Readers Respond to Answers, July - September 2009

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I love the fact that your magazine is full of information on different topics. There’s enough material in there to keep me reading until the next one comes out! I really enjoy the posters and pull-outs. I always hang them up in our church youth room. The teenagers love them!

Nate L., Lomita, California (via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AnswersMagazine)

Rain on Cain?

Your Kids Answers section of the magazine is excellently done. However, as my Mom and I were looking through the latest magazine, we found an interesting error. There is a picture of Abel lying dead on the ground while Cain is standing over him with a rock and it is raining. The Bible clearly states that previous to Noah’s Flood, a good while later, it never rained.

Kelly J., Gainesville, Georgia

Editor’s Response: Genesis 2:5 speaks only of the Creation Week when it tells us that “the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.” It does not necessarily project into the future, as though there would be no people to till the ground—or no rain—before the Flood. Answers in Genesis recommends that Christians avoid using this common claim.

Adam’s Headship before the Fall

I became a little frustrated then confused by one sentence in the article “Lessons from the Fall“ by W. Gary Phillips. He states, “By eating the forbidden food, Adam abandoned his headship over his wife and his dominion over the creation.” I don’t understand how you can say that Adam abandoned his headship [when Adam’s headship resulted from the Curse]. In verse 16b, God says to Eve, “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Karen W., Genesee, Pennsylvania

Author’s Response: For several reasons I would argue that male headship was intended by God when He created woman. First, Eve was equal to Adam before God but created to be Adam’s helper, implying his functional headship. This personal equality but functional headship is a reflection of the nature of the trinity—the Son is equal in being but subordinate in role to the Father, and the Spirit is equal and submissive to both.

Second, Adam’s punishment reflects his headship accountability over Eve (v. 17): “because you listened to the voice of your wife” (not “because you have eaten from the tree” or even “because you listened to the voice of the serpent”). Eve’s usurpation of headship did not need to be mentioned because it was already addressed in v. 16b. That verse is often misinterpreted as the institution of headship. It describes rather the distortion of headship resulting in marital strife (the Hebrew terms for “desire” and “rule” in 16b are identical to those in 4:7 describing the struggle against sin).

Third, God calls on Adam (not Eve) to render an account for their sin, implying his primary responsibility (3:9–11).

Fourth, Romans 5:12–21 places the blame for the Fall squarely on Adam. 1 Timothy 2:14 says Eve was deceived. But Adam sinned willfully. So Adam’s greater culpability reflects the greater accountability that his headship entailed.

The first Adam failed to trust and obey God and exercise his headship to protect Eve from the deceptions of Satan. Jesus, the “Last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45) succeeded when He resisted Satan’s temptations (Matthew 4:1–11) and sinlessly went to the Cross on behalf of His future bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:23–27).

Artist’s Appreciation for Thorns

I loved the article, “The Splendor of Thorns,” by Jud Davis! I never considered the fact that thorns were involved in both the declaration of the Curse and its removal through the Cross.

As an artist, I appreciate the amazing symmetry in God’s masterpiece. As a writer, I’ve been instructed that an author must never introduce a particular element or theme into his story, unless that same element will be dealt with again in the novel and wrapped up at the end. How like the “Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) to weave such a striking motif into His great story, spanning centuries of time and sixty-six volumes penned by different scribes!

Thanks so much, Dr. Davis, for explaining this great truth, hidden from the vast majority of us who don’t know biblical Hebrew or Greek.

Deborah S., Springfield, Missouri

A Memorable Vacation

I just wanted to thank you so much for your article, “Tips for Memorable Vacations,” by C. J. Mahaney. My husband doesn’t like to read and spends time only in God’s Word. Imagine my surprise when, just before we left for vacation, he told me in great detail what this article contained.

I’m writing you to tell you that we honestly enjoyed our first vacation in thirteen years of marriage because of that article. Christians for only three years, we’ve never prepared our hearts for vacation. And we usually came home in need of time alone to settle our disappointed hearts. Your article had a major impact on his mind and heart, and it let the leader of our household lead us all into a most godly and glorious vacation.

Laura K., Leesburg, Virginia

Editor’s Note: The article referenced here was in Answers volume 4.2, our specially themed “Creation Vacations” issue.

Answers Magazine

October – December 2009

When it comes to God’s marvelous creation, nothing compares to the amazing design of the human body. From the protective garment of skin to the engineering of our bones and new discoveries about our brain, this issue is packed with testimony to the Master Designer.

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