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

The Question
Hasn’t science disproved the Bible (10)?
We have been examining the position, raised by some, and insisted on by others, that science has somehow  disproved the Bible. It’s not always clear what people mean by this, whether as a question or an assertion, but we have considered quite a few things they simply cannot mean, things which, because they remain true, make it look more and more like the Bible is a resource for life people ought to examine at first hand rather than reject on mere hearsay.

We can add to what we’ve already said that certainly science has not disproved the basic message of the Bible. Now the Bible has a good many messages, and untold numbers of sermonic messages have been preached, and myriads of lessons have been taught, from the content of the Bible. The Bible contains many messages, in fact, and this itself has sometimes been pointed out as a reason why the Bible can’t be trusted, because with so many messages being delivered by so many people, it’s inevitable – indeed, it can be shown historically – that certain disagreements, inconsistencies, and contradictions will exist in those messages.

And that, of course, is quite true. No one denies that Bible teachers and interpreters at times disagree about the message of a certain part of Scripture, or a certain text. But does the fault here lie with the plain text of the Bible? Or is it with the way that text is interpreted, by the people who interpret it?

The history of Christian theology has been as much a developing and self-correcting enterprise as any aspect of the scientific revolution. Among the main branches of Christianity, those which embrace and encompass the vast majority of believers, the essential message of the Bible is not disputed. Historic creeds and confessions all agree on a good many points, indeed, on the most important points of the teaching of the Christian faith and the message of the Bible. And that agreement has lasted for nearly 2,000 years among people of all times, places, and cultures.

When we consider that social scientists reach conclusions about human behavior based on research done at one point in time, on small samples of human subjects, very often not more than a few thousand, and typically of only one cultural group, what shall we conclude when we research the views and experiences of untold millions of men and women, from every culture, tribe, nation, social class, and time, when we see that they heartily agree on the basic message of the Bible?

So what isthat basic message that so many have discerned, embraced, discovered to be true, and even staked their lives on for nearly 2,000 years?

It comes down to two words, and a large raft of implications.

The two words? God is.

The purpose of the Bible is to announce to the world that God exists. We are not here alone. This material world that we can see, hear, feel, taste, touch, and manipulate is not all there is. God is. We cannot see Him, but in the Bible He reveals Himself in words and deeds, recorded with unfailing consistency, by many different writers, working under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

God is. If you only read the first words of the Bible, you will get that message loud and clear: “In the beginning, God…” Read the rest of the Bible and that same message is repeated and reinforced in many ways. God is. This is the basic message of the Bible.

And this message has many ramifications, and raises many questions, such as:

If God is, then who, or what, am I? Do I have some obligation to God? Does He expect something of me, or desire something for me?

And what about the world around me? What is the nature of its relationship to God? Is it important to answer this before I begin making use of the world around me?

And if God is, and if He has gone to such great lengths in the Bible to make this fact known, then why? Am I to know Him? And if I can know God, because He is making Himself known, then how, and to what ends?

And Who is Jesus of Nazareth, Whom the Bible claims as its central and defining Figure, and Whom it describes as the exact representation of God, the very Word of God, and the Savior and Light and Lord and King of the world and everything in it? The Bible teaches that God is in Jesus Christ, and through Him, is reconciling the world unto Himself. What are the implications – and obligations – inherent in this for me?

The basic message of the Bible remains unchanged, and it continues to influence the lives of astonishing numbers of people all over the world. That message is true, and science has not disproved it, nor ever can. And the implications and ramifications of that message, which science has not disproved, and cannot, are huge, and of enormous significance for all of us.

Weekly Review
Grace economics describes a way of getting along in the world that brings more justice, stability, and fecundity to the world than the greed economics of our getting-and-spending economy. This week’s ReVision series was Part 1 of a two-part overview of grace economics. You can download the weekly PDF study by clicking here.

This week our Crosfigell columns focused on encouraging believers to live above the storms of life and in oneness with God and one another. You can review this week’s installments by clicking here.

Our daily Scriptorium study of the book of Acts followed Paul as he began his ministry in Greece. Download all 15 studies in this series by clicking here.

In Thursday’s The Week installment, we saw another example of how social science finally works its way around (almost) to Biblical truth – encouraging us to think realistically, and prepare well, rather than merely to fantasize and do nothing.

Saturday’s In the Gates columnwrapped up a seven-set look at how to set the Law of God firmly into our minds. This was part 2 of a 3 part study on working God’s Law into our souls, as part of the larger Rule of Law series we’re pursuing in this column.

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 Voices 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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