The secular story of man's origins is a simple equation: slime + time = the world as we know it. Sometime in the primordial depths of history, an amoeba-like being crawled out of the sludge and into posterity. Sludgy-boy was the father of all that is, and through limitless permutations and evolutions his little one-celled self became the majestic Living World with its kingdoms, genera, and species.
God's Word tells a different story. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God made man, the planets, Earth, rivers, the ozone layer, electricity, bullfrogs, and volcanic activity. It's a strange inversion from the story atheists and naturalists like to tell—where they posit the simplest form gave birth to increasing complexity, Christians believe the most complex Being in the universe created a plethora of simpler living things out of absolutely nothing.
But arguing "Creationism" vs. Evolution is not the soul or substance of science. If atheists want to waste their breath, effort, and money trying to "prove" a phony theory, let them. Not that we shouldn't counter their claims, but we have to keep in mind that the battle is spiritual, not scientific and not even merely ideological.
To contrast, real science—observation, hypothesis, theory, and correction—glorifies God by attributing to Him the honor and praise for everything learned about the world, its inhabitants, and its mechanics. For Christians, it should be a joyful and positive pursuit, not simply a retort against secular rebellion. Man is commanded by God to subdue the Earth, to care for it, develop it, and use it, and our duty is to see that done in ways that honor Him.
It's essential that we not think of phenomena in isolated terms. The laws of physics aren't true by themselves, they're true because God decreed them and sustains them. The planets and stars don' crash into each other because mathematical equations keep them on trajectory; God keeps them on their appointed paths, and the equations only describe their movement.
Technology is often equated with science, but technological development is only one aspect of science. It's more broad than we tend to think, too—it's not just electronics and iProducts, it includes the wheel, shovels, stickframe construction, and gas stoves. Our responsibility is to make and use technology in ways that don't negatively affect the rest of God's creation, that help others, and that glorify the Creator of all things.
The world is a fascinating and wonderful place. Christians have more basis than anyone for saying this, since it isn't simply a randomized collection of cells and life forms but the creative work of God. Our study of science and nature should reflect this knowledge, and guide us in our research and development. Our prayer is that increased scientific knowledge will translate to increased thanksgiving and praise of the Maker of all things.
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Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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