Read
God's Glory Declared
“Thank God for science.” It was a comment in a journalist’s tweet seemingly made in passing as if conversationally. More than one person characterized the phrase as an oxymoron either stating emphatically or implying that religion and science cannot flow from the same Source.
I’d like to suggest to you that it’s closer to a paradox: something that, on the surface, seems contradictory but when investigated is shown to be harmonious.
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.”
- Psalms 19:1-3
The creation has something to say, a message from the Creator. How does that happen? The heavens declare. Day utters speech. How do we listen to such things? That ‘listening’ to the creation is known as science.
We listen to the heavens with our eyes, with physics and mathematics. We listen with telescopes and satellites. Each day and night speak and reveal knowledge, not about us, but about Him.
At any point in that process when God isn’t glorified there hasn’t been a failure of the message but a failure in the listening. We dive into the message asking questions that are answered elsewhere: “Where did we originate?” “What will become of us?” “Am I alone?” The answers we receive from the creation are “I am glorious.” “I am powerful.” “I am eternal.” “I AM.” (see also Rom 1:20)
The nature of the perceived conflict between science and religion has many shapes and shadows but only one source: rejection of the Creator who has revealed His attributes in the creation. The true conflict, then, is the same conflict we see in Eden, namely, human rebellion against God.
There is much joy and awe to be found in embracing man’s investigation of the creation, but we will only see conflict and feel fear until we are able to peacefully (and peaceably) overlook the faulty conclusions of misguided humans to grab hold of the amazing discoveries revealed in His creation.
We should thank God for science and the order found in creation that permits its investigation. He is glorious, and we see and hear that fact everywhere we turn if we’re listening.
