Science Series

INTRODUCTION

• OPENING VIDEO

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8XmXSMxXHQ

• Our Hot Topic for today is science; specifically, are science and faith incompatible?

• Can you believe in science and also believe in the Christian faith?

• Are the two strictly opposed to one another, one an antiquated view of the world and the other the current and educated view of how things are?

• For some Christians, this can be difficult.

• Over the last hundred years, the fight over religion and science has brought about tremendous contention in our classrooms, pulpits, and workplaces.

• Yet many intelligent and scientific Christians believe in the compatibility of science and the Christian faith.

• One of the earliest conflicts between science and religion occurred in 1500 A.D. when Nicolaus Copernicus, a scientist, and religious leader, concluded that the sun was the center of the universe.

• This went against the church’s position at the time.

• The church believed that the Bible declared that the earth was stationary and that the sun moved around it.

• This belief came from a poor interpretation of Psalm 104:5 which states:

Psalm 104:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5 He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be moved.

• Copernicus was forced to keep his views secret for 30 years for fear of persecution by church authorities.

• Galileo began where Copernicus left off and claimed that the earth was not the center of the universe but revolved around the sun.

• Because Galileo held this belief, he came under intense criticism and persecution from the church.

• Pope Urban VIII gave the order in 1633 that Galileo, then an old man of 70, should be threatened with torture if he did not renounce the heresy that the earth revolved around the sun. (Do Science and Faith Conflict? David Owens sermon from Sermoncentral.com)

• In the face of mounting evidence, the church held to this one verse falsely interpreted, which led the Catholic church to have the view that science proved incorrect.

• Today we accept that the earth revolves around the sun without sacrificing our faith.

• An example of bad science is when science says that evolution is not a theory but in fact, even when there is little actual evidence that supports the theory of evolution.

• As Christians, we must understand the part science plays in our faith.

• We cannot make statements like the earth is flat or dinosaurs never existed when the evidence does not show those things to be true.

• Both seek answers, and both are equipped to answer different questions.

• When we ignore actual science, or when science ignores faith, both get into trouble.

• Today let’s see if science and faith can coexist.

• We will look at three passages in the book of Job to help us springboard into our subject today.

Job 28:12–13 (NET 2nd ed.)

12 “But wisdom—where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?

13 Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living.

SERMON

I. What is science?

• In the passage in Job, wisdom cannot be found in the land of the living.

• The previous paragraph has eloquently affirmed that wisdom cannot be discovered by searching; it cannot be purchased with gold or precious stones, and man cannot even ascertain the place where it might be found.

• It is no ordinary kind of wisdom that is spoken of here.

• “It is not the practical kind of ‘wisdom’ spoken of in the Book of Proverbs, but the full and complete understanding of the world and its order … There is a great gulf between human and divine wisdom.

• According to dictionary.com, science is defined as:

A branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

• Science looks at the physical world seeking knowledge to questions like how something works and can the results be reproduced in a lab.

• Science is limited to the physical, to what can be done in a lab.

• Science is not equipped to prove history like George Washington was the Commander and Chief of the Continental Army and later the first President of the United States.

• Science cannot prove miracles like the parting of the Red Sea, the Virgin Birth, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, or Jesus turning water into wine.

• Science will tell you that miracles cannot be done since you cannot reproduce them and get consistent results.

• Science works through observation and experimentation.

• Science cannot give one all of the answers and wisdom in life because you cannot reproduce everything in a lab.