Thoughtful About . . . God, Science, and Agendas
There seems to be an idea today (okay, for quite a while),
that faith and science are at war. I’ve heard scientists say only fools believe
in God as the Bible paints him. But what concerns me more is that lately, from
every direction, I’ve been bombarded with Christians who say that science can’t
be trusted because it doesn’t agree with the Bible. I’ve seen tracts that point
out where science is wrong and the Bible right. I’ve seen videos, heard
interviews, and been debated on Facebook about the “dangers” of science.
that faith and science are at war. I’ve heard scientists say only fools believe
in God as the Bible paints him. But what concerns me more is that lately, from
every direction, I’ve been bombarded with Christians who say that science can’t
be trusted because it doesn’t agree with the Bible. I’ve seen tracts that point
out where science is wrong and the Bible right. I’ve seen videos, heard
interviews, and been debated on Facebook about the “dangers” of science.
I’ve even heard people claim that if you believe in
evolution to any degree, you’re not a real Christian. (So…what do you call dog
breeding, dude? Are you aware that that
is what Origin of Species is actually
addressing, not ape-becoming-man?? Have you read it, or are you just judging it on what others have told you about it?) I’ve had people tell me
that if I even let my kids hear about evolution, I’m introducing evil into
their lives. And if a Christian doesn’t believe the earth is 6,000 years old? Watch out—you
might get excommunicated.
evolution to any degree, you’re not a real Christian. (So…what do you call dog
breeding, dude? Are you aware that that
is what Origin of Species is actually
addressing, not ape-becoming-man?? Have you read it, or are you just judging it on what others have told you about it?) I’ve had people tell me
that if I even let my kids hear about evolution, I’m introducing evil into
their lives. And if a Christian doesn’t believe the earth is 6,000 years old? Watch out—you
might get excommunicated.
Now, I’m not a scientist. I’m not going to get into the
nitty-gritty of the specific arguments, because they usually make my eyes glass
over. I won’t judge the scientists for their erroneous claims about faith,
because that’s not my place—Paul’s pretty clear on that. He warns us that we’ll
be called fools by the world’s “wise.” But I will say this:
nitty-gritty of the specific arguments, because they usually make my eyes glass
over. I won’t judge the scientists for their erroneous claims about faith,
because that’s not my place—Paul’s pretty clear on that. He warns us that we’ll
be called fools by the world’s “wise.” But I will say this:
Too many Christians today are turning into Pharisees over
science.
science.
I’m not supposed to judge the world for being…well, the
world. But I am supposed to call out
Christians for not being Christ-like (I Cor 5:9-13). But only if I can do it as Christ would—with love. I sure don’t
feel any love from someone who says I’m not a Christian if I’m not willing to
sign a statement of belief that says the world was created in 6 24-hour days,
period. (I’m using Young Earth and Evolution as my two examples because they’re
the ones that have come up for me so often lately.)
world. But I am supposed to call out
Christians for not being Christ-like (I Cor 5:9-13). But only if I can do it as Christ would—with love. I sure don’t
feel any love from someone who says I’m not a Christian if I’m not willing to
sign a statement of belief that says the world was created in 6 24-hour days,
period. (I’m using Young Earth and Evolution as my two examples because they’re
the ones that have come up for me so often lately.)
To them, I’d like to ask this. Do you believe that there’s
an ocean above the skies? Not moisture in the atmosphere, but a body of water?
Do you? Well if you’re going to read Genesis literally, you should. And it was
a big, hot-topic debate about 150 years ago. Moses is pretty clear that God
divided the firmament from the waters, and there were waters above and waters
beneath. Today, we assume that’s just pretty-talk for water and sky. That’s an understanding that has come by
reconciling our understanding of science to our reading of the Word. It
wasn’t always so. Theologians in the 1800s got fired up over this, and those
who dared to say, “No, there isn’t water above” were branded as heretics by
those who wanted to stick to the very-literal meaning.
an ocean above the skies? Not moisture in the atmosphere, but a body of water?
Do you? Well if you’re going to read Genesis literally, you should. And it was
a big, hot-topic debate about 150 years ago. Moses is pretty clear that God
divided the firmament from the waters, and there were waters above and waters
beneath. Today, we assume that’s just pretty-talk for water and sky. That’s an understanding that has come by
reconciling our understanding of science to our reading of the Word. It
wasn’t always so. Theologians in the 1800s got fired up over this, and those
who dared to say, “No, there isn’t water above” were branded as heretics by
those who wanted to stick to the very-literal meaning.
We can see who ultimately won that argument.
Does it mean that God has changed? That the Scriptures are
fallible? No! It means our understanding is fallible and changing.
fallible? No! It means our understanding is fallible and changing.
That’s the thing that really gets my knickers in a bunch.
All these people who seem to think that if they can’t reconcile an idea with
their traditional understanding, then they should just accuse the idea of being
wrong and ungodly. Yo, dude. Maybe your
understanding is faulty. Can we please
stop pigeon-holing God into the narrow slip of the world that we can understand
and instead praise Him for being so much greater than we can understand?
All these people who seem to think that if they can’t reconcile an idea with
their traditional understanding, then they should just accuse the idea of being
wrong and ungodly. Yo, dude. Maybe your
understanding is faulty. Can we please
stop pigeon-holing God into the narrow slip of the world that we can understand
and instead praise Him for being so much greater than we can understand?
I get that it’s hard to challenge the way you’ve always
thought of a thing. I do. But just look at how many different interpretations
there are of Scripture. Once-saved-always-saved sure isn’t accepted worldwide. How
about beliefs about baptism? Communion? Evangelism? Hell? Speaking in tongues?
The other gazillion issues that have divided one denomination from another?
thought of a thing. I do. But just look at how many different interpretations
there are of Scripture. Once-saved-always-saved sure isn’t accepted worldwide. How
about beliefs about baptism? Communion? Evangelism? Hell? Speaking in tongues?
The other gazillion issues that have divided one denomination from another?
Why not accept that thoughts on science are similar? Science
as a whole knows that its
understanding is incomplete. And while, sure, you’re going to get adherents to
a specific theory that will argue with that theory’s detractors until they’re
blue in the face, science as a whole will readily admit that there’s much they
don’t know. To them, that’s what fuels discovery. That’s what makes them
stretch themselves out toward new knowledge.
as a whole knows that its
understanding is incomplete. And while, sure, you’re going to get adherents to
a specific theory that will argue with that theory’s detractors until they’re
blue in the face, science as a whole will readily admit that there’s much they
don’t know. To them, that’s what fuels discovery. That’s what makes them
stretch themselves out toward new knowledge.
Why are Christians so ready to claim that “new” is evil?
That leads me back to my statement about us turning into
Pharisees, which I sure hope got a rise from you. Pharisees knew the Law and
the Prophets. They could quote it backwards, forward, and upside-down. They
were kings of saying But God said… “But
God said ‘keep the Sabbath holy,’ Jesus. Why are you healing on it?” What did Jesus say? That He’s Lord of the
Sabbath.
Pharisees, which I sure hope got a rise from you. Pharisees knew the Law and
the Prophets. They could quote it backwards, forward, and upside-down. They
were kings of saying But God said… “But
God said ‘keep the Sabbath holy,’ Jesus. Why are you healing on it?” What did Jesus say? That He’s Lord of the
Sabbath.
The Pharisees said, “But Moses said we can divorce our
wives!” What did Jesus say? That Moses was writing to the hardness of man’s
heart, but that was never what God wanted.
wives!” What did Jesus say? That Moses was writing to the hardness of man’s
heart, but that was never what God wanted.
You get that? Moses
was writing to fallen, limited man. But
Jesus challenged us to open our eyes to the God behind the words. The intent
behind the Law.
was writing to fallen, limited man. But
Jesus challenged us to open our eyes to the God behind the words. The intent
behind the Law.
Maybe God did
explain the universe to Moses in terms of atoms and neutrons and black holes
and cellular functions. But Moses was still a man, and one without the
scientific base that we have. Moses had limited words. Ever try explaining a
dream? You can see it, but there just aren’t always words for it. So you end up
saying, “I flew to LA, but when I got there, it was London.” They’re the best
words you have…but they’re not enough to explain what you really saw and experienced in that dream. They’re not enough to make it make sense. I daresay Moses
experienced something similar. I mean, seriously. Can you imagine having
eternal truths revealed you and then having to put them into words?
explain the universe to Moses in terms of atoms and neutrons and black holes
and cellular functions. But Moses was still a man, and one without the
scientific base that we have. Moses had limited words. Ever try explaining a
dream? You can see it, but there just aren’t always words for it. So you end up
saying, “I flew to LA, but when I got there, it was London.” They’re the best
words you have…but they’re not enough to explain what you really saw and experienced in that dream. They’re not enough to make it make sense. I daresay Moses
experienced something similar. I mean, seriously. Can you imagine having
eternal truths revealed you and then having to put them into words?
I’m not saying Moses explained it wrong. I’m not saying the
Word of God wasn’t inspired. I’m just saying that it was crafted with human
tools, and that those are limited. I’m saying that God is bigger than any
explanation. I’m saying that though the
Bible is the inspired, infallible word of God, it isn’t all of God. He’s too big to be constrained to 66 books.
Word of God wasn’t inspired. I’m just saying that it was crafted with human
tools, and that those are limited. I’m saying that God is bigger than any
explanation. I’m saying that though the
Bible is the inspired, infallible word of God, it isn’t all of God. He’s too big to be constrained to 66 books.
You know what? The
Pharisees didn’t much like Jesus challenging them to expand their
understanding. They stuck with what Moses said, thank you very much. And
then they killed him for his trouble.
Pharisees didn’t much like Jesus challenging them to expand their
understanding. They stuck with what Moses said, thank you very much. And
then they killed him for his trouble.
Here’s the thing. I don’t know how the earth was created—I just
know God created it, and then He rested. Were the days 24-hours long? [Insert
shrug here.] Strict readers of Genesis would tell me they were, of course they were, and then some would
look at me with profound sorrow in their eyes for doubting the word of God.
know God created it, and then He rested. Were the days 24-hours long? [Insert
shrug here.] Strict readers of Genesis would tell me they were, of course they were, and then some would
look at me with profound sorrow in their eyes for doubting the word of God.
I’m not. But I am
realizing that I sure don’t read “day” as “a literal 24 hours” in chapter 2
when God says “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you
eat of it you shall surely die.” We’re happy to call that one metaphorical (though
it’s the same word used in “On the first day…”) because we can see the evidence that Adam and Eve did not die on that day.
realizing that I sure don’t read “day” as “a literal 24 hours” in chapter 2
when God says “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you
eat of it you shall surely die.” We’re happy to call that one metaphorical (though
it’s the same word used in “On the first day…”) because we can see the evidence that Adam and Eve did not die on that day.
But we can’t see Creation. We can’t see any particular step
of evolution (though duck-billed platypuses do make some wonder, LOL). We can
just look at the evidence left behind and try to understand it.
of evolution (though duck-billed platypuses do make some wonder, LOL). We can
just look at the evidence left behind and try to understand it.
If we’re not married to a literal understanding in chapter
2, though, why are so many married to it in chapter 1? Why are we willing to
alienate an entire generation over it? I’m not saying it couldn’t have been 6
literal days. I’m just saying it’s not
worth arguing about. I’m saying
that the most profound thing you can admit is that our understanding is limited, incomplete, and fallible.
2, though, why are so many married to it in chapter 1? Why are we willing to
alienate an entire generation over it? I’m not saying it couldn’t have been 6
literal days. I’m just saying it’s not
worth arguing about. I’m saying
that the most profound thing you can admit is that our understanding is limited, incomplete, and fallible.
I’m saying that my faith isn’t so weak that it hinges on a
particular understanding of a particular verse. Why should it, when I
intimately know the unlimited God? When I can see how He’s bigger than the
average man in the Old Testament believed Him to be? God hasn’t changed,
nosirree. But man has. And oh, how
glad I am to have the Spirit dwelling within me, guiding me through new
discoveries!
particular understanding of a particular verse. Why should it, when I
intimately know the unlimited God? When I can see how He’s bigger than the
average man in the Old Testament believed Him to be? God hasn’t changed,
nosirree. But man has. And oh, how
glad I am to have the Spirit dwelling within me, guiding me through new
discoveries!
You know what I took from Origin of Species when I read it? Wow, God is so awesome! He made His
creation so adaptable, because He knew change would come! Know what I generally
think when I hear physicists musing about a big bang versus an eternal universe
(new theory), expanding versus contracting? Wow, look at God’s fingerprints on
the universe! How awesome and vast and unknowable it is—and how comforting to
know that though I’ll never know the
Truth of it, He does.
creation so adaptable, because He knew change would come! Know what I generally
think when I hear physicists musing about a big bang versus an eternal universe
(new theory), expanding versus contracting? Wow, look at God’s fingerprints on
the universe! How awesome and vast and unknowable it is—and how comforting to
know that though I’ll never know the
Truth of it, He does.
He created us with curious minds. Minds that long to know
more. Do we latch onto beliefs about our world that are wrong? Absolutely. But
it’s not just science that does that. It’s
us.
more. Do we latch onto beliefs about our world that are wrong? Absolutely. But
it’s not just science that does that. It’s
us.
We’re not at war with science, Christians. We created it,
after all. Modern science was based on the idea that the world must be orderly,
since God made it, and so we have a hope of understanding it. Sure, plenty have
gone astray from that. Too many scientists try to reason away God.
after all. Modern science was based on the idea that the world must be orderly,
since God made it, and so we have a hope of understanding it. Sure, plenty have
gone astray from that. Too many scientists try to reason away God.
But maybe that’s because too many Christians have deemed
science evil instead of letting go of their own limited understandings.
science evil instead of letting go of their own limited understandings.
Science, in its purist form, shouldn’t be trying to prove
God-or-no-God. It shouldn’t be trying to prove evolution-or-creation. Science shouldn’t have an agenda, and
that goes for a “Christian” agenda as much as an atheist one. It should just be
observing, and then wondering about the observations. That should make us questions
our understanding. That doesn’t mean
we have to question our faith.
God-or-no-God. It shouldn’t be trying to prove evolution-or-creation. Science shouldn’t have an agenda, and
that goes for a “Christian” agenda as much as an atheist one. It should just be
observing, and then wondering about the observations. That should make us questions
our understanding. That doesn’t mean
we have to question our faith.
Jesus proved that faith is so much bigger than the words
Moses penned. Those words are meant to be a guide toward God, but they cannot
get us to Him, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have had to come. So why are so many
Christians today clinging to an Old Testament understanding about the world?
Why are they ready to crucify any who say that maybe there’s more to it?
Moses penned. Those words are meant to be a guide toward God, but they cannot
get us to Him, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have had to come. So why are so many
Christians today clinging to an Old Testament understanding about the world?
Why are they ready to crucify any who say that maybe there’s more to it?
If you got in a time machine and showed up in medieval
Europe with a cell phone, you would be burned at the stake for witchcraft. If
you told that early church that man would walk on the moon and the earth was
round, you’d be labeled a heretic. Not by science (our idea of science–modern science–didn’t even exist
then), but by the church.
Europe with a cell phone, you would be burned at the stake for witchcraft. If
you told that early church that man would walk on the moon and the earth was
round, you’d be labeled a heretic. Not by science (our idea of science–modern science–didn’t even exist
then), but by the church.
Prove to me we’ve changed, people. Prove to me that our
faith is stronger than this. Prove to me that you’re capable of seeing that, no
matter whether you’re debating photons as particles or waves or some
combination or are happy to leave it at “Let there be light,” God is the
ultimate authority, not you. Science
is just trying to understand the world. Faith is trying to understand the
creator. Most of the time, they use very different language, and there’s
nothing wrong with that.
faith is stronger than this. Prove to me that you’re capable of seeing that, no
matter whether you’re debating photons as particles or waves or some
combination or are happy to leave it at “Let there be light,” God is the
ultimate authority, not you. Science
is just trying to understand the world. Faith is trying to understand the
creator. Most of the time, they use very different language, and there’s
nothing wrong with that.
When you put them together, it isn’t war. It’s beautiful…at
least until the Pharisees (anti-science Christians) and Sadducees (atheist
scientists) show up. But let’s not let them ruin it for the rest of us. It’s a
beautiful day, folks. A day when we can get a bit more of a glimpse than ever
before into the wonders that are our God. Let’s not ruin it with our
limitations…let’s just look to the Unlimited One and thank Him for leading us
toward a fuller understanding. Even if that means letting go of our previous
one.
least until the Pharisees (anti-science Christians) and Sadducees (atheist
scientists) show up. But let’s not let them ruin it for the rest of us. It’s a
beautiful day, folks. A day when we can get a bit more of a glimpse than ever
before into the wonders that are our God. Let’s not ruin it with our
limitations…let’s just look to the Unlimited One and thank Him for leading us
toward a fuller understanding. Even if that means letting go of our previous
one.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. .jpg/300px-Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n_(Miguel_%C3%81ngel).jpg){kind=link}