There exists in the popular imagination a cultural divide between science and faith. The rants of the new atheism have convinced some that science and the Bible are incompatible, that religion is a dangerous influence, that blind chance has replaced God, and that science has somehow disproved Christianity. So it is not surprising that some are suspicious of science.
Some are seemingly afraid of science because they feel ill equipped to engage in conversations about it. Debates about creationism, the origin of matter, and the age of the universe are beyond them. They’d rather avoid getting caught up in discussions that are best left to physicists and philosophers.
The coronavirus pandemic has not only killed thousands of my fellow Oklahomans, but it has messed with the minds of many others. The same people who will trust science when it comes to boarding an airplane or submitting to anesthesia are skeptical of public health professionals’ recommendations. Many people (some of them are Christians) are unwilling to trust the science.
How might the church respond? First, by boldly declaring the truth that God is the creator and sustainer of the physical universe. Science supports the teaching that the universe is designed and fine-tuned for life to flourish. Belief in a creator God is a better foundation for science than is atheism. The only basis for valuing human life (as expressed in human rights declarations, for example) is a biblical understanding of human dignity. The scientific method was discovered and promulgated by scientists who believed in God. The history of science provides many examples. These facts should be emphasized in Sunday School lessons and sermons. True science is not in conflict with biblical faith.
Second, the church might respond by appreciating its members who are engaged with science in their work every day. It is easy to forget that there are faithful Christians in our churches who are engaged in scientific research, teaching, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. They should be encouraged as they integrate their faith with their vocations in the sciences.
Third, churches should be willing to explore how to help Christians engage in creation care. Environmental issues are in the news every day and are at the top of the cultural agenda. Just yesterday I was reading about a village on the North Sea coast of The Netherlands where industrial pollution from a steel plant is introducing hazardous materials into the soil, air, and surface water. This is endangering the health of the local people. Surely situations like this are a call to Christian advocacy when local circumstances are in conflict with biblical ethics. This is one way churches can help people understand how to apply spiritual principles in the physical world.
Fourth, Christians may set an example of humility and grace when it comes to difficult questions and controversies. We may take our stand on the authority of scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ without demonizing those who disagree with us. For example, differences of opinion about the proper role of government in the current public health emergency have taken on the features of a culture war. They have found their way into churches, political platforms, and families. Sometimes they have exploded into open conflict. This is not the result of an honest discussion about science. It is prejudice.
Should Christians trust science? Not if it is pseudo-science. Not if it makes claims about God that lie outside the realm of science and cannot be demonstrated scientifically. But if scientific knowledge advances human civilization, health, and prosperity, it may legitimately be said to be a gift from God, and should be appreciated as such. Science and biblical faith are not incompatible.
Science and biblical faith are not enemies. One of the key figures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic has been Dr. Francis Collins, soon to retire as the director of the National Institutes of Health. About fifteen years ago I read his book, The Language of God. In it he told of his work as the head of the Human Genome Project which has laid the foundation for many beneficial applications in science and healthcare. He also gave his testimony as a Christian. He became a believer when he began an exploration, as a scientist, which led him to put his faith in Jesus as savior. In the book he said that he now believes that “the God of the Bible is also the God of the genome.”
Christian writer and apologist Rebecca McGlaughlin lives a short distance from the campus of MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has friends who are teachers and researchers there. In her book Confronting Christianity, she said that “the roll call of Christian professors at MIT is impressive.” She named several of these distinguished individuals, along with their scientific and scholarly credentials.
She wrote, “The list goes on. And it extends far beyond MIT to leading Christian scientists across the world. If science has disproved Christianity, no one has thought to notify them!”
Science and biblical faith are friends.
Pastor Randy Faulkner