Are Science and Faith Incompatible? Part 4
Conclusion
Most of you have probably never heard this information. You have been assured that random chance, nurtured by natural selection, gave rise to the universe and everything therein, including life. You have probably even been told that science, and scientists, are in complete agreement about this. But there are a growing number of scientists, men and women eminent in their fields of study, which have determined that their disciplines point toward an intelligent designer. English astronomer Sir Frederick Hoyle said this: “A common sense interpretation of the facts suggest that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”[22]
Obviously, as Christian theists, we believe that “superintellect” to be God. But the overarching point here is that it is science, as discussed here, that has pointed us to Him. The Christian has nothing to fear from what he or she might find at the other end of a telescope or microscope. Even more so, as demonstrated here, good scientific, philosophical and religious thinking are not opposed to one another but are instead complementary. Science can actually have a place in our intellectual framework right alongside faith and reason. If we do in fact believe that God is the creator of all that is, was or ever will be, then science cannot possibly be the boogeyman some have made it out to be. And if we truly believe that each of us is called into different vocations as believers, we should encourage those who wish to enter the sciences to do so. Instead of discouragement, perhaps we should pray for the mission field they would enter when they go into the lab. We are well aware of the number of atheists who occupy positions in the sciences. Who is going to reach them if not the young men and women of faith who have been called into various scientific fields of study?
We are not all called to be pastors. However, as followers of Jesus Christ, we all share one common calling - to be salt and light in this lost and dark world. As believers, we can do that by incorporating our Christian worldview into every facet of our lives, including our professions. The opportunity to serve God is a wonderful honor and privilege, and no place is or should be off limits, including the laboratory. Ephesians 2:10 explains that each of us has a purpose, that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We are not accidents. And Romans 12:6 tells us “we have differ-ent gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” For our brothers and sisters purposed and gifted for the sciences, let us not be a hindrance. For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called accord-ing to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).
[22] Sir Frederick Hoyle, “The Universe: Past and Present Reflections” Engineering and Science, November 1981.