Science, God And The Bible

Should Christians ignore science?

Is God and the Bible opposed to science?

Paul commands Timothy to “keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Was Paul anti-science? The word “science” in this text is “gnosis” and means “knowledge.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary, p. 998). It was a warning against Gnosticism, whose adherents claimed to have superior knowledge – “knowers” and, among other teachings, taught that Jesus was not God in the flesh. The meaning of the word “science” in the 21st century was not known in the first century.

But we have many (maybe the majority) people today who claim superior knowledge and are not Gnostics. They believe in evolution and think that anyone who doesn’t believe their way is ignorant.

Creationist scientists who believe in a literal six-day creation by God are considered ignorant. They don’t fit into the evolutionist mold, and therefore, evolutionists ignore them. Almost everything they write about Creation is rejected by scientific journals. However, in other subjects, creationists frequently publish their writings.

We need to identify two types of science: Operational science and Historical–origins science.

The following two paragraphs quote an earlier article I wrote, “Creationism: Science or Philosophy,” published at https://www.tblfaithnews.com/science/creation-science-or-philosophy

Operational science requires knowledge based on observation and repeated testing –performed in our present world. From this science, all technology is derived (computers, automobiles, airplanes, refrigeration and heating systems, etc.). All scientists (both creationists and evolutionists) believe in, practice, and participate in operational science.

Historical – origins science deals with the past. There were no human witnesses to the beginning of the universe. Nothing is repeatable or observable about the beginning of space/time/matter.

Because evolutionists group these two types of sciences as though they were the same, they are easily able to ridicule creation scientists and those who believe in Creation.

Evolutionists and creationists are on equal ground regarding the beginnings of Earth and the universe (Historical – -origins science). Actual operational science demands an observable, repeatable, and verifiable hypothesis. Operational science cannot be applied concerning the Earth’s and the universe’s beginnings. Neither the evolutionist nor the creationist can observe the beginnings – nor repeat anything by experiments.   The evolutionist, by faith, accepts his assumptions. The creationist, by faith, accepts the Word of God as written in Genesis 1 and 2. The evolutionist must continually modify his theory and assumptions because of recent discoveries. The creationist does not have to revise or modify the creation model because God stands eternally by His Word.

Many well-known scientists in history believed in Creation. The website https://www.scijournal.org/articles/famous-creationist-scientists lists 34. Among them are Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), The Man Who Formulated The Laws of Motion; Michael Faraday (1791-1867), The Father of Electricity; Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), The Father of Genetics;  Louis Pasteur (1822-1895): The Father of Microbiology Who Saved Millions of Lives;  Robert Vance Gentry (1933-2020): The Nuclear Physicist Who Attempted To Determine The Age of The Earth;  John Woodward (1665-1728): The Father of Paleontology

Dr D. Russell Humphreys,  a nuclear physicist who works at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M., says there are a large number of scientists working in that city, and many of them are Biblical creationists. He estimates that in the United States alone, around 10,000 practicing professional scientists openly believe in a six-day recent creation. If you check secular sources, they give a much lower number – perhaps for two reasons: they are unaware of them, and they want to minimize and discredit Biblical Creation.

Jonathan Parks lists modern-day scientists who believe in the Biblical Creation and includes links to information about each.

Two of the leading apologetic creation organizations today are the Institute of Creation Research and Answers in Genesis. The president of ICR is Dr. Randy Guliuzza. He has a Dr. of Medicine from Univ. of Minnesota, a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, a B.S. in engineering from S. Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and a B.A. in Theology from Moody Bible Institute. He is also the author of several books.

His Director of Research is Dr.Tim Clarey. He earned a Master of Science in Geology in 1984 from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Science in Hydrogeology in 1993 from Western Michigan University. He received a Ph.D. in Geology in 1996 from Western Michigan University. From 1984 to 1992, Dr. Clarey worked as an exploration geologist at Chevron USA, Inc., developing oil drilling prospects and analyzing assets and lease purchases. He was a Full Professor and Geosciences Chair at Delta College in Michigan for 17 years before leaving in 2013 to join the science staff at the Institute for Creation Research. He had previously conducted research with ICR in its FAST program. The other researchers and writers have equally impressive resumes.

The scientists who work with Answers in Genesis have correspondingly remarkable credentials.

Christians have no reason to be ashamed for believing in Creation. 1 Corinthians 1:21 states, “The world by wisdom knew not God.” Romans 1:20-22 declares, “For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Psalms  14:1 boldly declares, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”

Christian creationists (you) are not ignorant.   Many highly educated scientists and other professionals firmly believe in a literal six-day creation. Whether educated or uneducated, we can boldly stand on the Word of God. His Word endures forever. In addition, many pieces of evidence on Earth and in the heavens give a better proof of Creation than any evolutionist can give for evolution.

Continue to stand firm for Creation and the unchanging Word of God.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1.).

“O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the Earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the Earth!” Psalm 8:1-9).