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There comes a point in all of our lives when we realize we aren’t kids anymore. We all come to that fork in the road where the street signs read “Narrow” and “Broad” and we have to choose our path. 
Perhaps you have noticed the anti-drug commercials that promote being “above the influence” and standing your ground, regardless of the “norm.”
The slogan “above the influence” doesn’t pertain solely to drugs; it applies to every aspect of our lives. However, it’s important to know what influence we are striving to be above and to know where these influences are coming from. Simply stated, evil influence comes from the devil.
That being does exist and uses anything he can to draw us away from God. It’s a daily battle. The world around us has been deceived or blinded to the right way of living, and its immoral way of life has become the “norm.” (Request or download the free booklet Is There Really a Devil?)
There is a scary Bible prophecy about society’s standards in our time: “In the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
Pressure to fit in and conform to this way of life constantly surrounds us. It’s nearly impossible to watch a television show, walk through the mall, go out with a friend from school or work, or even read a book without hearing or seeing something foul and unpleasant.
Being above the influence is about being who you are and standing up for what is right—even if it is against the “norm.”
How can you be above the influence?
Study the Bible. God shows us the contrast between how we are and how we are not to live. The Bible reveals the results of good and bad decisions.
Guard yourself. We are told to wear the “armor of God” to avoid being influenced by evil (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Pray. This is probably the simplest thing we can do, yet hard to remember. We can pray anytime and place, but especially before problems come upon us. In other words, pray that we won’t be led into temptation.
Have a support system. The more evil surrounds us, the harder it becomes to resist. We need to be around people of like mind who encourage us to stay on the right path spiritually.
Know your weaknesses. Even as the Son of God, Jesus personally understood human weakness and that true moral strength comes from God. We need to know our weaknesses—and to compensate by staying close to God. After all, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Why should I?
Being above the influence isn’t an easy thing to do; it does take work to overcome wrong influence. We must remember that our work has a great future in the Kingdom of God.
God is calling us out of this world’s ways. He expects us think vertically and follow Him. By choosing His way of life, we can positively influence other people. The choice is up to us. Are we above the influence? VT
- About the Author -
Gina Marie Hoskins is a junior (third year) in high school in the Flint, Michigan, area where she attends the local congregation of the United Church of God with her family.
When I went to high school, I took an open stand against Darwinian evolution. I realized that accepting evolution’s explanation for the origin of life deeply conflicted with my belief in God as Creator. My questioning the Darwinian theory didn’t go down very well with my biology teacher, even though science is a discipline where it is good to question, instead of blindly accepting everything. 
Our high school textbook had quite convincing sections on Darwinian evolution. It discussed peppered moths in England (read the true story about that in “Mothballing Evolution’s Peppered Moths,” January-March 2007 issue of Vertical Thought) and various other cases such as ” Darwin’s finches” and “Darwin’s tree of life,” etc. It presented a clear picture: item after item was laid out, all pointing in the same direction. Darwinian evolution, my teacher argued, was not only a scientific theory but also a scientific fact. Of course when you throw in magical words like “DNA-analysis,” it had a scientific ring to it.
Time and time again we hear phrases such as “overwhelming evidence” and “consensus has been reached” by Darwinists preaching that evolution is the true explanation. They argue that “no Creator was necessary” and even that “science proves there is no purpose or God.” Never mind that those stating such claims have stepped way out of their scientific field.
I noticed that no one has actually observed Darwinian evolution take place. Sure, we have fossils that looked like they might be related somehow—just like a modern car could be related by appearance to older cars. But cars are designed. Why is it so impossible to suggest that the myriads of different species of creation are designed—especially after considering their complexity and how neatly they all fit in the ecosystem?
I’ve always believed that there is no real conflict between science and what the Bible tells us. We can find clear indication of the Creator by observing and examining His creation. However, this is not something people within mainstream biology are likely to admit (although the growing discipline of intelligent design is paving the way to enable the mere thought of a Designer again).
It’s a hard problem because in biology facts are often viewed through the spectacles of evolution. Instead of building their theory from evidence, Darwinian biologists interpret what they see, often remodeling instead of rejecting ideas that contradict their premise. In that sense Darwinism is not scientific.
What I didn’t know during my high school years is how badly supported the theory of evolution actually is. After reading Jonathan Wells’ book Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution Is Wrong, the case against Darwinian evolution became quite clear to me. Darwin’s theory isn’t science—it’s myth, employing numerous myth-making techniques:
- Exaggerating claims.
- Using circular reasoning.
- Ignoring and not mentioning evidence against it.
- Misleading (knowingly or unknowingly) the public with nonfactual stories based on wishful thinking.
- Using scientifically questionable methods to find “proof” for evolution.
The book focuses on 10 important examples (the so-called icons) upon which Darwinists themselves have mainly constructed their theory. Read it and you will find that it provides a clear counterbalance to many school textbooks’ uncritical acceptance of Darwinian evolution.
Meanwhile, you can quickly access the biblical reasons why evolution is wrong by downloading or requesting a free copy of Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe? VT
- About the Author -
Stefan Saxin studies chemistry in pursuit of his master of science degree at the University of Gothenburg in western Sweden.
