Getting Back to the Bible

Getting Back to the Bible

Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel, Salvation Through Christ, Pentecost, Fire, Judgment, Eternity

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 25, 2026 (Donate)

Good biblical doctrines ultimately connect with one another (Proverbs 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:16). They don’t exist as isolated teachings. Since God is the Author of truth He can’t contradict Himself. Thus, sound biblical doctrines complement and reinforce one another. On the other hand, false doctrines eventually conflict and contradict with the clear teachings of God's Word.

Throughout this doctrinal series, we have only scratched the surface of many doctrines, doctrinal issues, and theological debates. In fact, each major doctrine could easily fill an entire book!

But as we study individual doctrines, we should never lose sight of the big picture. Good doctrine stands upon God's Word as the final and full authority and ultimately points us toward the central message of Scripture and specifically to Jesus Christ.

As big picture reminder some highlights are: Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel, Redemption and Salvation in Christ, Pentecost, Fire, Judgment, Eternity. Let’s look at these more closely.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Creation

The Bible begins with God:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, NKJV).

Everything begins with the infinite, eternal, uncreated God. He created all things in six days (Genesis 1:1-23; Exodus 20:11, 31:17), and His original creation was "very good" (Genesis 1:31/Deuteronomy 32:4). Man (male and female) was specially created in an eternal God's image (Genesis 1:26-27), giving every person (including you!) inherent, eternal value and dignity.

A possible idea of the Garden of Eden with paths, fields, well watered, and huge! Image requested by Bodie Hodge* 

Creation is the foundation for every major doctrine of theology whether directly or indirectly. God owns creation because He made it and sustains it into existence. He defines good and evil. He defines marriage, family, work, morality, and purpose. We are creatures subject to and accountable to our Creator.

If we abandon biblical Creation, we destroy the foundation upon which many other doctrines rest. It’s like pulling the rug out from underneath our feet. We lose our stability.

The Fall

Genesis 3 explains why God's originally perfect creation is now filled with suffering, death, disease, conflict, and sin.

Adam and Eve (our respective grandparents!) rebelled against God's command. Sin entered the world, and death came through sin (Romans 5:12). The effects of the Curse extended throughout creation (Romans 8:20-22).

After eating and their eyes were open to their nakedness, they likely dropped the fruit and quickly sought to cover themselves with nearby fig leaves that they sewed together; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

This creates mankind's greatest problem. We are sinners before a holy and infinite God. He is perfectly just and must judge us as guilty sinners and inflict the righteous punishment that we deserve—physical death and a subsequent eternal death for our eternal souls with the wrath of God upon us forever (this is what “hell” is).

In this life, man is given a taste of what life is like without God’s full blessing. This broken creation, broken relationships, with immense sufferings, disease, and death are only small aspects of God’s full wrath to come.

The Fall therefore points forward to our need for a Savior and is the foundation for why everyone needs Christ. Genesis 3 doesn’t merely explain what went wrong with the world; it also, subtly perhaps, prepares us to understand why Jesus Christ, who is God, had to come. Only an eternal God is in a position to solve our eternal sin problem.

The Flood And Babel

Man’s rebellion continued after the Fall. By Noah's day, wickedness had become exceedingly great (Genesis 6:5). God judged the world with the global Flood while graciously saving Noah, his family, and the land-dwelling, air-breathing animals aboard the Ark. But they had to go through the door of the Ark to be saved. The Flood reminds us that God judges sin, but it also shows God's grace and salvation.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Again, man’s rebellion continued after the Flood. At Babel, mankind refused God's command to fill the earth and instead gathered together in rebellion (Genesis 11:1-9). God confused their languages and scattered them across the earth. Yet Babel wasn’t the end.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Redemption And Salvation In Christ

The pivotal point of human history is the coming of Jesus Christ—as a babe in a manger. The eternal and infinite Son of God took on human flesh (John 1:1, 14).

Jesus lived without sin, died on the Cross, and rose bodily from the dead. Christ took the punishment we deserve—not just the physical anguish and death on the cross, but He was offer up to God the Father by His own will to take infinite and eternal punishment we deserve for our sin. Jesus took that brunt! Due to His eternal nature, He could take the eternal punishment in a mere moment—that shows the power of God.

Christ's sacrifice was set in motion due to Adam and Eve sinning; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

So the full punishment for man’s sin has already been endured by Christ—those before Christ looked forward to Him and we look back to Christ sacrifice. This is why we no longer need to sacrifice animals (which were a temporary covering anyway in the Old Testament).

Through Christ comes redemption, justification, forgiveness, and salvation.

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, NKJV).

The first Adam brought sin and death into the human race. Jesus Christ, called the "last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45), brings life and salvation to His people—those who repent of their sins, and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior recognizing His death and resurrection.

At Pentecost, people from many nations and languages heard the wonderful works of God proclaimed in their own languages (Acts 2:5-11). Babel had divided mankind's languages; at Pentecost, the gospel began going powerfully across those linguistic and national boundaries as Christ built His church.

Pentecost, the languages came back together giving hints what heaven will be like; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

The gospel isn’t limited to one nation, ethnicity, or language. Christ commanded His followers to make disciples of all the nations (e.g., Matthew 28:19).

Fire And Final Judgment

The same Bible that records God's past judgment also warns of judgment to come.

God once judged the earth with water. Scripture says that the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire (2 Peter 3:5-7). Thus, we need to be doing the Lord’s work until He returns for us as He promised to come back (John 14:2-3). History is moving toward a conclusion determined by God.

There will also be a final judgment. Scripture teaches that mankind will stand before God (Revelation 20:11-15). Our hope can’t be our own goodness, accomplishments, or good works—because we are all wretched sinners and that is why we deserve punishment. Salvation, though, is found in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV).

Eternity

Judgment isn’t the end of the biblical account. The book of Revelation concludes with the new heaven and new earth, where God's people will dwell with Him forever (Revelation 21-22). Sin, death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be gone.

Those who remain in their sin face eternal judgment—that is those who refuse Christ and wrath of God will continue to abide on them forever. On the flip side of the coin, those who belong to Christ enjoy everlasting life in God's presence with blessings so great we can’t even imagine it—but what else would be expect from an eternally good and loving God?

Heaven is likely beyond our imagination! Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

This brings us from Genesis to Revelation:

Creation -> Fall -> Flood -> Babel -> Redemption -> Gospel to the Nations -> Fire -> Final Judgment -> Eternity

These aren’t disconnected Bible accounts. They form one great history centered upon God's work and culminating in Jesus Christ.

Stand Firm on God's Word

Existence in God’s world is predicated upon God and the truth of His Word. This is why doctrine matters—He sets it and He has the authority to do so. We need to humble ourselves before a holy God.

False teachings in one area can eventually affect our understanding of other biblical truths. Christians should, therefore, be careful not to mix Christianity with philosophies, religions, or worldviews that contradict Scripture.

Don’t allow secular philosophies, false religions, human traditions, or popular cultural ideas to become authorities over God's Word. And definitely don’t syncretize Christianity with teachings that contradict Scripture while attempting to maintain Christian terminology.

Instead, test everything by the authoritative, perfect, and holy Word of God (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). While doing this, remember the big picture with Christ central to it all. Notice how the ones correlate, the twos correlate, and so on? Christ is the central pivot point.

1. God created Creation.

2. Man fell into sin and judgment.

3. God judged the earth with the Flood of water.

4. God scattered mankind at Babel via language barriers.

5. Christ provides redemption and salvation through His blood on the Cross.

4. The gospel transcends language and unites Christians together under one banner.

3. God will bring the present earth to judgment of fire.

2. Every man faces final judgment before Christ.

1. And then comes God’s final, eternal Creation (heaven and hell).

So stand firmly upon the authoritative Word of God. Rest in the finished work and salvation of Jesus Christ. Reject false doctrines that contradict God's revelation. And look forward with hope to the day when we will dwell eternally with our loving and awesome Creator and Savior, enjoying the everlasting blessing and communion of our perfect, infinite, holy, and loving God.

The Bible begins with God creating the heavens and the earth. It ends with God's people dwelling with Him forever. How amazing is that! From Genesis to Revelation, it is one history, one truth, connecting all biblical doctrine to ultimately one Savior: Jesus Christ.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42, NKJV)

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge

 

Syncretism—A False Doctrine That Affects So Many!

Syncretism—A False Doctrine That Affects So Many!

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 24, 2026 (Donate)

One of the most devastating things that has happened to churches in the last 200 years is syncretism. Many of you reading this probably know very little about the false doctrine of syncretism but it is an age-old style of religion that decimates from within.

One prime example in many churches, Christian colleges, and seminaries today is the mixing of Christianity with tenets of the religion of secular humanism. When Christians accept big bang, millions of years, or evolutionary ideas into their belief system, then Genesis 1-11 is essentially thrown out, reinterpreted in light of fallible man’s ideas (humanism) or simply set aside and ignored as “non essentials” or secondary.

Why mix Christianity with any other religion? Image from Presentation Library

Yes, this is how false religions get a foothold into churches—when one part of the Bible goes, be ready for other tenets to fall.

What Is Syncretism?

So what is syncretism? Syncretism is the blending or mixing of two different religions. It is typically discussed in regard to the godly who mix their religion with another ungodly worldview or religion—sometimes it might be just specific tenets like origins or the nature of Christ as taught by other religions.

Don’t be deceived, this is a subtle but devastating attack on God and His Word. When someone mixes their biblical Christianity with beliefs, religious practices, philosophies, or worldviews that originate outside Scripture and thus have man as the authority, it is a contradiction of what God says. The problem is that instead of allowing God's Word to judge outside ideas, syncretism is a model to combine Christianity with them.

Not everything originating outside the church is automatically sinful. Christians can learn mathematics, engineering, medicine, history, and other subjects through general revelation and our ability to investigate things. The problem occurs when an outside belief contradicts Scripture and Christians modify biblical teaching to accommodate it.

Biblically, syncretism is ultimately an authority problem: Is God's Word the standard by which other beliefs are judged, or must God's Word be reinterpreted to accommodate another authority?

Mixing humanistic elements like big bang, millions of years, and evolution to Christianity are recipe for disaster; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

The most common syncretism today in churches is the addition of millions of years (geological evolution), evolutionary ideas (biological evolution) and big bang (cosmological evolution) as their new origins account and then they say “God used these evolutionary processes”. There are biblical problems with this but also theological problems and scientific problems. Yet people still hold to it.

Why Is Syncretism Wrong?

God repeatedly commanded His people not to mix true worship with false religion. When Israel entered Canaan, God warned them not to imitate the nations or inquire—He said:

“When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, “take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. (Deuteronomy 12:29-31, NKJV).

With horrible precision, ancient Israel repeatedly violated this command. Israel worshiped Baal and Ashtoreth (Judges 2:11-13; 1 Kings 18:21), sacrificed to other gods (Deuteronomy 32:16-17), erected high places and sacred pillars (2 Kings 17:9-12), and even participated in child sacrifice associated with Molech (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6). 2 Kings 17:33 simply puts the big picture problem out there when it says:

They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods — according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away. (NKJV)

That is an excellent biblical description of syncretism in ancient times. People attempt to retain God while mixing or syncing beliefs and practices from opposing religions. Consider Elijah when he said:

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. (1 Kings 18:21, NKJV).

Christianity isn’t to be mixed with contradictory religious systems because what communion has light with darkness? (see 2 Corinthians 6:14). Something always has to give and sadly, usually, the godly began giving up the text of Scripture in order to follow pagan or anti-biblical paths.

Solomon began syncretizing his beliefs with paganism; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Even Solomon with great wisdom did this. He began offering sacrifices to pagan gods! Solomon allowed his foreign wives to turn his heart toward pagans like Ashtoreth, Milcom, and Chemosh (1 Kings 11:1-8; see also Nehemiah 13:26). In the New Testament, Paul blatantly warns us:

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8, NKJV).

When people add or change God’s Word to accommodate some false belief from other [false] religions, it elevates man above God on those areas. This is the religion of humanism [in its broadest sense]. Thus, man is seen as the judge over what God says. This won’t go well on judgment day for people who do this, when God will judge them by His Word! Jesus says:

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:48, NKJV)

Latin American Christianity and Paganism

Consider a parallel type of syncretism in today’s culture. This example occurs where Christianity has been mixed with pre-Christian pagan religions in the Americas or African traditional religions or otherwise general types of spiritism or folklore practices.

The problem is that someone may identify as Christian while simultaneously appealing to spirits, consulting mediums, practicing divination, using religious charms, venerating pagan deities under Christianized names, or performing rituals derived from earlier religions—particularly in the local areas.

When I was in Peru (pictured here at Machu Picchu), I saw much mixing of Catholicism with local pagan gods and traditions; Photo by Bodie Hodge

The Bible overtly speaks against divination, sorcery, mediums, spiritism, and attempts to contact the dead (Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Isaiah 8:19-20). Instead of chasing these things, we should follow the Bible. The biblical response, therefore, to pagan religion isn’t to Christianize it by mixing with it but to judge those false beliefs as false.

Converts at Ephesus in the New Testament publicly destroyed their occult books rather than incorporating them into Christianity (Acts 19:18-20). This says something powerful about the power of the Gospel.

Creation And Secular Origins

As mentioned, the popular form of syncretism in the Western World today is the syncretism that occurs when Christians attempt to combine Genesis with naturalism/materialism which are subsets to the religion of secular humanism (big bang, millions of years, and evolution).

Why mix secular cosmology (big bang) to Genesis 1-11? Image form Presentation Library

Genesis describes God creating in six days (Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11), mankind being created specially in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27), Adam being formed from dust and Eve from Adam (Genesis 2:7, 21-23), and death entering the human world through Adam's sin (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). This isn’t rocket science—it’s rather straightforward.

When Christians reinterpret these passages to accommodate the big bang, billions of years, or human evolution from animal ancestors, an outside historical framework is essentially becoming the new superior authority used to reinterpret Scripture. In other words, God is being demoted to be subservient to man! See the problem?

Why mix geological evolution form secular humanism to Genesis 1-11; Image from Presentation Library

The issue isn’t opposing scientific investigation. Big bang, millions of years, and evolution can’t be observed or repeated, so they aren’t observable or repeatable science anyway. Rather, Christians should distinguish observational science from philosophical or historical claims that contradict God's eyewitness revelation.

Other Syncretistic Doctrinal Errors

Without belaboring the point, there are many ways that Christians often syncretize their Christianity with another religion. This could be combing elements of Eastern religions. Yoga, for instance is an aspect of Hinduism.  Stretching one's body into a particular position isn’t automatically worship. However, historically religious forms of yoga can incorporate Hindu concepts, Eastern meditation techniques to empty oneself, Hindu mantras, altered spiritual consciousness, or beliefs about union with the impersonal divine.

Another form of syncretism is mixing with secular psychology. Studying human behavior, trauma, memory, communication, or biological aspects of the brain isn’t inherently anti-Christian.

Syncretism occurs when secular psychological philosophies concerning man's fundamental nature replace biblical anthropology. Scripture says mankind was created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), is fallen in Adam (Romans 5:12), possesses a sinful heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23), needs repentance and salvation (Acts 17:30; Romans 3:23), and ultimately needs transformation through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

If a psychological philosophy says man's fundamental problem is merely low self-esteem, environment, repression, or lack of self-fulfillment while denying sin and personal moral responsibility, Christians shouldn’t reinterpret Scripture to accommodate it.

New Age spirituality is commonly syncretized or mixed with Christianity today—sadly. In doing this, adherants mix concepts such as universal divine consciousness, spirit guides, energy manipulation, astrology, divination, manifestation, reincarnation, crystals possessing spiritual power, or the idea that humans possess divinity within themselves. You might have been able to detect some Eastern mysticism in there, because New Age is an off-shoot of Eastern religions like Hinduism.

Even so, these concepts conflict with biblical Christianity. God is Creator and mankind is creation (Genesis 1:1, 27). Humans aren’t gods (Isaiah 43:10; Ezekiel 28:2). Astrology, divination, mediums, and spiritism are condemned (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah 47:13-14).

Syncretism can also occur when churches blend or mix their Christianity with materialism, sexual humanism, political ideology, prosperity teaching, ancestor worship, religious pluralism, critical theories, or other philosophies that become authorities over Scripture. The list goes on!

Conclusion

When Christian leaders buy into syncretism of any form, who does it affect the most? It affects next generation—the children, youths, and students of these Christian leaders. So keep in mind that syncretism can destroy a church slowly from within over generations. Romans 12:2 warns:

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

The solution isn’t cultural isolation either. Christians live in the world and should evaluate ideas carefully. The Bereans were commended because they, rightly, searched the Scriptures to determine whether teachings were true (Acts 17:11).

As biblical Christians we don’t need to be entertaining pagan religion, naturalistic origins, secular philosophies, Eastern spirituality, or New Age practices. We should test all things against God’s perfect and holy Word and then hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Syncretism is a false doctrine as it takes outside worldview elements and mixes or syncretizes them with Christianity in a way that contradicts, modifies, or overrides God's Word. Our biblical response should be to bring every belief under the authority of Scripture rather than judging God’s Word by fallible, sinful, errant, man-made ideas.

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge

 

 

The False Doctrine Of The Sexual Immorality Movement (SIM)

The False Doctrine Of The Sexual Immorality Movement (SIM)

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 23, 2026 (Donate)

Sexual issues in today’s culture are rampant. Sadly, they are almost normalized. Even worse, children at younger and younger ages are caught up in it or exposed to it.

When the Bible, creation and prayer were thrown out of the school system in the 1960s in the USA (echoed elsewhere in the Western World), it was replaced by the godless religion of the day—secular humanism (e.g., evolution, millions of years, naturalism, materialism).

Humanism dominated classrooms of biology, history, and science. Logic, ethics, and reasoning were largely thrown out. With a new shift in the general public and students, man was now seen as an evolved animal with mere sexual instincts and the sexual revolution took place through the 1960’s and early 1970s.

By 1973, abortion was legal (to kill children you didn’t want because of all the sexual promiscuity), pornography was allowed, divorce was skyrocketing. Before you know it, homosexual issues [e.g., homosexual “marriage” with Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)] and gender issues followed—and we are currently in a culture that bore the fruit of all this evil.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

How can Christians survive? First, by knowing what God teaches on this delicate subject and by following God’s Word to be obedient regarding marriage and sex.

The term "Sexual Immorality Movement," or SIM, is properly used to describe modern movements that normalize or promote sexual behavior contrary to biblical teaching. This includes the sexual revolution, "free love," premarital sex, adultery, pornography, LGBTQIAA++ movements, easy or no-fault approaches to divorce, and attempts to redefine marriage.

The fundamental biblical problem with SIM is an authority problem: Who defines sex, marriage, and morality—God or man? Of course, the answer is God through His Word. But the world in which we live is deceived to believe man and disregards God. So this issue is a hot one in our culture.

God Created Marriage and Sexuality: God Defines Sexual Morality

Sexuality didn’t originate with human society. God created man "male and female" (Genesis 1:27), created the woman for the man (Genesis 2:18-23), and instituted marriage:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24, NKJV).

Jesus reaffirmed this creation ordinance in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9. Biblical marriage is therefore not something mankind has the authority to redefine. Thus, scripturally, sexual intimacy belongs within the marriage covenant between a man and woman (1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4).

Premarital And "Free Love"

Scripture repeatedly condemns sexual immorality. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, NKJV says:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;  that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Fornication (sex outside of marriage) and other sexually immoral acts are also condemned in Matthew 15:19; Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:3; and Colossians 3:5.

The modern idea that consenting adults may freely engage in sexual relationships outside marriage is in contradiction God's placement of sexual intimacy within marriage.

Homosexuality And LGBT Sexual Ethics

God’s Word also identifies same-sex sexual behavior as contrary to God's design (e.g., Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-10). So keep in mind that this modern issue has ancient roots and biblical people like Moses and Paul had to deal with it too.

Romans 1 is particularly important because Paul connects sexual rebellion with mankind's deeper rejection of God as Creator (Romans 1:18-28). When the Creator is rejected, His created order is eventually rejected as well.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

But there is hope! God also offers forgiveness. 1 Corinthians 6 lists numerous sins, including sexual sins, and then says, "And such were some of you" (1 Corinthians 6:11). By the grace and blood of Jesus Christ, sexual sinners can be saved and many have. This is great news.

How Has SIM Entered Churches?

The Bible repeatedly warns about God's people adopting the morality of the surrounding culture.

Paul confronted the Corinthian church because sexual immorality had entered the congregation and was being tolerated (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Instead of accommodating it, Paul commanded church discipline and repentance.

Romans 12:2, NKJV warns:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns that people will accumulate teachers according to their own desires and turn their ears away from the truth. This explains a major way sexual revisionism enters churches: cultural desires become the standard used to reinterpret Scripture rather than Scripture remaining the standard used to judge cultural desires!

This is syncretism—mixing biblical Christianity with an outside worldview. A church may begin saying biblical sexual commands were merely cultural, reinterpret passages concerning sexual immorality, redefine marriage apart from Genesis, affirm behavior Scripture identifies as sinful, or simply stop preaching difficult passages.

As churches let things pass, they become normalized in the churches and Word of God no longer has an affect! Note that this isn’t always about sexual sins but many other sins too. If churches don’t stand on God’s Word from the first to the last verse, errors creep in and can destroy the flock.

Eventually, what Scripture commands people to repent of may be affirmed or even celebrated. Don’t be deceived, mocking God in such a fashion will only bring judgment.

The Deeper Problem: Biblical Authority

SIM is ultimately another manifestation of the problem that began in Genesis 3: mankind questioning God's Word and attempting to determine good and evil independently of God.

Isaiah 5:20-21, NKJV warns:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

A church, therefore, can’t faithfully submit to Christ while deliberately reversing His moral standards. Jesus said that if you love Him, you’ll keep His commandments" (John 14:15).

Yet Christians must remember that sexual sinners aren't uniquely sinful. All of us have sinned (Romans 3:23). Sexual immorality is one type of manifestation of man’s sin problem.

The biblical response is, therefore, not hatred or cruelty, but truth, repentance, forgiveness, and transformation through Jesus Christ. We should want people to repent and come back to Christ.

Bear in mind that Christians shouldn’t conform to sexual immorality but also, we shouldn’t treat those caught in it as if they were beyond salvation. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says that people can be saved out of sexual sin, washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ just like any other sin.

Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

The SIM is a collection of false doctrines wrapped up in one name. Regrettably, it has infiltrated churches—some even fly the SIM flag outside (LGBTQIAA++ flag). That should be both a warning that they don’t believe the Bible and it is also a reason to be praying that they repent.  

Even so, the solution isn’t adapting Scripture to the sexual revolution, but calling everyone back to the authority of God's Word, biblical marriage, sexual purity, repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus Christ.

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge

Doctrines of Demons—Denying Marriage And Restricting Diets

Doctrines of Demons—Denying Marriage And Restricting Diets

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, September 22, 2026 (Donate)

There are good doctrines and bad doctrines…then there are doctrines that are so bad that God simply calls them doctrines of demons. At the heart of these demonic doctrines are lies and seared consciences with attacks on marriage (thus permitting sexual immorality) and forbidding diets with false authority.

Paul writes to Timothy; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament gives a stark warning that false doctrines can have a spiritual source. Paul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, writes:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5, NKJV).

Paul then identifies specific examples like forbidding people to marry and commanding to abstain from certain foods (1 Timothy 4:3). These teachings attack good things God created and replace His authority with man-made rules. Before we dive into the specifics, let’s look a little closer at demons and their influence from a biblical viewpoint.

What Are Demons According to the Bible?

According to the Bible, demons are evil spiritual beings who oppose God and seek to deceive and harm mankind. They were originally part of God’s very good and perfect creation (e.g., Genesis 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:4). But they rebelled against God in sin and await their “fiery” judgment where the infinite wrath of God will abide on them forever.  

They are associated with Satan, who rebelled against God too, and his fallen and broken kingdom (e.g., Matthew 12:24-26; Revelation 12:9). God’s Word distinguishes them from human beings and portrays them as personal spiritual beings possessing knowledge, will, the power of contrite choice, and the ability to communicate (e.g., Mark 1:23-26; James 2:19).

A legion of demons inhabited one man whom Jesus later cast into the unclean swine (about 2,000 of them) which ran into the water and drown (Mark 5:9-13); Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Demons can influence mankind in a lot of ways like deception, temptation, false teaching, and opposition to God's truth. But in some instances, they could possess and take over a person as shown in hosts of places in the New Testament.

Satan is called the "father of lies" (John 8:44), and his servants seek to disguise themselves as righteous (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Sometimes the biggest deception comes from those who profess to be godly—hence, why it is good to observe their fruits and compare it to God’s Sword (His Word).

In regards to the cases of demonic possession (or oppression in which demons afflicted individuals physically or mentally), this is a possibility (e.g., Mark 5:1-20; Luke 9:37-42). However, Scripture doesn’t teach that every illness, sinful action, or false belief is directly caused by demons or Satan—as fallen individuals ourselves, we have a propensity to do bad things anyway. Just remember that man also sins because of our own fallen desires or sin nature (e.g., James 1:14-15).

Christ, being God, naturally has authority over demons and Satan (Mark 1:27). They have no power next to God in the same way that we have no power next to God. Christians are to resist the devil, remain alert, pray, and stand firmly upon God's truth (e.g., James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8-9).

Doctrines Of Demons

Denying Marriage

Paul specifically condemns those who push ideas like "forbidding to marry." This doesn’t mean that everyone must marry. Paul himself recognized singleness as a legitimate condition and even a gift that can provide greater opportunity for ministry (e.g., 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 32-35).

The error is teaching that marriage itself is spiritually wrong, unclean, or forbidden to people whom God permits to marry. In our culture, many refuse marriage and engage in sexual promiscuity outside of marriage—to their detriment!

Sadly, others try to break the one human race into evolutionary higher and lower “races” and say that that you can’t marry outside of your Darwinian “race”. In certain places (particularly of the past), one had to marry within one’s rank of society (nobles or royalty and peasants were forbidden for instance).

But a major point is that marriage wasn't invented by man or by governing authorities. God instituted it at creation when He made the first woman and brought her to the first man (Genesis 2:18-24). Jesus reaffirmed this creation ordinance in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 6:10. Scripture further says that marriage is to be honored and respected by all (Hebrews 13:4).

Therefore, condemning what God calls honorable is an attack on God's perfect standard.

The doctrine of marriage should be honored; Image requested by Bodie Hodge*

Diet And Forbidding Foods

The second example is commanding people to refrain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving" (1 Timothy 4:3). A prime example of that today is the movement that has affected many church members with a vegan diet.

Adam and Eve had restriction, they were opened up with Noah and then Israel had clean dietary restrictions under the Mosaic covenant (Leviticus 11). With Christ declaring all foods clean, Christians are now open to all foods (e.g., all meats that were used for food are now clean). So, imposing certain restriction isn’t justified biblically. I understand temporary diets or medical reasons or allergens or even staying away from some foods because of our taste (I’m a picky eater!). But this is different from restricting diets.

Jesus taught that food entering the body doesn’t morally defile the heart (Mark 7:15-23). Peter's vision in Acts 10 also used previously unclean animals (from the Mosaic Law) to make an important point about what God had cleansed.

Food can certainly be avoided for health, preference, fasting, or concern for another person's conscience (Romans 14:1-3). The error occurs when dietary rules are imposed or strongly pushed as requirements for holiness or the “correct path”.

Consider how these doctrines of demons directly deviate from the Apostles’ teachings. In the book of Acts, a number of the Apostles collectively wrote:

but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20, NKJV)

that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. (Acts 15:29, NKJV)

Sadly, demonic teachings skew these into extremes. The Apostles taught you not to eat blood particularly from animals strangled. Yet demonic doctrines push beyond this for other dietary restrictions too. Notice the subtle distortion.

The Apostles taught that we are to avoid sexual immorality—the primary means of avoidance is by proper marriage (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). Of course, demons take this and skew it into ways that forbid marriage and thus sexual immorality thrives—as observed in our own culture since the 1960s.

From the 60s forward, there has been the free-love movement, homosexual movement, and the transgender movement. All of which are various forms of sexual immorality which defy proper marriage. This brings me to a point that needs to be addressed—the issue of false marriage or pseudo-marriage.

Pseudo-Marriage

Although the expression "pseudo-marriage" doesn’t appear in 1 Timothy 4, it describes another way the marriage institution can be distorted. Jesus defined marriage by returning to Genesis:

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ “and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6, NKJV; see also Genesis 1:27; 2:24).

Biblically, marriage is the covenantal union/relationship of a man and a woman. Therefore, calling another type of sexual relationship "marriage" doesn’t alter the biblical definition. Scripture repeatedly condemns sexual relationships outside God's design for marriage (Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4).

Imagine if someone suggests that 1 Timothy 4 means that Christians (and specifically God’s Word) would be wrong if they oppose things like homosexual “marriage”, due to redefining marriage, then what gives? This is another form of replacing God's authority with human authority via fictitious definitions (e.g., homosexual “marriage”).

But homosexual “marriage” isn't a marriage in God’s eyes and is sexual immorality that is ripe for judgment. So forbidding these types of false “unions” as “marriages” isn't what is being discussed in 1 Timothy 4.

Conclusion: Rejecting God's Authority

These demonic errors share an important theme. Satanic and demonic strategy from Genesis 3 onward has been to challenge God's Word: did God really say? (e.g., Genesis 3:1).

God created food and made it clean. God created us as male and female. God created the institution of marriage. Man, Satan, or demons, therefore, don’t have the authority to declare God's good creation evil or to redefine His institutions contrary to His revealed Word.

The biblical response should be to recognize that these false doctrines of demons are just fallible human beliefs and sinful errors. But continuing in this type of sin could have lasting and eternal consequences.

Christians are commanded to test all things and hold fast what is good based on God’s absolute Word (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We should reject teachings that contradicts what God has revealed—including these doctrines of demons.

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

*Image by generative program as requested by Bodie Hodge