Science and Faith: Part 2 - The Natural and the Supernatural

One of the greatest objections to faith from scientifically minded people is that there is so little evidence for God. They want some kind of proof that God is real. They claim that attributing unexplainable things to miracles from God is intellectually irresponsible, or in other words, wishy-washy and stupid. There are a couple of fundamental problems with this line of thinking that should be highlighted.
Underlying the objection is a certain kind of belief that Tim Keller calls a “defeater belief.” A defeater belief is a belief that if held keeps you from believing something else. So, for example, a strong belief that reindeer cannot fly would be a defeater belief against the story of Santa Clause. What exactly is the defeater belief behind the objection here? I think it is simply that anything true must be scientifically provable and that the world will always operate inside the rules of science. But, is there any reason to believe this? Why should we believe that anything true should be scientifically provable? Do we believe that whether or not one person loves another person is scientifically provable? It seems absurd to most, but that is exactly what some naturalists propose! However, if it is the case that everything must be scientifically provable, then science itself must be able to be tested scientifically. Can we show scientifically that all truth is scientifically provable? It seems rather difficult. Actually, it looks like this defeater belief is really just a step of faith. People trust in science for many of the same reasons people trust in faith.
Interestingly, the world of scientific study is actually beginning to work against itself. It is a fascinating study to take a look at the implications of quantum mechanics. I recommend Lothar Schafer’s book In Search of Divine Reality. The basic idea of quantum mechanics is that at the atomic level everything is determined by processes that cannot be observed. Something immaterial occurs that determines the material outcome. Did you catch that? At the core of science is something unscientific! At the end of the day, a quantum leap occurs in an unobservable way. Some scientists, like Dr. Schafer, see this as evidence for some kind of divine influence that is determining and holding the entire universe together. I’m not kidding. I took the guy’s class. He is not a Christian, but he believes that some divine mind is “before all things and holding all things together.” Why don’t all scientists believe this? The simple answer is that they trust that science will eventually figure it out. They believe this not because the evidence supports it. They take it on faith that science will prove true. Ultimately, it is not evidence that determines what anyone believes, it is a choice of where to place their faith. I think if both sides would admit this, we could a lot closer to understanding other’s point of view.

How can the Old Testament people be saved if there was no Jesus then?

This is a great question, one that is important to understand as we understand who Jesus is and what He did. Prior to answering this question though, I think there is some important truths to remember:
1) God is outside of time. Therefore what he does in an instant could actually play itself out over thousands of years.
2) It says (referring to Jesus) in Hebrews 13:8 “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever”.
When we exist inside of time, it’s hard to understand a God who is outside of it. Therefore, we accept it by faith. Believing this takes us a step closer to seeing how Jesus’ death can be the central act of all history. When sin entered the world through Adam, a plan of equivalent payment had to be made. This payment would be so great, and such an act of Love, that it would fulfill redemption of all people for all times. Therefore when Jesus died as the substitutionary atonement…it was not just for the sins that came after him, it was for the sins of everybody, who has ever lived.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 addresses this well:
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Our first thing to note then is that all were included in the payment accomplished by Jesus’ death.
Another point of interest however is answering the question: was Jesus present? Many scholars, as they seek to understand the role of the trinity throughout time and text, point to names often used for either Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. For example, when a metaphor of dove is used, we assume that this is referring directly to the Holy Spirit. In a simple word study, we see the title of “Lord” in the New Testament as the primary title to depict Jesus’ role and authority. Interestingly enough, Lord is used often throughout the Old Testament in specific settings or stories. So where we know Jesus was not there in flesh, the spirit of the Lord is active. Most scholars refer to this “spirit of the Lord” as God the son, or the spirit of Jesus, as present. (example: Genesis 10-12)

Finally, I find it very unique that the disciples in the gospels knew what they were looking for in a messiah. Meaning: The gospel is explained thoroughly in the Old Testament! People awaited a Messiah who would take away their sins, being the ultimate payment against death. They lived in the same mode of redemption we do.

In summary, these are 3 good places to start. Christ’s death, by view and plan of God, paid for the sins of all because that is the way he purposed it. Secondly, if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, than we see his fingerprints not just in the gospels, but also throughout the Old Testament. And last, we trust that to be able to expect the Messiah, they had to know something of what he was going to be like. The Old Testament is as much a purposed account for the gospel as the New Testament is.

~Deep thoughts by a Shallow guy~
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