What Does Jesus Think of Science?

(5 Minute Read)

Last week I considered the question,
Was Jesus an Evolutionist?
Based on the words and deeds of Jesus Himself, I showed that He was a pure Creationist. He was not an Evolutionist of any type at all.

So what does Jesus think of Science?

Influence of Science

Presidents and governors consult scientists. Legislators seek scientific opinion. Courts solicit scientific testimony. Reporters parrot scientists’ views — even on moral or philosophical issues, which are outside the realm of science. Society has ceded authority to Science.

Christians must evaluate Science by Jesus Christ — the Ruler by Whom everything must be measured. What does Jesus think of science?

Science and Scientism

Science literally means “knowledge.” Science is the search for truth about nature. Scientists study existing processes and formulate theories describing nature’s operation based on observable evidence and repeatable experiments. Scientific knowledge consists of provable and reproducible results about how the universe works. Technology is the application of this knowledge to implement man’s discoveries.

Science is often confused with Scientism. Scientism is the belief that science is the arbiter of truth. Scientism is based not on science but on the assumption that nothing exists outside the natural realm. This philosophy, Naturalism, asserts that everything is material in origin. It spawns an evolutionary belief system about unrepeatable events of the distant past.

Scientists often play bait-and-switch with Science and Scientism, claiming for Scientism the reputation and authority earned by true science. Many promote evolution as “scientific knowledge” when evolution is actually only wild philosophical speculation about the unobservable past that is masquerading as science. They exert scientific authority to force agreement with Scientism’s unproven philosophical beliefs.

But Science cannot pronounce Naturalism true or false. That issue is outside the realm of science because it cannot be evaluated experimentally in the lab. It can only be answered philosophically. Does human experience make better sense with a Creator-based philosophy or with Naturalism? Which model better explains conscience and moral law, joy and sorrow, love and humor, purpose and design in the universe?

Jesus Loves Science

Jesus knows more science than all Nobel Prize winners combined. With delight He skillfully created the universe that scientists labor to understand.
For by Him all things were created, both in heaven and on earth. (Colossians 1:16)

From a cell’s intricate molecular machinery to the large-scale structure of the universe with trillions of stars organized into clusters of galaxies — everything shouts design. From micro to macro, researchers find information-rich structures, detailed designs, and ever increasing levels of complexity. Where did this all come from?

True science points researchers to God:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

In every field of study, the marvels of the universe raise the question, “Who made this?”

Is rigorous scientific research compatible with belief in God? Certainly. King Solomon was a great scientist (Ecclesiastes 1:13,16). It was not science that turned his heart from God. God expects man to pursue science.

Great are the works of the LORD. They are studied by all who delight in them. . . . He has made His wonders to be remembered. (Psalm 111:2,4)
“Thinking God’s thoughts after Him” is how German astronomer Johann Kepler (1571–1630) described his own work.

Thousands of eminent scientists have acknowledged God the Creator including Leonardo da Vinci, Francis Bacon, Blaise Pascal, Robert Boyle, Galileo, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Leibnitz, Michael Faraday, Samuel Morse, Mendel, Pasteur, Lord Kelvin, Lister, James Maxwell, Bernhard Riemann, Sir Henry Rawlinson, William Ramsay, George Washington Carver, Henry Morris, Raymond Damadian, Francis Collins.

NASA Director Werner von Braun (1912-1977) wrote:
“The vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator. I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind . . . the universe, as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science.”

Jesus Himself was no slouch mentally. At twelve He astonished the intellectual elite of Israel. Jesus was a master logician, incisive thinker, and unequaled debater. His discourses in the Gospel of John are packed with carefully reasoned logical arguments. In intellectual debate He always dominated. Numerous times scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees tried to trap Him verbally with no success.

The Gospels provide compelling evidence of His mental mastery:
All His opponents were being humiliated. (Luke 13:17).
The Pharisees could make no reply. (Luke 14:6)
They were unable to catch Him. . . . Marveling at His answer, they became silent. (Luke 20:26)
He put the Sadducees to silence. (Matthew 22:34)
No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. (Matthew 22:46)
They did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything. (Luke 20:40. See also Mark 12:34; Luke 20:39)

In the Old Testament, Yahweh frequently pointed to Creation to establish His identity and reputation. He asked scientific questions like this one:
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, marked off the heavens by the span, calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales?” (Isaiah 40:12)
God’s grilling of Job included many scientific questions still unanswered (Job 38-42).

Jesus Himself was a keen observer of nature — a vital scientific trait. He drew striking illustrations from nature. To allay clothing anxiety (still common today), He observed that if God arrayed transient lilies more gloriously than Solomon, then He will clothe us. (Matthew 6:28-30)

Jesus Hates Scientism

Would Jesus Christ the Creator endorse the dominant naturalistic philosophy of Scientism — which presupposes no god and imposes a naturalistic system to explain everything?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “If we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, let him be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8) Scientism, which preaches faith in Science as the determiner of truth, is contrary to the gospel of Christ.

Paul charged Timothy to avoid “the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge — which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:20-21) Scientism opposes the gospel and lures many to perdition. Genuine science accords with the true gospel of the Bible.

What Would Jesus Say?

Jesus said, “At the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said . . . the two shall become one flesh.” (Matthew 19:4-6) According to Jesus, God created mankind fully formed as man and woman ready for marriage at the Beginning, NOT after billions of years of evolution following the Beginning. Jesus believed in creation, not evolution.

Today Jesus would undoubtedly tell scientists what He told lawyers: “Woe to you lawyers (scientists)! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” (Luke 11:52)

What is the “key of knowledge?”
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 1:7; 2:6)
The key to true knowledge, wisdom, and understanding is fear of the Lord. Yet Science has tried to remove God and His Word from society by insisting on naturalistic explanations for everything.

By denying and distorting the plain meaning of Scripture and plain evidence from nature, scientists hinder people from entering the kingdom of God. People believe scientists’ evolutionary speculations which deny the truth of Genesis about origins. People then logically reason, “If Genesis is not trustworthy, why should the Bible be trusted at all?” For these deceptions, Jesus would condemn the deceivers.

Often, so-called “scientific knowledge” is
actually only wild philosophical speculation
masquerading as science.

Truth and Consequences

Having lost its fundamental moorings, Science is like a ship wallowing at sea, trying to anchor valid work to false philosophy. Today the philosophy underlying science is aggressively atheistic. Since Scientism dominates universities, atheistic students inevitably result.

Most of our early universities were founded to promote Christianity. For example, Harvard’s original motto, “Veritas pro Christo et ecclesia” (Truth for Christ and Church), still appears on their buildings.

Universities have abandoned their foundation by rejecting the One who is the Truth. To search for truth by scorning the One who is the Truth is absurd.

True wisdom will not reject the virgin-born, crucified, resurrected, and glorified Son of God who will return to judge every person. Only fools forsake the One “in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

Scientific findings must be interpreted in light of Biblical truth. Perspectives that contradict clear Biblical teaching are wrong. When scientists make non-scientific pronouncements about billion-year evolutionary developments and insist that this sacred dogma cannot be challenged, then Scientism is a major source of error.

Can Science be recaptured for Christ? Christians must combat evolutionary scientism with Biblical truth, reclaiming the foundations of science for Christ. Destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2Corinthians 10:5)

The greatest convergence of science and religion in history was God taking on human DNA 2,000 years ago. That astounding historical event is the proper integration point for science and religion.

There is no conflict between Jesus and Science. He created both nature and the minds that strive to penetrate its mysteries. However, the conflict between Jesus and Scientism is irreconcilable.

Contend earnestly for the faith. (Jude 1:3)

Questions to Ponder

1. What can you do to resist the pressure to accept the dictates of science outside the proper realm of science?
2. What question can you prepare to ask when someone claims the authority of science for a non-scientific claim?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Read the prequel:
Was Jesus an Evolutionist?

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday April 25, 2018 A.D.

“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” – Jesus (John 3:12)