How can the Church Foster a Science Culture?
I am a Christian and I think science is fascinating and wonderful. I’m glad to live in this incredible scientific age, when amazing new discoveries are made every year. And yet, I don’t hear pastors or Church teachers talk about the universe or the study of it very often, in church, Bible studies, or conversations.
You might think I’m silly to expect them to. First of all, are most Christian leaders are qualified to talk about science? Going to seminary is a very different experience than going to school to be a physicist, a doctor, or a paleontologist. Why should a Christian leader feel any more qualified to talk about science than to talk about dentistry, tax law, or used car sales?
Secondly, won’t talking about science just lead to controversy? Christians can’t seem to agree about how old the Earth is, whether climate change is real, or how to steward natural resources. It’s hard enough to preach a sermon or give a speech without someone complaining, so why give people one more thing to argue about?
Thirdly, a Christian leader’s job is to think about the God who is outside and above creation, to tend to the souls of God’s people, and reach outsiders who need to know God’s love. Why spend time thinking and talking about the things of Earth when we are bound for God’s eternal Kingdom?
First, let’s deal with these reasonable objections, then let’s think of some good reasons for shepherds and teachers to engage with science.
1. Are Christian Leaders Qualified to Talk Science?
Most church leaders are not scientists. But fortunately, we live in age when science is more accessible than ever – there are great books, magazines, podcasts, documentaries, radio shows, videos, and all kinds of ways to learn about the universe God created. Few sermons or teachings require deep knowledge of theoretical physics to be effective, but most people can talk intelligently about scientific issues by doing a little homework.
2. What about all the controversies?
There are spiritual, political, and scientific arguments about things like evolution, climate change, bioethics, and environmentalism. That is why Christians need a healthy perspective to view these issues, and to know what to say when non-believers start asking questions about why “Christians” believe this or that. There are sensitive ways to deal with these topics, by presenting the arguments for each side, bringing up the relevant parts of scripture and church history, and expecting (most) people to react with discernment and grace.
There are always going to be some people looking for a fight, and others who honestly have concerns about what to believe, but most people are happy to learn different perspectives on an issue, and the Word of God, taught well, can provide that.
Avoiding controversy isn’t as difficult as many assume. Christians and scientists agree about most things, from how to do science to most of the measurable facts about the physical universe. Even if Christian teachers want to avoid big controversies, there is plenty left to talk about.
3. Shouldn’t Christian Leaders Focus on Eternal Things?
Yes they should. What a person thinks about God is much more important than what a person thinks about climate change. But Christianity is not simply a ticket out of Hell; it is a complete worldview, a lens through which we see every single thing in our lives, including the physical universe we inhabit. Theologians and teachers can show that the Gospel story is all-encompassing, even if they aren't experts on every single subject.
Besides, talking about science is talking about eternal things. There are several places in the Bible that predict our future home on a New Earth (my favorite is Revelation 21), so it seems that scientists can continue their work even in God’s eternal Kingdom. On the New Earth, funeral directors and lawyers will have to get new careers, but scientists can stay busy for eternity.
Why Pastors and Teachers Should Talk about Science (or Invite Scientists to Speak):
There are some good reasons to teach science in Christian settings. Here are three:
1. The Creation Teaches Us About the Creator.
Psalm 19:1 (ESV) says:
“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Romans 1:20 (ESV) says:
“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.”
A book tells us something about its author. A painting tells us something about its painter. A table tells us something about its carpenter. And the universe teaches us things about the Universe-maker.
Through the creation, we learn that God is big, powerful, creative, orderly, and alive. Working in the sciences, I have often been struck with wonder at the God who could make such a world, and science has brought me closer to Him. To really know God, we need supernatural revelation in the Word of God and the family of God, but there are still many things that we learn by experiencing God through things He’s made.
2. Scientists Need the Gospel.
There are people in the pews who love science and work in science. And they need to know that the Good News applies to them and to the things they’re passionate about. Christians in the sciences want to know how their faith applies to their work, and non-Christians in the sciences want to know if faith is compatible with their work. This is a great mission field.
Christianity is about disciple-making and transformation. We are discipled by Jesus and we lead others to Him. By meeting people where their passions are, we let them know that God cares about the things they care about, even more than they do. God made the universe, and He’s rightfully proud of it. He wants us to delight in it, and the best way to do that is to delight in the One who made it.
3. The Bible Talks about the Creation, and We Teach the Bible.
The Bible teaches us about the universe God made, from the opening sentence, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” through the book of Revelation and descriptions of the New Earth. Job and the Psalms are heavy on creation themes. We have much to learn from God’s inspired Word.
The Bible, the very Word of God, has plenty to say about the physical universe, so if we teach it faithfully, we will have to talk about the creation. Science illuminates the Bible, and the Bible illuminates science. That’s pretty awesome.
The Church can be a place where we engage with each other on science issues, and engage with God’s creation to learn about Him. We can do that with His Word as our guide and His Spirit illuminating our hearts with wisdom. This is not a chore to be done, but an adventure to embark upon. God is speaking to us through science, and I am excited about what He has to say. Are you?