Where Faith and Science Meet

[intro]“The Big Bang and Naturalistic Evolution completely disprove the Bible or any existence of a supernatural God.”

“The Bible doesn’t address issues from a scientific perspective, so scientific evidence must not be valid or important.”[/intro]

Statements like these are thrown around on social media, in interviews and on television news reports. There are many places people can stand when it comes to the issue of Faith and Science. But should these two topics be mutually exclusive?

I think there are three ways in which we see that a robust understanding of how they work together is essential for growing in Christ and sharing the Gospel.

The logical order and system of the natural world

When you look at the world, how plants, animals, and humanity live together and affect one another, you do not see randomness or chaos, but you see logical order.

Throughout Genesis 1, we see evidence of this order:

• Genesis 1:9 – Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place and dry land appear…
• Genesis 1:11 – Let the earth sprout vegetation and plants yielding seed…
• Genesis 1:24 – Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds…

While naturalistic evolution says that life forms evolved over long periods of time in unpredictable ways, Scripture shows us that is from the mind of a supernatural creator God. When you look at what God has made, you see evidence of his character.

Mankind is set apart in purpose and function

When you look at various life forms on the earth, it is not difficult to see that mankind is the pinnacle. Nothing else in creation has the ability to think, act, or make decisions in the way that humanity is able to do.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:28

God has given mankind purpose. We are to reign and rule over his creation. We are to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. As God’s image-bearers, this is our responsibility.

Apostolic use of creation in sharing the Gospel

Throughout the book of Acts, we see the apostles preaching the message of Jesus all over the place. In many of these sermons, they point to the created world around them to show proof that God exists.

In Acts 17, while Paul is in Athens, he says this:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Paul, Peter and the other apostles frequently looked at the evidence that God had given through the created world to show evidence of his existence.

Although Scripture may not explain many aspects of the natural world fully, we should not neglect the evidence that God has given us in the natural world that he exists. Faith and Science are connected in this way: Science shows us evidence of a creator, while faith allows us to have a relationship with him.

Image credit: Yellowstone National Park