Jul 27, 2014 |Under the Cushions

Science and the Bible

07.27.14 | Under the Cushions

Science and the Bible

Tony Pyle

Culturally, Science and the Christian faith have often been seen as two opposing explanations to the world.  However, by seeing how the natural world shows evidence of a Creator, we should use creation as evidence that God is powerful and desires to be in relationship with us.

Watch Watch
Watch
Listen Listen
Listen

Science:

A discipline in which one studies the features of the world around us, and tries to describe his observations systematically and critically.

 

The Bible:

An inerrant, clear and cohesive written account authored by a supernatural God and penned by human writers to explain the nature, character and mission of God.

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16)

The “How” and the “Why”

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

Science and Faith complement each other in 3 ways:

#1: The logical order and system of the natural world.

Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place and let the dry land appear… (Genesis 1:9)
Let the earth sprout vegetation and plants yielding seed… (Genesis 1:11)
Let their be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day and the night… (Genesis 1:14)
Let the waters swarm with living creatures and birds fly above the earth…(Genesis 1:20)
Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds…(Genesis 1:24)

#2: Mankind set apart in purpose and function.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  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 1:26-28)

“To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different substances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of the spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”

– Charles Darwin

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

#3: The use of Creation by the Apostles in sharing the Gospel.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)

Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being 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. (Acts 17:22-25)

When it comes to Science and Faith, more knowledge is not the primary goal.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

As much as the natural world can provide evidence for a creator, it is not sufficient enough to save lost people.

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

Youth