The Bible and
Science
By Brett King, RMCA Headmaster
The first verse of the Bible is perhaps
its most important. My two-and four-year-old boys have been
continually captivated by its simple, yet profound truth, "In the
beginning, God created…” To them, this concept is obvious
and natural. They point to the moon and say, God created. They see horses
in the field and say, God created. They gaze at the mountains and say,
God created. For them, there is neither competition nor contradiction
between God's natural revelation and his divine nature. They are interrelated.
God’s nature can be observed through God’s
creation. This is precisely why we teach students that the
study of science is both a sacred and a noble pursuit. And it’s
why teachers labor to plan lessons that help students see God’s
fingerprint in all aspects of science. This connection is revealed in
the first chapter of Romans:
“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities,
his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Yet God is often ignored in science instruction. Not so
at RMCA!
RMCA’s teachers deliberately integrate biblical
principles into science instruction. Consider the following
concepts:
• God established consistent
laws to govern all aspects of his creation. Matter, time, and
energy operate in consistent and predictable ways. We see God’s
order and predictability in the study of all scientific disciplines.
• God is the sovereign Lord,
creator, and sustainer of all. The intricacies of botany. The
vastness of the universe. The wonders of the human cell. These all point
to an intelligent and powerful creator.
• God gave man the responsibility
to rule over the animals, and to produce from and to protect the earth.
Consider how God has given people the intelligence to protect the environment.
Ecology is often down-played in Christian circles. However, God has
given men and women the dignity to creatively utilize natural resources
for the good of all.
• Our proper response to the creator is awe,
humility, repentance, and worship. In a humanistic society such
as ours, secular science teachers often point to scientific achievements
as a sign of man’s innate potential. As Christians, we see them
as evidence of God’s common grace and omnipotence.
The study of science does not lead students away
from God. It points to him! One of my favorite scientists was
George Washington Carver. Famous for his discoveries surrounding the
wonders of the peanut, he was an unabashed apologist for the God of
science. He wrote, "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting
system, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune
in." God draws us to himself through the wonders of his creation.
Tuning in to God in all subjects is the
hallmark of a Christian and classical education. This is the
pattern of God’s revelation. He has revealed himself in the inspired
pages of scripture. He has also revealed himself through the awe of
his creation. It is this unique opportunity of connecting faith and
learning that helps us to equip students to make a difference in their
world.
