Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5)

The Question
Hasn’t science disproved the Bible (8)?
In many respects, the question we’re considering can be answered almost like a judo move. Whenever someone poses this objection, we should feel confident in replying, “Quite the contrary; in fact, if anything, science continues to prove the reliability of Scripture.”

I keep a little file which I call “Science Catches Up.” It is inspired by Robert Jastrow’s comment that scientists should expect to find theologians have been right about a good many matters all along. Allow me to offer a few capsule summaries from some of the many entries here, of articles and reports in which scientists glowingly report having discovered some truth which the Bible has known from the beginning.

Scientific American reported in its February, 2016 issue, that ants maintain a social system reflective of wisdom in preserving the community, without the need of strong leaders to get them to store up food for the winter (cf. Prov. 6.6-8).

Contrary to what many people believe, creativity is not a gift or calling reserved for the few. According to Michael Michalko, writing on the Creative Thinkeringblog (October 22, 2011), everyone is creative and simply needs to find ways to overcome the “seven deadly sins” that keep them from realizing their creative potential. Just what you might expect of beings made in the image of a creating and creative God.

The pickthebrain (September 30, 2011), website reported that the vision people hold in mind about themselves – what scientists call framing –tends to determine the kind of people we actually become. So it’s true, the article concludes, that as a person thinks in his heart, so he is (Prov. 23.7).

Loving your neighbor is good for you. Scientific American Mind (July/August 2012) reported on a University of California study that suggested one way to feel better about yourself is to begin “acting compassionately toward others.”

Children and other learners have a natural curiosity about the world, which can be enhanced by turning learning into a form of play, as in story-telling and riddles. Jesus seemed to have understood what MIT social scientists are only now beginning to discover, according to Jonah Lehrer (who, we’re happy to report, is now returning to respectability) in a September, 2011, blog at www.wired.com.

According to neuroscience, perseverance pays off in life. Christopher Bergland, writing in The Athlete’s Wayon December 26, 2011, reported on neuroscientific research showing the benefits of staying on task until doing so becomes habitual. Like “running your race” or “pressing on” or “fighting the good fight” I suppose?

Seth Borenstein reported in an Associated Press release for November 11, 2011, that science has begun to discover that thanksgiving is good for you. So good, in fact, that people should consider keeping “gratitude journals” to encourage themselves in this kind of outlook on life. Or perhaps simply in everything, give thanks?

USAToday reported on October 14, 2011, that taking materialism as a primary motive can be destructive to marriages (Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy). When the moth and rust destroy the stuff, the marriage goes down with it. Better to pursue higher, more lasting aspirations, such as love.

In spite of whatever science may discover or invent, our bodies are not meant to live forever; we’re all going to die sooner or later, Keith Kleiner reported, summarizing various recent scientific findings (gravityandlevity, July 8, 2009). So it really is appointed to human beings once to die. Then what?

An April 4, 2012 report in USAToday summarized various scientific findings indicating that people can’t be trusted to do the right thing. Self-checkout lanes are avenues of theft, encouraging creative forms of shoplifting on the part of clever consumers. All those deceitful and desperately wicked hearts apparently need to be watched a little more carefully.

Finally, science is happy to report that moral decisions are not a matter of mere logic, as many scientists suppose. Peter Saalfield, writing in the January/February, 2012 issue of Harvard Magazine, explained that science is now discovering that thinking and affections (what the Scriptures refer to as mind and heart) work together to guide our moral choices. Soon enough, I suppose, they’ll also discover the role of conscience in this process.

Science demonstrates that human beings are different from the animals in mysterious ways, ways that cannot be entirely sorted out by the scientific method. Science shows us that the universe is orderly and knowable. Science teaches that human beings can act altruistically, in spite of what should be our natural bent to mere self-preservation. Science teaches us that human beings need art and beauty in order to thrive. Science encourages the development of technologies for using, managing, and replenishing the earth.

And so on and so forth. So, rather than disprove the Bible, apparently, the more scientific research advances, the more it demonstrates how utterly wise, comprehensive, and reliable the teaching of Scripture is.

We’ll look at part 9 of this question next Sunday. Now here’s a recap from this week at The Ailbe website.

Weekly Review
We continued our 10-part series on The Kingdom Economy by a study of work as the means whereby the Kingdom advances and God is glorified in our lives. The work we’ve been given to do is greater than the job at which we work, so we need to take up all our work as unto the Lord. Download the free PDF of last week’s study by clicking here.

Our Crosfigell column draws on Scripture and the Celtic Christian tradition for insights to spiritual life and growth. This week’s messages focused on strengthening our prayer lives, explaining the importance of repentance, and learning to love God with all our hearts.

Our Scriptorium column worked through Acts 13 and the mission of Paul and Barnabas to southern Asia Minor. We continued to see the power of Christ’s ongoing work to win converts, make disciples, begin new churches, and extend the Kingdom. Download all 13 studies in this series by clicking here.

Worldview and the role it plays in our lives was the topic of Friday’s The Week column. Watch the website for upcoming news of an exciting online course in Christian worldview, coming this fall. One in Twelve will provide you with ways of getting some handles on worldview and making progress in your walk with and work for the Lord.

Saturday’s In the Gates column showed that the Law of God contains built-in mechanisms for promoting holiness and remembering God’s Law at the same time.

Visit our website and bookstore to discover additional resources and publications to help you in your walk with and work for the Lord. Subscribe to more of our instructional newsletters. Read John Nunnikhoven’s daily Voice Together column. And while you’re at the website, watch the videos introducing our Men’s Prayer Movement and offering you an opportunity to assess the state of your Christian worldview.

T. M. Moore

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