Science & Enlightenment Argue Against Christian Faith

I always get excited when I open up an email message from Charlie at Another Think blog - telling me that he has a new essay posted. Charlie labels his blog as "One Christian's view of post-modern life."

His latest essay is entitled, Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Boy...isn't that the truth!

It is important to read the entire essay, so I'm finding it difficult to post an excerpt!

Perhaps this will do:

The difficulty about the tension between orthodoxy and non-conformity is that much of what counts for accepted wisdom is probably true. The Earth appears flat but really is round, despite the tongue-in-cheek protestations of the Flat Earth Society. Parallel railroad tracks appear to meet in the distance, but we know that our eyes play tricks on us. Appearances can be deceiving.

From the perspective of Christianity, the orthodoxy of modern science and the Enlightenment often seem to argue against the Christian faith.

Posted a comment there, but it is in moderation.

Ah!!! We just had another earthquake in CA! 5.4 on Richter scale! No damage. It rolled from one end of the house to the other! I ran through the house yelling earthquake! My hubby and dog were out in the garden area. The pool was sloshing a bit - not much. The epicenter was reported to be centered in the Borrego desert, which is east of us!

My comment has been posted!

Christinewjc July 7, 2010 5:46 PM Reply
Great essay Charlie! Well said!

When I look around and see all that Creation has to offer, the thought that it came out of nothing, from no one, for no eternal purpose seems irrational. Why? Because I know Jesus Christ and trust every word written in the Bible as truth.

As His beloved human creatures - who have been given the task of dominion over all the earth and everything in it - we are blessed with a mind that allows us to create many things. How could I logically follow that with disbelief in our Creator? Along with our minds, He has given us a heart, soul, body and spirit. There is an empty place in our souls that can only be filled by the Holy Spirit's indwelling through being born again in Jesus Christ! How do I know this? Because I was once lost in sin.

Some people make science their "god." But I say to those who think that way - science is always attempting to catch up with God.

Science is secondary in this life. Faith in Jesus Christ - and what He achieved at the cross - is ultimately what is necessary to bridge the gap between sinful man and Holy God. He is the way, the truth and the life that leads us to spending eternity with God.

Christ's resurrection from the dead is a fact of history. Scientists (the secular ones) don't like to think that miracles happen. Their conformity to their own wisdom and knowledge doesn't allow them to think out of their secular reasoning box. Some do escape. Some have come to faith in Christ. But then they are mocked by their peers as "unscientific" (because scientists walk by sight) and place themselves in a vulnerable position.

But God instructs us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. So those who reject the Christian faith on the grounds that their faith in science trumps being reconciled back unto God through Christ have openly rejected what God has stated in His Word is necessary to please Him.

What I'm trying to say is stated simply in 2 Corinthians:

2Cr 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ***



Hat tip

Another Think

***The rest of 2 Corinthians 5:

2Cr 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.


2Cr 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.


2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


2Cr 5:11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.


2Cr 5:12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have [an answer] for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.


2Cr 5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, [it is] for God; or if we are of sound mind, [it is] for you.


2Cr 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;


2Cr 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.


2Cr 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know [Him thus] no longer.


2Cr 5:17 Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.


2Cr 5:18 Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,


2Cr 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.


2Cr 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.


2Cr 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

*******

P.S. While traveling back from our vacation in Kauai last week, I read a fascinating article in the Hana Hou! magazine of Hawaiian Airlines! I plan to do a blog post about it this week, but you can read the article online here:

Hana Hou.com: View From The Top



I love the way the author ends his article:

“We are making detections that indicate that our knowledge about not only the universe but the structure and nature of matter itself is incomplete,” he says and then he adds—half-shrugging, half-laughing and utterly enthused—“we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg” … if that.

Aloha and Mahalo!