relatively small number.”

Basel pointed out that, while “there is quite a lot of good competition within that small number, this gives people another opportunity” as they pursue biblical higher education. Calvary is one of only seven creationist colleges listed for the central United States, and one of fourteen west of the Missouri River. This small number of options positions Calvary’s Missouri and Colorado campuses to fill a national need for biblical education in STEM fields.

Basel said, “My desire is to meet the needs of students who have a variety of needs,” and he already has students from a wide range of the Midwest enrolled in his science courses. The blended format of Calvary’s courses enables students across the country to take advantage of low cost, high quality education in biblical degree programs.

Students in a Biology lab extract DNA from strawberries.

Calvary Starts a Chemistry Minor!

Calvary Starts a Chemistry Minor!

Calvary University recently approved the initiation of a chemistry minor, the first in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field.  The first class will be offered fall 2020.  Classes will consist of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry.  Minors in math and biology will be started later.  These minors provide the foundation for a career in a STEM field, including medicine, veterinary science, and dentistry.

All classes will be offered in the blended format – on campus, live-streamed, and online.  Laboratory experiments will consist of traditional and non-traditional formats.  There are two non-traditional formats.  The first consists of experiments conducted remotely on the student’s schedule using a lab kit.  Experiment results are entered into the Calvary learning management system using cloud-based software.  The second non-traditional format will consist of an approximately one-week module on campus. 

Calvary University Offers Online Chemistry Class and Lab Focusing on Health Applications

Calvary University Offers Online Chemistry Class and Lab Focusing on Health Applications

Are you interested in how chemistry is involved in medicine and health?  Have you wondered what the difference is between drugs and vitamins?  Interested in a chemistry class that requires relatively low amounts of math?  Not interested in having to stand in a lab for hours at a time you’d rather be doing something else?

If that describes you, then Chemistry with Heath Applications (SC251N and SC252N) is the class for you!  Calvary University is starting its first completely online science class with a lab!  That’s right, even the lab is online!  When you register for the course, you obtain a lab kit to use at home on your schedule.  The lectures, textbook, homework, and lab experiments are all accessed online.  Interested?  Sign up for SC251N and SC252N during cycle 2!