God said something amazing in the Bible which led me to believe God and science are the same thing. Today, we begin a series of philosophical arguments to put into perspective both science and the Lord God.
VI. Conclusion
Who is God Anyway?
Who is God anyway? It is not an easy nor new question either. The recent “Back to Church” movement has brought renewed attention to the beliefs of Christians and their faith in God.
Further, the world is the brink of nuclear war, so people seem to be asking this question more often.
Instead of offering you my religious theological view in this opening section, let’s speak in a broader sense. This does not suggest that I believe there is any other God, in the universe, except He who is described in the Holy Bible.
However, we must philosophically approach this subject carefully. This is crucial because any finite being reading this could hardly grasp infinity. Therefore, much of what we are sure of, must be in error one way or another.
It is obvious that the universe, and everything in it, was created by something or someone. Although it may surprise, I do not hold the theological view that these things are mutually exclusive.
If there is a sovereign, omniscient, and omnipresent being, surely it transcends my finite notions of process.
For instance, scientists push an unprovable theory titled: “The Big Bang Theory.” It is fascinating to see people like, Neil De Grasse Tyson, look into the camera and declare: “the Big Bang and evolution is scientific fact!”
In declaring so, he, and others, totally discount the scientific process they espouse as the ultimate truth. They have no data on which to base this theory, yet unflinchingly declare its truth.
Nevertheless, even if the universe did begin with a chemical reaction, and if I believe that God is omnipresent, what if God is contained within this chemical reaction?
Further, if God is everywhere at the same time, I must then believe He is on a quantum level as well. Whether existing as a chemical reaction or other unknown process, God must still be present.
To posit there is a difference between an omni-present (everywhere at the same moment) creator, and a creative chemical reaction, is absurd prima facie.
If He is present everywhere, at the same moment, why would the location of quantum chemical reactions be excluded as a “host site”?
I offer this as a Christian Pastor for this simple reason: how can I believe God is everywhere yet not present at the smallest molecular level He created? What if, whatever is responsible for creating everything, exists at a level we can neither see nor fathom?
This is not meant to challenge the existence of a supernatural being rather, understanding we are all too small (and finite) to understand infinity.
For those who hold a different view, is it beyond possible that you have misunderstandings about the nature of existence as well?
What Do Believers Think God is?
Now that we have examined a more general view, it is also important to explain what Christendom believes.
We believe that God the Father is the Creator of everything that exists. From and un-seeable, spiritual, and sub-quantum level to everything we see. According to our Bible, He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords.
He is the Most High God who is holy, righteous, and just. God the Father is the great I AM, who was before all things.
Here is Him explaining “who” He is to a finite being named Moses (Exodus 3:14-15):
Think about the language used here which is the exact same in both Hebrew and English! In saying "I AM", God presents Himself without a limiting "qualifier."
Therefore, is it so hard to believe that part of that great "I AM" is "science" as well? With this statement, anything righteous, holy, and created by Him could be added.
Let's review this sentence with respect to this article's title: "I AM (science)".
When God described Himself in such a way, it explains His existence on the largest scale we can imagine. Before going further, I must apologize for all the denominations and confusion which exist.
It is incredible that most of us believe God is the same always, yet hold such sectarian views. One must understand that even who we believe God is, He must be much more!
When we think about the scale of the universe, is it credible to believe that the being responsible for its existence could be contained in a few pages of a book we call the Bible?
Absolutely not and why would a Christian Pastor be willing to admit that?
Because one thing, above every other, is required to follow God: truth. The reality I His Word says (Romans 11:34):
Whatever religion or conception one has, all any can do is “guess” at what God’s entirety entails.
Knowing God Means Knowing Yourself
Do you truly believe that humankind began as some random assortment of unknown chemicals? There is something occurring daily, since the beginning of time, which exposes the absurdity of the “chemical sludge” argument.
It is undeniable that it takes a human, to create another human. Being more specific, it requires a biological man and biological woman to re-create another human being.
Here is my philosophical challenge to this absurdity: at what point did the sludge stop creating us and require that we create one another? I offer this not to mock anyone!
It simply demonstrates that we could only have come from something or someone else who looks like us. More specifically, we look like them.
Part of the theory of evolution is that we are higher forms of apes. Here is what no scientist, or atheist, has been able to answer with respect to that view.
At what point did apes stop transitioning into humans?
It stands to reason that if that process happened like they believe, it should still be occurring today. Somewhere in this wide world, there should be “yet evolving” lower forms” of humans.
A “Missing link” if you will.
However, do I believe that the earth is only a few thousand years old? No! Even believers who teach such nonsense should repent and admit they don’t quite understand as much as we claim to.
Do I believe that there were so-called Neanderthal? Yes, but that is a long way from descending from apes. All this proves is we have a “common creator.”
Now, we have two challenges: first, at what point did chemical sludge stop creating us and required us to procreate? Next, where is the missing link between primates and humans?
I don’t want you to miss the absurdity of even attempting to answer these two questions.
Those who hold to an evolutionary view literally want you to believe that a pool of chemical sludge, and/or unintelligent primates, made an intelligent decision to create beings more intelligent than themselves.
God’s Character Should Be Your Character
Knowing who God is important for several reasons. First, even if God "is" science, there is still a character/morality expected.
Next, who He is, morally, will help you understand His character and love for you. This will in turn deepen your relationship with Him.
Further, knowing the great "I AM" will help you navigate life’s challenges more effectively. It will also help you grow during tough times. God the Father is our ultimate source of strength and comfort.
The better you know His personality and love for you, the more you can draw on His strength and comfort during challenging times.
The more you know who He is, the less likely you are to develop false ideas about Him.
For instance, it is widely believed that God does not want us judging others. This simply isn’t true.
At least, not according to the Bible. Healthy judgment is moral but remember that condemning is bad. The difference is that judgment simply renders a "decision" about an action while condemnation determines "punishment" for the action.
Here is where misunderstanding Jesus’s Word began (Matthew 7:1-2):
Let’s FINISH the rest of Jesus’ teaching on this subject (Matthew 7:3-5):
Please notice that Jesus FINISHED this thought with: “you shouldn’t be doing the same wrong and speak about others who do so. Stop doing “it” and then JUDGE someone else for doing so.”
Further, judging is most often used for some form of unhealthy control.
Here is the difference. If you tell, for instance, a friend “red pants look much better than the green ones on you.” That is healthy. You have shared an opinion meant to help them look better than they otherwise would have.
Further, your motives for doing so were to help their self-esteem, and personhood on some level.
Bad, and wrong judgment, sounds like: “those pants are ugly on you, and you shouldn’t wear them because I hate them.” In this instance, you have entered your selfishness into the equation.
It quit being about your friend, and more about you.
You judge other things all the time that are healthy. For instance, some foods are better than others for our health. We decide not to eat unhealthy food and eat the healthy.
Why?
We have judged one is better than the other.
Even with friends. Why are some friendships more meaningful than others? You have judged it so for valid and righteous reasons! You get the point. God wants you to make healthy decisions based on righteous determination.
“Determination” of course, is another word for judgment. Knowing God means loving others, speaking truthfully to them, and then accepting the same correction.
There has never been a time when character matters more than now. Form your personal character on God and move away from allowing scientists, atheists, and even hypocritical question to lead you with falsehoods.
In God’s purview, the false evolution theory is just as much a character flaw as judging others when you are doing the same thing!
God is Science, Right?
Apparently, both confused followers of God, as well as atheists and scientists want you to make a decision. You can either follow science or follow God, but you can’t have both!
I would submit that such thinking is contrary to the biblical view.
Let’s begin with something simple: creation.
Just a brief view of Genesis chapter one (1) results in something profound. While God did speak some things into existence out of nothing, other were “Tara-formed” with material in existence.
The greatest of these is humankind.
Apparently, Adam was created from dirt! When we progress to the creation of the first woman, Eve, she was created from biological material from Adam. It cannot be argued that in either case, and although unknown, scientific processes were used.
Let me be clear: I believe God to be the writer of scientific processes.
Therefore, in utilizing these processes, He confirmed both His sovereignty over them as well as authority to use them. Put more simply: is there a difference between God and scientific processes?
I would submit the only difference is our "understanding" rather some tangible difference. Again, earlier I showed you the Bible described Him as "I AM."
We tend to suggest duality were none could possibly exist. The greatest of these confusions is in the so-called: ‘Trinity.'
If you listen to finite explanations of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, you imagine three ‘distinct’ beings.
That’s certainly not the infinite view because God can be described in one word: “continuum.”
These thoughts are critical because we have miserably failed not only to explain what we cannot, we will not even admit we do not know.
Scientists who dismiss a creative being are ignorant. Believers in God who dismiss science are ignorant as well. It is impossible to trace the ecological creative process in Genesis 1 and not understand God defined and is science.
This is not to suggest science, itself, as atheists believe, is the God force creator. A theological definition, which I provided, ascribes power over the process.
The atheist view of science describes the process, itself, as the guiding power.
Conclusion
Most believe that it is upon a profession of faith that God has rule over their life. While that may be true as a guiding force, it’s certainly is not true on existence level.
Whether following a religion, not of the holy Bible, or atheists, here is what the Bible says about your end (Philippians 2:10-11):
The greatest gift you have is free will. But true is the saying: “with great gifting comes great responsibility.”
I did not try to make a convincing case that you should follow God in this article. My guess is you are well on your way to doing so. My chief reason for producing this writing was to encourage you to keep walking the path.
Unlike me, I do not desire you get the bogged down in your search trying to understand things you will never understand. More importantly, most of what you are struggling to understand is irrelevant to the bigger picture.
God is infinite and so far beyond your understanding, and mine, that questioning Him too often is futile.
In my walk I have also discovered that understanding His responses is beyond my cognitive ability.
Is it more productive to cognitively engage God? Yes! But understand our cognition has limits.
He is unlimited while you and I are. Is it reasonable to even have the expectation of understanding more for you to be a true follower of our Lord?
Jesus, who came down from heaven according to his own words, had some limitations as well.
This is not to suggest that in his true form he has limits. Only that there are a few things he said he did not know while he was on earth.
Jesus was a perfect human being without sin and had limitations in the flesh. Is it reasonable to think that as sinful as you and I are, that we won’t have limitations as well.
If sinlessness in this flesh is limited, and sin limits us even more, how can we ever hope to understand a spirit existing being?
Stop arguing and debating with science. Most often, they simple make things up to explain "why they do not understand." What more proof do you need than the image of the Milky Way Galaxy the feed us?
Science says: "this is what the Milky Way Galaxy looks like from a bird's eye view."
This image is from OUTSIDE the galaxy. Why is this a problem? The same science claims to have never left the Solar System, let alone galaxy!
They do not even possess the technology to take an accurate, objective image of our tiny solar system but can somehow, magically, describe in detail how our galaxy looks from the outside?
If they have never left either, how can they capture an image from outside?
ABSURD!
Header Image Courtesy of Davide Cantelli
Neil de Grasse Tyson Image Courtesy of Wikicommons
Milky Way Image Courtesy of Wikicommons