Science and Faith: Part 1 - A Conversation

One of the most frequently asked questions is the question of how scientific discoveries affect our faith. Since we’re sticking to the “deep end” issues of the faith in the talks, we’re going to tackle this issue in the blog. I quickly figured out that one blog would not suffice for such a big issue. So it looks like we will get 3 blogs on the issue of faith and science. First, we’ll look at the big picture issue of how science and faith interact. Then we’ll move on to the questions of miracles and evolution.

For many centuries, there was not a clear divide between science and faith. Scholars were expected to study theology/science/math/philosophy all as one discipline. Then, during what we call the “enlightenment” people starting seeing science/math/philosophy as distinct from theology. Later science, math and philosophy would also separate into somewhat distinct disciplines. Since then, it has been a difficult question as to how science (or any other academic discipline) and faith should interact.

Ian Barbour has suggested 4 different ways they can interact (see Tim Keller’s Reason for God, chapter 6). On one end of the spectrum is all out war. In this view, faith and science are always in conflict. It’s always creationism versus evolution, faith versus reason, or scientific evidence versus religious belief. The assumption is that science and faith are enemies. On the other end is the idea that they have nothing to do with each other. People of this point of view think that religious beliefs and scientific information do not belong in the same conversation. Barbour proposes that a healthier response lies somewhere in between. Two other options include the idea that faith and science could either be integrated or at least that there should be a conversation between the two. I propose that one of these middle ground options is better. If God is the creator of the universe, then he is the creator of everything that scientists study. Surely faith and science are not enemies, and they cannot be wholly separate.

There is one more reason for there to be healthy interaction between faith and science. When Christians attack or ignore science, they often attack or ignore people who place their faith in science over Jesus. Though it is clearly untrue that all scientists are atheists, it is a community with many nonbelievers. Christians sacrifice a tremendous opportunity to have a healthy conversation about our faith with a people group who need such a conversation. Let’s quit attacking people who do not believe as we do, and let’s quit ignoring them. Rather, with a love of Christ and a faith in a Savior who is truth, let’s engage in a loving, grace filled dialogue.

More to come on science and faith…

For His glory and our joy,
nr

Hidden Thoughts

Canon and Apocrypha are two loaded terms that have significant meaning to our understanding of God’s Word. Canon literally means “a measuring rod.” God breathed scripture would be the “measuring rod” of which it is very important for us to listen and see what God is saying. When we read Colossians 1:17, it says, “God is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” By understanding this truth, the Canon of the scriptures meant that God was set before it all in order that He would give us clear truths. So, the Canon is a process in which God again used man to set His words and be placed in an order and bound book that we today know as the Holy Bible. There are several other writings that were left out of the Bible that had no need to be documented because it was evident that it was a writing that was not breathed of God as the other 66 books. These other writings are referred to as the Apocrypha. The word Apocrypha means “hidden” or “concealed” and we see them as “writings of unknown origin." Nowhere in these “other books” do we see the writers refer to the writing as inspired by God. These writings were not inspired by God, but simply the ideas and thoughts of man.
We must be able to answer questions of our own faith and when we face thoughts and discussions on how the scripture came to be, it is critical that we know answers. We trust that the work of the Holy Spirit will guide us as we journey through this mind series. Send us your thoughts and let us know what questions you may have.

From one follower of Christ to another,

Jarrett

Deep End/Shallow End

“If you dive into the shallow end of the Biblical pool, where there are many controversies over interpretation, you may get scraped up. But if you dive into the center of the Biblical pool, where there is consensus—about the deity of Christ, his death and resurrection—you will be safe. It is therefore important to consider the Bible’s core claims about who Jesus is and whether he rose from the dead before you reject it for its less central and more controversial teachings.” -Tim Keller (Reason for God)

Over the next several weeks as we discuss our inward series, we are going to be teaching about the “Deep End” issues such as: Inerrancy of Scripture, Goodness of God in Suffering, Predestination, Exclusivity of Christianity, and Sanctification. We will then be blogging about the “Shallow End” issues for your further research and discussion. We hope you are blessed by these critical conversations…we trust the Lord will use them as a key shaping season in your life!

~Deep thoughts by a Shallow guy~
mn

When Questions aren’t asked

This past Saturday, at halftime of the Liberty Bowl (Go Hogs…especially Tejada), we launched our INWARD series: Loving God with our mind. For 6 weeks we will discuss on Saturday nights some of the biggest faith questions that plague us, keep us awake at night, and cause general blank stares when asked. We will also blog on this very site whatever you have specific questions about. On Saturday, right between your 2nd and 3rd piece of pizza, we asked you to text in your biggest questions regarding the Christian faith. To our amazement, although 100+ people were in the room, we only received 6 texts. After much conversation, we as a Mosaic students staff team decided this would be the perfect blog to start us off with. The lack of questions led us to a few potential reasons:
1) People didn’t know what to ask
2) People are afraid to ask
3) People could care less
4) People are more interested in their pizza then the topic at hand
5) People don’t text

Considering that the vast majority present were students, we are going to assume that it’s not number 5, hope that its not number 4 (but know that’s likely for us as well), and therefore move directly to 1-2-3. If your silence reflected one of these, we want to both challenge and encourage you in the weeks to come. When Jesus promises the woman at the well that one day, worshipers will come to Him in spirit and truth, we take that to mean in the heart, soul AND the mind (John 4:7-26). Knowing God is as much comprehending Him with clarity (at least attempting too) as it is experiencing him with emotions.

For some of you, this will mean wrestling with these questions for the first time and actually teaching you the issues, thus guiding you in the questions you’ll have. For some of you, these 6 weeks will relieve you that you don’t need to be afraid to ask. It doesn’t mean you are foolish to have questions, but instead will show we are becoming more like Christ even in our pursuit of knowledge. And for those of you who don’t care, hopefully this will act as the spark to turn you off of yourself and onto the vast ocean of wisdom, spirituality, and LIFE that will never be had outside of Jesus Christ.

We hope you respond the same way the well-woman must have to Jesus’ worship remark. “Wow…true worship happens in spirit and truth. I wonder how I can do both”.

~Deep thoughts by a shallow guy~
mn