Unveiling the Truth: How Innocent Are Bathtub Arks in Christian Faith?

How Innocent Are 'Bathtub Arks'?

Introduction

As supporters of [our ministry], you play a crucial role in enabling our work to continue. We appreciate your ongoing support. We recently received a letter from T.M. expressing some concerns about our article titled 'The Bathtub Ark.' In this response, we aim to address those concerns and provide further clarification on our perspective.

Point 1: Teaching Bible Stories

T.M. argues that young children are not capable of understanding the complexities of the origins issue and that teaching them Bible stories, such as Noah's Ark, is sufficient. While we agree that teaching Bible stories is important, we must also recognize the challenges children face in a secular world. When children encounter other stories in school or media, they may perceive the Bible as just another fairy tale. In order to counter this perception, it is crucial to teach the Bible as history and provide children with answers to their questions.

Why This Matters: Teaching the Bible as history helps children understand that it is a reliable account of real events. This strengthens their faith and equips them to handle challenges to their beliefs.

Think About It: How can we effectively teach children that the Bible is not just a collection of fairy tales, but an accurate historical record?

Point 2: The Impact of Imagery

T.M. suggests that the 'bathtub ark' provides a simple and relatable visual for young children. However, when children see such an image, they may question how all the animals could have fit on board. This can create doubts about the feasibility of the account. By using realistic imagery and emphasizing the massive size of the Ark, we can help children understand that Noah was able to accommodate all the animals as instructed by God.

Why This Matters: Realistic imagery helps children grasp the magnitude of Noah's Ark and reinforces their belief in its feasibility.

Think About It: How can we effectively convey the immense size of the Ark to children in a way that captures their imagination without compromising historical accuracy?

Point 3: Dinosaurs on the Ark

T.M. raises the issue of dinosaurs being absent from the 'bathtub ark' imagery. By omitting dinosaurs, children may be more inclined to accept the secular narrative that dinosaurs became extinct millions of years before humans existed. Including dinosaurs on the Ark aligns with the biblical account and helps children understand that humans and dinosaurs coexisted.

Why This Matters: Including dinosaurs on the Ark counters the false idea that they were separated from humans by millions of years, reinforcing the biblical timeline.

Think About It: How can we incorporate dinosaurs into our teaching of Noah's Ark to help children understand that they were part of God's creation alongside humans?

Point 4: Providing Resources for Children

T.M. questions our offering of books for sale targeted at children. One suggestion is to provide Morris' book 'The Genesis Flood' to all children instead. While Morris' book is a valuable resource, it may not be accessible or engaging for all children. We aim to provide a range of materials that present biblical truths in ways that resonate with different age groups and learning styles.

Why This Matters: Offering a variety of resources ensures that children have access to materials that are age-appropriate and engaging, facilitating their understanding and retention of important biblical concepts.

Think About It: What are some effective resources or materials we can provide to children that present biblical truths in an engaging manner while remaining faithful to the message?

Point 5: Avoiding Paranoia

T.M. expresses concern about our ministry having a perceived paranoia that everything in life is an attack on the book of Genesis and our belief system. While we do acknowledge that not everything is an intentional attack, we must recognize the influence of secular worldviews on our understanding of origins. By addressing these influences and providing biblically grounded responses, we equip believers to navigate and counter the challenges they may encounter.

Why This Matters: Recognizing the impact of secular worldviews on our society helps us understand the importance of addressing these challenges and providing biblical alternatives.

Think About It: How can we strike a balance between addressing legitimate challenges to our faith without succumbing to an unnecessary sense of paranoia?

Point 6: Clarifying Our Position

T.M. suggests that we are implying that 'bathtub arks' are intentionally designed to lead children astray. We want to clarify that this is not our position. We do not believe these images are a deliberate scheme. Instead, we seek to highlight the unintended consequences and provide alternatives that present a more accurate representation of biblical events.

Why This Matters: Clarifying our position helps prevent misunderstandings and fosters open dialogue around the effective communication of biblical truths.

Think About It: How can we communicate our concerns without attributing malicious intent, fostering a spirit of understanding and collaboration?

Conclusion

We appreciate T.M.'s support and constructive feedback. Our goal is to equip believers with the tools they need to defend their faith and engage with the challenges of our world. By using realistic imagery, incorporating dinosaurs into our teaching, and providing a variety of resources for children, we aim to present a robust understanding of Noah's Ark that aligns with the biblical account. Through ongoing dialogue and thoughtful consideration, we can continue to refine our approach and effectively communicate God's truth to future generations.