The Bible's perspective
In Genesis 1 we see each part of the universe created deliberately as an act of God, as beautiful and good. The passage describes the earth "teeming" with life, and describes all of nature as created by God's pleasure in an orderly fashion.It is reasonable to believe that the Creator of the universe, a universe with physical laws, uses those laws and processes to do his will.
Beginning in Job 38 and continuing for four chapters, God challenges Job to "step to the blackboard" and explain, even control, a variety of natural phenomena. Here are verses 4-11 at the beginning of that passage:
"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?"
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?"
"Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died."
So which is it -- an angel struck him down or he was eaten by worms? (Or both be true?)
Romans 1:20 -- Nature is a witness to God's work.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
Psalm 8,
"Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens...."
Psalm 19: 1-4,how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens...."
"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun."
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun."
Common Myths about Faith and Science
1. The Bible is a science textbook. (This belief, not supported by Scripture, leads to false assumptions by Christians about the world we live in. No, the earth is not flat....)
2. Hebrew scholars insist that creation must have been in six 24-hour days. (Some Young-Earth creationists claim, "Whenever yom [the Hebrew word for day in Genesis 1] is preceded by a numerical article we are forced to accept it as a literal day." A Hebrew scholar, Dr. J. Oliver Buswell reacts to that, "the very form of [this claim] reveals the fact that the author has never had a course in Hebrew...." Although there are different agreements about the various uses of the word yom in Genesis 1, there are significant hermeneutical errors in claiming it must be "24 hours".)
3. Faith is "blind faith", without any justification. (No, a better word might be "trust". A Christian lives by "trust", relying on an invisible God whose actions may not always be seen.)
4. A naturalistic world view is completely rational and logical. (The argument used to justify naturalism is circular: "I dismiss anything outside the naturalistic world because there is nothing outside the naturalistic world.")
Some Resources that I recommend
American Scientific Affiliation (an organization of scientists who are Christians)
BioLogos (started by Francis Collins) focus on Evolution and Science. The organization is led by biologists who are Christians. BioLogos defends evolution from a Biblical Christian viewpoint.
Reasons to Believe (founded by Hugh Ross) focuses on scientific arguments for Christianity. RTB argues for progressive creation of some type (the universe is billions of years old) but does not endorse evolution.
Musings on Science and Theology, by RJS, is an excellent blog which covers a variety of issues of science and faith, especially as they relate to biology.
Musings on Science and Theology, by RJS, is an excellent blog which covers a variety of issues of science and faith, especially as they relate to biology.
The following books are in my personal library. (I have another dozen books or more in my personal library, but these are my favorites.)
"Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy" (a guide for educators from the American Scientific Affiliation) -- email me for a pdf copy of this.
"Creation of Evolution?" by Charles Hummel, an Intervarsity pamphlet summarizing the issues.. A review appears here.
Science and its Limits, by Del Ratzsch, an excellent examination of what science can and cannot do.
The Language of God, by Francis Collins, explains why Collins sees science as providing evidence for God.
The Language of God, by Francis Collins, explains why Collins sees science as providing evidence for God.
The Fingerprint of God, by Hugh Ross, explains why Ross sees science as providing evidence for God.
The Fourth Day, by Howard Van Till. Subtitle: "What the Bible and the Heavens are telling us about Creation". The viewpoint of an astronomer.
Science Held Hostage, by Van Till, Young, Menninga. Subtitle: "What Wrong with Creation Science AND Evolutionism."
Evolution, Nature & Scripture in Conflict? by Pattle P. T. Pun. This a favorite of mine, as Pun aggressively dismantles the arguments for Young-Earth Creationism while carefully explaining what we know about biology and evolution... and scripture.
Evolution, Nature & Scripture in Conflict? by Pattle P. T. Pun. This a favorite of mine, as Pun aggressively dismantles the arguments for Young-Earth Creationism while carefully explaining what we know about biology and evolution... and scripture.
My contact information
My blog, with links: https://longingforabettercountry.blogspot.com
Email: KenWSmith54 (at) gmail (dot) com
