Far from lagging behind the times, the Bible has always stood at the vanguard of scientific knowledge. We could choose many examples from the fields of geology, biology, archaeology, anatomy and physics to prove our point. In every one of these disciplines, the Holy Scriptures have proven scientifically accurate. Science has proven the Bible over and over again, not disproving it, as many have claimed; as I have shown in many of my past devotions.
The main focus of the Bible, however, is not in the realm of science. Its central theme is the love of God for humanity. It is a guidebook showing us how to live life to the fullest. But whenever it touches on matters of science and medicine, its data are always perfect, although it rarely attempts to scientifically prove the facts it presents. In fact, I believe that God may have intentionally left the proof of its scientific statements up to man, as a testimony to him of God’s infinite foreknowledge and wisdom.
The problem with our leading technological minds is that they must have the answers to everything. Man’s quest to know why and how things work and came into being is never ending.
God, however, tells us that there are many things we will never be able to prove, but must accept by faith. (Hebrews 11:3) says: “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Many of today’s scientists cannot accept God because He can’t be proven scientifically, yet they expect us to believe their theories on how the universe came into existence 10 billion years ago (the Big Bang) and how we as humans came about (evolution). Sadly, “the Big Bang” and “evolution” are just that, theories, based on many assumptions, which, like God, must also be accepted on faith.
The study of origins boils down to a question of faith, either in God’s word, the Bible, or in man’s theories. To carry these two opposing viewpoints further, the fundamental question now becomes one of divine design versus chance occurrence.
Our entire lives are based on orderliness, purpose, meaning and reason. The Bible is a book that serves to strengthen all of these areas in our lives. It tells us where we came from. It explains why we are here. It describes where we are going and gives us the answers to many of life’s deep questions. Science can only offer you the following scenario: You came into this world by blind chance and when you leave it you will go back into nothingness.
Science can offer us no hope when it comes to the question of origins or destinies. Even in its own field of expertise, describing how and why things work, it has only helped to validate what the Bible said all along, on numerous scientific discoveries as many of my previous devotions have shown.
Sadly, many people have never read the Bible because they were led to believe that it was an “old book” for “old people,” with little relevance for them today. I hope that my preceding scientific devotions have served to whet your appetite that there just may be a bit more to the Bible than you may have thought or been told.
The Holy Scriptures have quite an impressive track record when they speak on scientific matters. What they said 2,000 years ago holds just as true now as it did then. Can we say the same thing about science? Our great scholars, professors, and men of science want you to believe that you are the evolutionary product of a 2- to 4-billion-year process. Yet these same individuals can’t tell you with certainty what the weather is going to be like on the next day. Can blind chance create magnificence? No, but the God of the Bible can.
In talking science, we are dealing with evidences. Debates over topics like evolution versus creationism can yield endless exchanges of evidential “proofs” that usually leave each party unconvinced. For every point there’s a counterpoint and on and on the debate never ends. You’ve had those conversations.
So, how do we effectively (meaning Biblically) argue our case? First, we must challenge our opponent’s network of presuppositions, which makes up his worldview. Worldviews are what we use to interpret the world around us. The Bible is emphatic about the fact that unbelievers know about God.
“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.” Rom. 1
They suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Their problem is not about knowing and evidences, it’s a moral problem. That’s why you could argue for hours without changing one mind or heart.
Next, we must demonstrate the antithesis to their worldview. We must show the futility of their presuppositions. How can you do science if your worldview is based on random, chance and materialistic presuppositions? If there are no transcendental truths in the universe then you can’t have laws of logic. Science without logic will get you nowhere. If there is no uniformity of nature, you cannot rely on your scientific experiments to give consistent results each time. They would be random and unreliable. That’s not science.
Ultimately, without repentance their can be no knowledge. “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” 2Tim. 2:25
Science is one piece of life’s puzzle. We must address morality, ethics, knowledge and a host of other considerations if we are going to build and strengthen our worldview. That requires studying the Word of God, prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.