by Henry M. Morris & Martin E. Clark
The title of this book aptly describes the focus of the book. The
author, Henry Morris, seeks biblical answers to many questions facing
Christians today. The bible itself tells us in 2 Timothy that it
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.” It is this
fundamental truth that the author in the preface to his first edition
points to as the purpose for this book. Further in the preface to
the second edition he states, “The Bible does have the answer to
every problem and need. It has been the authors’ purpose to
find and to share these answers.” This is the fourth
edition of this book. The first edition was written exclusively by
Henry Morris, but all subsequent editions were co-authored with Martin
Clark.
This book is on Apologetics. Apologetics is "the science and art
of defending the faith." This book assists us in being
equipped for the questions we may be asked about God, the inspiration
of the bible or many other practical questions related to the doctrine
we believe.
In the same way that the beautiful Heidelberg Catechism uses question
and answers to teach us the depth of the gospel that we believe, so
Henry Morris attempts to give us insight into the doctrine that we
believe and applies it to our Christian life. This book contains
155 questions organised into sections beginning with the fundamentals
of the doctrine of the bible such as the authenticity of the word of
God, the fact of God, His Son and His work on the cross before applying
that to various practical matters and the principles of the Christian
life. He touches on science, other doctrines, the church, sin and
forgiveness, the government, holidays and occultism just to name a few.
Let me highlight a number of parts of this book to give you a flavour of its content.
The first question of the book is an important one – How do we
know the Bible is true? In his answer the author reviews a number
of arguments of how this question can be answered. He begins with
the Bible writers’ repeated claims to “transmitting the
very Word of God, infallible and authoritative in the highest
degree.” If the biblical evidences are examined, it becomes
readily clear that the authors’ claims of inspiration are amply
justified, for example the evidence of fulfilled prophecy particularly
in relation to the first coming of Christ. He also looks at the
historical accuracies of the bible as well as the documentation of many
of the principles of modern science as facts of nature, e.g. the
roundness of the earth (Isaiah 40:22), the law of conservation of mass
and energy (II Peter 3:7), or the gravitational field (Job 26:7) as
well as many others.
Question 3 asks: Is the bible authoritative when it deals with facts of
history and science or only in matters of religion? Morris
examines the views of those who doubt the facts of history and science
portrayed in the Bible, who say that the Bible has authority in matters
of religion only. He points to John 3:12 where Jesus says that
“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall
ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” The point is clear
– “if we cannot rely on the Bible when it speaks on matters
of science and history, then how can we possibly trust it when it deals
with matters of salvation, heaven, the spiritual world and eternal
life, which are entirely beyond the reach of scientific observation and
experimentation.”
Chapter 15 deals with personal spiritual problems and discusses issues
such as the need for children of God to learn and exercise
self-control. It also deals with depression and highlights how
the Bible shows that the alternative to “guilty depression is a
realisation of sin and a confident acceptance of God’s
forgiveness.” He highlights that growth in faith does not
come by experience but only through the hearing of God’s word as
written in Romans 10.
Morris deals with many other practical matters including tithing
(chapter 16), the practical implication of sin and forgiveness (chapter
18), societal problems and solutions, the Christian’s role in
politics, occultism and more.
Morris is considered to be the “father of modern
creationism” by some. He has written a number other books
that have been widely read and can be recommended including “the
Genesis Flood”.
You will find this book good reading if your intention is to read it
from cover to cover. However it can also be used as a
reference that can be pulled from the shelf to gain a better
understanding on a practical Christian matter or question.
Review by R. Vermeulen
