Sermon Tone Analysis

Comments of Science and Scripture

Read Genesis 1:1-3 –

Before we start today, I would like to talk about the elephant in the room.

What about science?

What about the fact the general scientific community ‘knows’ that the universe is billions of years old, and absolutely discounts any thought of a 7 day creation.

I don’t want to spend a vast amount of time here, but I felt like a few minutes of discussion is appropriate.

At root the debate surrounds the theory of evolution verses the theory of Divine creation.

I.

A present active God: Science and Genesis

A. An issue of data vs. theories

1. Theories are not the same as facts/data

2. Theories are proposed ideas that seek to account for the observed facts/data

3. The validity of a theory is established by how well experiments reproduce the events

4. MIT prof -

a. - Theories are attempts to account for what we observe

1) - Use experiments dispassionately to validate or invalidate any theory

- the validity/usefulness of a theory rests totally in its ability to account for current experience.

- Theories are not fact / theories often change or are wholly abandoned as we determine other theories better account for our experiences – this is not a problem – this is science as it learns.

– when the theory does not account for the experience, it is time to develop a new theory

b.

Creation is not reproducible – it can’t be tested directly with experiments – so creation theories will always be not only be based on current observations but also on assumptions that a person makes.

c.

I propose that it is these assumptions that are the real issue.

1) Assumptions are assumed truths that are taken as assumed fact 2) Assumptions frame the development of theories 3) Assumptions are the foundations that we assume to be true.

They are the things we choose to believe.

Is here a God?

Is He bound by the seeming laws of nature that we observe today?

Could there have been an interruption of these 4) In essence we could consider these things the ‘faith’ basis on what we build off of.

We can’t prove them – we merely assume that they are true.

One can call your assumptions – faith – that which you just choose to believe

If the assumptions are wrong – almost certainly the theories will be wrong.

So let’s look at the assumptions / the faith of science and Creationism

B. The faith of science – Must be a “no God” mechanism

The issue is one of man vs. God.

By nature man does not want to acknowledge God, but to make himself God.

Roman 1 – reject God / replace Him with the creation itself.

Romans 1:18

1.

The ‘No God’ faith of secular science – Depend upon man, his capability to think, and observed nature alone

a.

Not a mere issue of explaining observable facts – what are the rules to interpret the facts?

b.

Basic assumption - There is no divine designer /creator/intervener in events

So to account for creation the only nonsupernatural explanations demand the following assumptions

c.

Basic assumption – Everything started at zero (problematic where did that begin)

d.

Basic assumption - All is governed by unchanging ‘natural laws’

e. Basic assumption – Continuity - No supernatural interruptions occur – all continues as it always has

f.

Basic assumption – Everything evolved from zero based on unchanging ‘laws’

C. The faith of scripture – believe what God revealed Heb 11:1-3, 6

(ESV) Hebrews 11 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

... 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

…

Hebrews 11 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1.

The God assumed faith of Christians – Depend upon God’s revelation of Himself as the only basis to interpret observed events with authority

2. Basic assumptions

a. Basic assumption – God exists

b.

Basic assumption – God is all powerful and acts in this world

c.

Basic assumption – God can/does transcend ‘natural’ laws as He desires – He is not bound by these ‘natural laws’ that seem to exist

d.

Basic assumption – God has revealed the events of creation

e. Basic assumption – God is the personal creator of heaven and earth

f.

Basic assumption – God created the world from things not of the world

3. Creation must be understood from the Word of God – an issue of faith in God’s Word

4. Things were not created based on things we observe / Supernatural means rather than natural means / not an evolved state from a zero point

5.

There is a ‘seemingly’ clear narrative that describes the nature and time of events.

6.

We will see that the natural reading of Genesis 1 is that seven 24 hour days resulted in the creation of all things

D. A few thoughts to consider

Just a few science vs. scripture issues to consider in the debate

1. Beware of reading into scripture just for the sake of trying to reconcile scripture to ‘apparent’ science that holds a ‘no god’ bias.

– which do you choose to make the authority?

2. The order of creation does not easily allow for ‘natural’ evolution

a.

Light before sun/moon/stars

b.

Vegetation before the sun/moon/stars

3. The account of Adam/Eve creation and fall is absolutely essential to Biblical theology – could not have been evolved from creatures / the event of the fall must have actually occurred or later scripture makes no sense

4. The issue of the age of the earth

a.

A cataclysmic flood would have made radical change more quickly than unchanging slow ‘ natural law’

b.

Conditions preflood were different (age/canopy/etc.)

‘natural law’ ‘decay of elements’ may have all been different in various ways

c.

Why is it necessary to view the earth as homogenous as God created it?

Or was creation complex from the moment of creation?

Was ground already structure in layers?

Did oil exist?

Fossils?

d.

Things created had apparent age from the moment of creation

1) Light from stars had to be created simultaneously as the stars (up to millions of light years away yet visible) for it be viewable from earth 2) Adam/Eve looked like adults 3) Ground had to be fertile for plants – like it had decaying material to create soil 4) Trees likely had to have rings already or could not stand, etc.

e.

It is possible that longer time can be built into various places to create an older earth, but that is not the normal sense one gets in the reading

5. Conclusion: Let scripture take the baseline

a.

Let scripture critique science rather than using science to critique scripture