by Samuel A. Matthews<\/p>\n
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God<\/em>” (Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Loved ones, science and religion were born of the same house, and that house is not divided against itself. There is, and will be, an apparent conflict between them, but it is of human origin, arising from the defects of our knowledge and not from its greatness. A clash between true science and true religion is as impossible as parallel lines meeting. Truth does not bisect itself. God is truth (John 14:6)! God is the first scientist, and as our text says, God is the “author and finisher of our faith<\/em>.”<\/p>\n
In all nature “the heavens declare the glory of<\/em>” their Maker, sang Israel’s poet, while “day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge<\/em>” (Psalms 19:1-2). Astounding as the achievements of human scientists are, a greater Scientist fashioned all materials and formed all laws. The greatest of men cannot create; they can only use tools that God made. Men can only “think God’s thoughts after him.” The more of God’s thoughts they find, the more they are awed by what remains to be learned.<\/p>\n
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings<\/em> [scientists are regal] is to search out a matter<\/em>” (Proverbs 25:2). The Wright brothers deserve commendation, but the engineer of aerodynamics should have more. Harvey’s discovery of circulation is universally eulogized, but primary tribute belongs to him who made blood flow.<\/p>\n
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well<\/em>” (Psalms 139:14). Preposterous, then, is the conception that science and religion can ever disagree. Faulty ideas about the God of science and faulty ideas about the God of religion can, and do, collide; but the truth will prevail. “But wisdom is justified of all her children<\/em>” (Luke 7:35).<\/p>\n
Faulty religion, as Rome’s denunciation of the Copernican system and the treatment given Galileo, has prejudiced some scientists against religion; and, conversely, pseudo-scientists have alienated some religionists. But truth is truth, in whatever field, though oft hindered by prejudice or animosity.<\/p>\n
The wise man said, “Buy the truth, and sell it not<\/em>…” (Proverbs 23:23). And one greater than he promised: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free<\/em>” (John 8:32). Truths in religion, as in science, continually release men from ignorance, from superstition, from diseases, from darkness. But everything that is called truth in religion is not of Christ.<\/p>\n
The Apostle John warned, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world<\/em>” (I John 4:1).<\/p>\n
The Apostle Peter warned, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction<\/em>” (II Peter 2:1).<\/p>\n
When a religionist claims for God that he made the earth in 4004 B.C., he makes an unsubstantiated claim. God said He did it “in the beginning<\/em>,” whenever that was. Similarly, everything that is called truth in science is not science. Much has been found not to be science (knowledge), but mere imagination.<\/p>\n
There was a time that “spontaneous generation” was scientific, and it appeared plausible: frogs, flies, gnats from slime and mud; bees from veal; beetles from mule flesh; scorpions from crabs. If an “enlightened” Christian had accepted that “science,” learning better than to believe in an outmoded Bible story of the creation of life, what would a skeptic think of that Christian’s loyalty to his Lord?<\/p>\n
It would appear such a one had made “accepted science” his god; and if Christ fit into the scheme, he would accept Christ; otherwise, Christ must get out. How embarrassed such a faithless one would be when “accepted science” reverses itself! It did reverse. Spontaneous generation was rejected. Scientists admitted they had been wrong.<\/p>\n
With some such an about-face went against their hopes, but they had to do it. The doctrine that life can only come from life won out in the end. They did not, not because the Bible taught all life comes from him “in whom we live, and move, and have our being<\/em>…” (Acts 17:28), but simply because of nature’s proofs.<\/p>\n
But to a Christian, faith in the perfect Christ, the Lord of creation and our own brother, is the criterion of all truth. If today’s accepted science contradicts Christ, a loyal disciple is not disturbed. It has done so before, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever<\/em>” (Hebrews 13:8).<\/p>\n
When a godless Laplace [a French astronomer and mathematician] rejected Genesis and substituted his nebular hypothesis, many were victimized. Because many scientists had not walked with God as they had with nature, because they had not read their Bible daily as they had human books, they were completely enraptured with new vagaries. Not only was astronomy affected, but geology was based confidently upon it. For a hundred years it was not seriously questioned. But humble Bible believers were not perturbed, for their faith lay not in the “wisdom of men, but in the power of God<\/em>” (I Corinthians 2:5).<\/p>\n
Astrology was once “scientific.” Every court had a hired interpreter of the skies. Wallenstein, the field marshal of the imperial armies in the Thirty Years’ War, relied much upon his astrologer, whom he kept always at hand. Even Kepler, an acknowledged astronomer, made a horoscope for Wallenstein. Evidently, however, it failed to warn the general of his assassination, which occurred at Eger in 1634.<\/p>\n
But not only have spurious notions of science oft been cast aside, but likewise spurious notions of what the Bible teaches. When some thought the word would come to an end in the first century, it was only their mistaken idea of what the New Testament writers had said, not what those writers really said, that was at fault. When many, because of presumed Bible support, thought the world would end in A.D. 1000, they were soon self-refuted- they just did not know what the Bible taught. And when William Miller’s followers donned their ascension robes in 1843, they were as sincere as learned men who believe in organic evolution. Those Adventists had as much misinterpreted the Bible as evolutionists have perverted nature.<\/p>\n
But concerning true science and true religion, which is more important? No matter what science can accomplish, it never can be the “summum bonum” (the supreme good from which all others are derived). Science is limited, for it deals only with the natural. And since man is more than an animal, the natural sciences cannot cope with all of man’s needs.<\/p>\n
Religion, like an older brother, takes up man and fills his spiritual needs when science falters. Religion does what science is not equipped to do. Science is honorable, but religion is more so. “Covet earnestly” the gifts of science, but there is “a more excellent way<\/em>” (cf. I Corinthians 12:31).<\/p>\n
Misconceptions of science, Dr. Link has said, led him away from religion; but better insights into the sciences have led him back to religion and have made him realize its superiority. “In spite of the great benefits which the physical sciences have bestowed on mankind-a longer life, a more comfortable life, a life more free from physical pains, and a life filled with an infinite variety of interesting objects and educational experiences-there is no evidence that individuals are happier, that families are more united, that governments or political bodies are wiser, or that nations are less likely to go to war.” (“Return to Religion,” Link, 14, 15.)<\/p>\n
After two thousand years, psychology has learned that happiness is achieved only through self-sacrifice and self-denial. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly<\/em>” (Proverbs 18:24).<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Samuel A. Matthews “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1514,474,441],"class_list":["post-98030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-religion","tag-science","tag-truth"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":68263,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-deal-with-a-person-with-strange-beliefs\/","url_meta":{"origin":98030,"position":0},"title":"How do I deal with a person with strange beliefs?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had a conversation with a person of interesting beliefs. Their beliefs were: The Holy Spirit gave us the name \"God\" to comprehend him. Aliens and other life forms have different religions, like having a different Christ, as we have. The Holy Spirit didn't mean everything literally, like in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51733,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-did-god-kill-the-egyptian-babies\/","url_meta":{"origin":98030,"position":1},"title":"Why did God kill the Egyptian babies?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can you please shed some light on the angel of death causing the firstborn of all the Egyptian babies to die? I understand to some degree that God in His sovereign will allow this to work out for the freeing of the Israelites from bondage. Knowing that no one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64515,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-pray-for-someone-i-do-not-have-anything-particular-to-request\/","url_meta":{"origin":98030,"position":2},"title":"How do I pray for someone I do not have anything particular to request?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good evening, I wanted to ask you something that came to my mind recently. I am trying to get better at praying for others; specifically, people who have not given me any ways that I can pray for them. How can I pray for someone if I do not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54419,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-imagining-what-god-is-like-idolatry\/","url_meta":{"origin":98030,"position":3},"title":"Is imagining what God is like idolatry?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, How have you been? I've been wondering, is it sinful or idolatrous for me to try and picture God or Christ in my mind? This is often something I do whenever I pray for God's wisdom on a matter, when I'm stressed out about something and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55434,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-satan-read-my-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":98030,"position":4},"title":"Can Satan Read My Mind?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 4, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mark N. Posey Question:\u00a0Can Satan read my mind and know what I'm thinking? Is this how he tempts me with specific things that are only unique to me? Answer: There is no scripture that indicates that Satan can read our minds and know what we are thinking. Why? First,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2183,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-heart-the-same-thing-as-the-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":98030,"position":5},"title":"Is the heart the same thing as the mind?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: The brethren here have been asking about the mind and heart in reference to salvation. When one believes from the heart, is it the same thing as the mind doing it? Some passages say the heart does something and other passages say the mind does them. Answer: \"Jesus said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98030"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98033,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98030\/revisions\/98033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}