Sinkholes in Christian Life Foundations

This post will have some informative material before moving on to more serious matters, and I enjoyed putting it together. While there is a similarity between potholes and sinkholes, the two should not be confused — even though the potholes New York, Michigan, and other places can probably be seen from the International Space Station.

Cover-collapse sinkhole in limestone near Frederick, MD
Image credit: US Geological Survey / Randall Orndorff (usage does not imply endorsement of site contents)

Sinkholes vary in size and are found worldwide, but most often in areas where the water remains below the surface and erodes underlying rock. The process is usually gradual and may not be noticed for a long time. Eventually, they collapse, such as the one on Washington Street in Kingston, NY — which troubled residents for five years. They can also occur quickly due to factors like when a water main breaks, heavy rainfall, and others.

Let's talk about the power of water for a bit, which some people tend to underestimate. When flash flood warnings are issued, pay attention! They may start as a trickle, but can become overwhelming. Those people giving weather advisories say not to drive through running water in the roadway, and you'll know they're right after it's too late and your vehicle is carried away.

Water can be made to move faster when its pathway narrows. The typical hand-held sprayer at the self-serve car wash typically runs at around 1,200 PSI, but I learned the hard way that putting the sprayer very close to the vehicle can start to remove the paint. Crank water pressure up to 10,000 PSI and see what it does to watermelons (which would easily remove your hand). Or you can cut rocks and just about anything else with a 60,000 PSI waterjet.

Although the above information is interesting and some is useful (again, respect moving water), we need to circle back to sinkholes. The damage is being done out of sight, and the foundation fails — sometimes destroying structures that are built upon them. Part of the foundation for Christians is the inerrancy of the Bible, and another is Genesis, which is the source of all major Christian doctrines.

These are extremely important for the individual Christian's life and go with sound biblical instruction, but the problem with compromise is affecting churches and institutions that profess to be Christian. One example is the vile curriculum all gussied up as being something legitimate. We must use discretion about what we allow into our minds and spirits.

As we examine nature closely, parallels can be found between what we observe physically and what we observe spiritually (Matthew 7:24-27). Recently, one ICR scientist met with leaders of a well-known Christian education institution. In previous generations, this prestigious seminary was famous for training men and women in God’s truth and equipping them to serve Him responsibly all over the world. Although the number of students at this school has grown impressively over recent decades, the school’s distinctively Christian educational quality has diminished just as noticeably.

Sadly, that school is now compromised theologically, socially, and academically. It flies a flag of Bible-based Christian education, yet its programs now deliver predominantly worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:19-20). Its educational courses focus on the academic equivalent of what C. S. Lewis called “being like [secular] folks.”

To read the full article, click on "Beware Sinkholes and Other Failing Foundations".