Faith and Science

I was recently studying the topic of belief when I came across a story that I’m compelled to share.  It’s about a man who doesn’t believe and went to great lengths to confirm his doubts. 

In April of 2006, National Geographic published an article entitled—and I’m not kidding—Jesus May have Walked on Ice, Not Water Scientists Say!  This is a direct quote from the article…

"A rare set of weather events may have combined to create a slab of ice about 4 to 6 inches [10 to 15 centimeters] thick on the lake, [making it] able to support a person's weight," said Doron Nof, an oceanographer at Florida State University in Tallahassee."

"Our models show that there was a cold snap at that time, which lasted a few days and drastically lowered the temperature." 

This article leads me to two assumptions:  

1. Dr. Nof has waaay too much time on his hands
2. The cold-snap created the ice necessary for Jesus to walk across the lake

 

Honestly I understand that Jesus could possibly have walked on ice.  But what about the disciples and the boat? 

I did some research of my own through the help of Google.  Apparently there was a photographer there who captured the moment on film. 

So…I guess it’s possible that it got cold and Jesus walked on ice.  But this brings up several questions: 

·               How were the disciples rowing in the storm?

·               Where did the waves come from?

·               Maybe most importantly…how did Peter sink?

When God graces us with eyes to see the truth, we choose to believe it all.  We don’t have to be able to explain it all, and we certainly don’t have to be able to prove it all.  But what happens as we walk with God is that our faith in His truth is strengthened no matter how diligently the unbelieving scientific community works to discount and discredit our convictions.   

So what about this supposed battle between faith and science?  Are the two really incompatible?  For those who are willing to look at the facts—the real facts—good science always supports God’s truth. 

Dr. Soren Lovtrup, Professor of Zoo-physiology at the University of Umea in Sweden, made this observation about what he called “blind chance” biology, in his book Darwinism: Refutation of a Myth. 

“I suppose that nobody will deny that it is a great misfortune if an entire branch of science becomes addicted to a false theory, but this is what happened in biology…. I believe that one day the Darwinian myth will be ranked the greatest deceit in the history of science.  When this happens, many people will pose the question, ‘How did this ever happen?’” 

Here's a man who looked at the facts and let them speak for themselves.  Now that's good science and it supports the truth that will set us free!  

Lessons from the Olympics

Watching the Olympics with my family this summer has led me to think about the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.  Just prior to the start of the games, I was privileged to be a part of a mission team of about 700 high school and college athletes from the U.S and Europe.  Our mission was to conduct camps and clinics in Olympic sports for local kids, and using that platform, introduce them to the gospel of grace. 

It was a great experience for many reasons, but one that stands out was a lesson I learned from two of the group leaders on my team. Their names were Jeff and Lindsey and they were virtually newlyweds. While they were wonderful leaders, what I remember most was the way that Jeff and Lindsey communicated with each other about how they were going to spend their discretionary time. 

As you might imagine, they were continually being pulled in 30 different directions, and it would have been quite easy for them to put their relationship on hold as they kowtowed to the whims of their teen-aged team.  But that didn’t happen because they had a plan. 

Their operating system was what they called, “Team Us.”  Whenever a decision was to be made, Team Us came together to determine direction.  In just a matter of moments, they were able to discuss all the options, talk about how they felt, and when Team Us broke huddle they were on the same page. 

Not surprisingly Team Us flourished relationally.  Their commitment to each other, and to honest communication kept them at peace in a very stressful, chaotic environment. 

Going into that trip Jeff and Lindsey established a plan that enabled them to thrive relationally.  No matter the challenge, they stuck to the game plan and it worked. 

I don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that adopting a page out of the Team Us playbook would pay dividends in our relationships as well.