Splitting The Atom

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“Splitting the Atom”

Matthew 27: 29 – 32; and John 19:34

Sermon by Rev. Dr. Antonio L. Carlisle

Senior Pastor Of the Greater Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in

Lake City, FL Preached At the First Central District Congress of

Christian Education 7/2005

Atoms are the building blocks of life. When we look at the universe

through the eyes of science, we are eventually forced to look at the universe

with an understanding of the atomic beings. At the most basic level human

existence, one can find the marriage of science and life.

Look at the human body: science teaches us that the human body is

made up of elements that are contained on the periodic table; Oxygen,

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Calcium, and a host of 113 other elements.

What makes the human body so strong beyond the consolation of a

few elements? What gives us the ability to be made a little lower than the

angels? Why are we more than just a mass of element that somehow came

together one day by happenstance? What makes the human experience so

powerful, what makes us so unique, what gives us the strength to make it

from day to day, it that our strength grows from the pure essence of whom

God is.

History has taught us that it is human nature to rise above our

problems, to conquer our fears, and solve to our circumstances. History has

shown us that as we endure trails, we are made stronger. As the old folks

use to say, “Just keep on ….living.”

Science has taught us that if we continue to live we will continue to

grow. If we continue to live, we will continue to endure. If we continue to

live we will continue to be changed.

And this principle brings us right to a holistic view of science. The

periodic Table in the eyes of the science is elements, which form the basis of

who we are, and the world that we live in. Based upon the position of the

element on the periodic Table, an element can be described as having

certain properties. Scientists can tell a lot about an element by its position

on this table.

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Silicon (for instance) has an atomic number of “14,” as such silicon is a

metalloid and is very electropositive. Which means this “make believe” metal

reacts in many of the ways like real metal. Silicon is the second most

abundant element in the atmosphere. Then I began to see it. You see. We

have Silicon Christians in the church.

They walk around acting like everybody else, sounding like everybody

else, but they are fair weather Christians. As long as things are going well

they can come to the church. As long nobody is talking them, they can hold

an office. The sad thing is that these so called Christians are the second

most abundant worshippers in the house. Will the Silicon Christians please

stand up!

I’ve learned some other things about Silicon. Silicon can become

harmful and cause chronic respiratory disorders. It irritates the skin and

eyes, and it is a very inert element. Just like the Silicon Christian, they can

be used to build up the appearance of the church, but you better be careful

because when the pressure gets rough, they just might POP. Silicon

Christians can often get under your skin and irritate your eyes. That is who

the songwriter was writing about when he wrote: “don’t why I have cry

something.” But I think the worst thing of all is that Silicon Christians form

the inert basis of the church. They never want everything to change. They

are always complaining when anything is done differently. And Lord help you

if you ask them for anything other that same five dollars that they have

been giving for the last twenty years. Do you know any Silicon Christians?

Here is the question. Are YOU a Silicon Christian?

But science now understands that when you have an element with just

1 fewer electron the properties of that element are very different. They are

very alike in many ways, but they act very different.

(You know where I am going).

#13 on the periodic table is Aluminum. Now I’ve found out that

Aluminum is very light weight, very strong, and very durable. Aluminum is

one of the most widely used metals today. However, even with all of its

using and potential it is still considered a very poor metal when compared to

other metals. In fact, Aluminum in Latin (Pastor Baker) means Bitter Salt.

Oh, I know we have some Aluminum Christians in the house today,

people who are so strong in the Lord. People who are durable when it comes

to enduring church problems. People who are always around and willing to