Science Should Be Worship

Pure science and Christianity are not at odds with each other.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

By Jordan Chamblee

Reprinted from The Stand

OSIRIS-REx is a NASA mission that aimed to explore an asteroid named 101955 Bennu. Its main goal was to collect a sample from this near-Earth asteroid and bring it back to Earth for detailed analysis.

The spacecraft successfully achieved its mission by collecting a sample from Bennu and delivering it to Earth on September 24, 2023. After this remarkable feat, OSIRIS-REx was renamed OSIRIS-APEX and embarked on an extended mission to explore another asteroid called Apophis, which it will reach in 2029.

So, why should Christians care? It may seem to some believers that this kind of scientific discovery is a Darwinian party that Christians aren’t invited to. After all, we’re called to be spiritual, and space rocks aren’t spiritual… right?

Let’s look to the Bible for the answer. The Apostle John gives us a streamlined yet beautiful account of creation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1-2 NKJV)

Everything, from the worms in the mud to the innumerable galaxies of space, and yes, even a lonely asteroid named 101955 Bennu, was imagined first by God and brought into being by the Word, who is Jesus.

Exploring the Wisdom of God

Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920) was an extraordinary individual of his time. He wore multiple hats: Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901 to 1905, theologian, and founder of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, a Christian university committed to rigorous academic standards.

Kuyper authored the book Wisdom & Wonder: Common Grace in Science & Art. In this work, he elaborates on the concept of common grace, emphasizing that God’s lordship extends beyond the church walls. He explores the relationship between science and art, emphasizing their shared purpose of offering praise to the Creator.

“If, therefore,” wrote Kuyper boldly, “… all creation is to be understood simply as the outflow of that thinking of God, such that all things have come into existence and continue to exist through the Logos, that is, through divine reason, or more particularly, through the Word, then it must be the case that the divine thinking must be embedded in all created things. Thus there can be nothing in the universe that fails to express, to incarnate, the revelation of the thought of God.”

When we make a work of art, we draw inspiration from something outside of ourselves: a sunset, a story, or the way someone makes us feel. Not so with the original Creator. The only thing that inspired the creation of the universe was God Himself. It is from His own thoughts and characteristics that He draws inspiration, and thus all creation is intimately connected to the wisdom of God.

So it can be said with certainty that an honest study of science with a firm hold on the Bible is an encounter with the wisdom of God.

Embracing Holy Curiosity

The recent return of asteroid samples from the Osiris-REx space mission captivated the world. As a Christian, I found myself marveling at the ingenuity and persistence of the scientists who sent a spacecraft on a 7-year journey through space to gather these extraterrestrial materials.

Their commitment speaks to the deep human longing to understand where we come from and what our place is in the cosmos.

God has implanted that curiosity within us. The universe declares God’s glory (Psalm 19:1), so studying it can and should be an act of worship. Approaching science with a sense of holy curiosity – seeking to know God more fully through what He has made – honors Him.

Unfortunately, some Christians shy away from science, worried it will undermine faith. But truth has nothing to fear from exploration. After all, God fashioned the natural world and established its laws.

Science is an inherently spiritual endeavor for the Christian. As Kuyper declared, God’s creation reveals His divine nature and character. By exploring it, we draw nearer to Him.

Kuyper warned believers not to withdraw from science: “Much less may believers retreat to their ecclesiastical corner and, satisfied with simply having faith, abandon the building of the temple of science to unbelievers, as though science does not concern them.”

He wrote, “Our duty is that we who confess Jesus Christ take hold of science as an instrument for propagating our faith-conviction.” Rather than retreat, Christians should be at the vanguard of discovery.

Science provides a window into the mind of God. His wisdom is evidenced by the astonishing complexity of nature. The more we grasp the microworld of quantum mechanics or the cosmic scale of the universe, the greater our awe. As Kuyper noted, creation is meant to direct our worship to the Creator, not to replace Him: “Sun, moon, and stars beckon people to worship the Creator – until people lose sight of the living God and begin to worship the sun, moon, and stars themselves.”

While the temptation exists to idolize nature, the Christian perspective provides ballast. Our faith allows us to delve deep into the mysteries of the universe without losing our theological moorings. Science offers a complementary revelation to the biblical witness, together providing a multifaceted perspective on our Maker.

The History of Science and Faith

Throughout history, many pioneering scientists have been devout Christians seeking to uncover God’s mysteries. Sir Isaac Newton, the father of modern physics, wrote more about faith than science. For him, science was a spiritual calling, a way to glimpse the rational order behind God’s creation.

Other Christian scientists include Copernicus, who developed the heliocentric model of the solar system; Galileo, who improved the telescope and supported Copernicus’ theory; Bacon, who pioneered the scientific method; and Boyle, the father of modern chemistry. Science was not seen as opposing faith, but rather exploring the natural world God made.

Unfortunately, hostility developed between science and faith starting in the 19th century. Some scientists began proclaiming science as the only path to knowledge, denying any room for Scripture. At the same time, some believers viewed scientific endeavors as a replacement for Scripture. This “warfare” model cast science and faith as mortal enemies.

But this view assumes science and Scripture answer the same questions, when in fact they complement each other. Science helps us understand how the natural world works via observation and reason. Scripture tells us explicitly who God is and answers questions of purpose, meaning, and salvation. There is no contradiction between the two.

Followers of Christ should be at the forefront of discovery. Our faith gives us confidence because we know the universe is orderly and rational, having been crafted by the Logos – the divine Word (John 1). His handiwork bears investigation. There is no need to fear where truthful, faithful science will lead.

Above all, we must remember that creation is meant to point to the Creator, not replace Him. We should approach the unknown with holy curiosity, seeking God’s glory, not our own. The mysteries we unfold will only direct us to bow in greater awe before the One who spoke all things into being.