I’m one of those people who really enjoy watching the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, the Science Channel; well, you get the idea. Anyway, I am always amazed at those shows exploring the solar system and the universe.
There are some people out there who believe that Christianity (and to some degree, any major religion) is merely a crutch for the “Intellectually Challenged,” that any logical person would see past the futility and foolishness of the God idea. Some of these people will say, “You’ve seen the science, you’ve looked at the complexity of the universe. How can you believe in God?”
Well, for me, that complexity, that grandeur, further solidifies my own faith in God, not diminishing it in the least. For me, when I watch shows like this, when I contemplate the universe, and the science involved in “understanding” it, I think to myself, “I knew my God was big, but WOW!”
The entire concept of everything accidentally happening, that all things just happened to work out perfectly to create life, that gradual change and development has created the myriad species existing today, is ludicrous to me. While it might not be a brilliant intellectual exercise, or not well written, allow me to explain. I recently watched a program on Earth’s moon, and frankly, I was astounded at some of the things that were proposed by the show and the scientists involved in it. Here is the overall synopsis, as closely as I can remember it:
A few billion years ago, a planet smaller than Earth but larger than the moon collided with the Earth, just perfectly enough not to totally destroy either. Parts of the Earth and this smaller planet were blown off and accreted (fused together) to form a moon, perfectly designed to compliment the Earth. This moon we see in our sky perfectly regulates our planet’s orbit and rotation and tides, perfectly lies between us and the sun, perfectly hiding the much larger sun during an eclipse. Every four weeks, without fail, the moon’s phases perfectly come and go. Scientists tell us that the moon is slowly getting further and further away from Earth, at the rate of about an inch a year. And, perhaps most stunning of everything, all of this takes place at exactly the right distance from the sun to keep life going strong: not too close, not too far, for a planet that has absolutely everything to ensure our existence.
Seems a bit too ordered for me to believe it is all random. In fact, I would have to have much more faith than I do right now to believe that.
I believe we should try to understand the world around us. I think we should expand on the knowledge we have gained in the past so we can improve our future. But where my view and the majority of scientific and worldly views differ is this: I don’t believe this quest for knowledge should try to destroy our belief in God, but rather, reinforce it.
I think there are many things in this life, in this world, that cannot be explained. But a lack of explanation (or the presence of a “scientific” explanation) should not stand as evidence disproving God.
The Lord has allowed us to live in an extraordinary time. Never before in history have we had so many opportunities, so many wonderful pieces of technology, so much medical knowledge. If He permits, we will continue to advance. But as we advance scientifically, technologically, socially, let us not allow the natural tendency to marginalize God take hold in us. More knowledge does not mean less God. The two, human intelligence and the Divine, are not at odds with each other. They should compliment and reinforce one another.
If Christianity is a crutch, so be it. I know I, for one, could not take a step without Jesus within me, giving me the strength. He has given me what intelligence I have. How can I betray that gift by denying the One who bestowed it upon me? Jesus is more than a crutch to me; He is the One who gives me the strength to stand and walk what little I can on my own.
I need Him. To me, nothing has meaning without Him, and this universe would be a pretty lonely place if He weren’t here. All of those awe-inspiring pictures of the universe, of distant galaxies and planetary nebulae and the great unknown, say to me simply one thing . . .
What a mighty God we serve!
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