Can You Squeeze A Dinosaur Into Your Bible?
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: It is a sad state of affairs that two wonderful disciplines, science and religion, are at odds with one another. A sermon of reconciliation is mandated.
We have a history of animosity between science and religion. Religion is fearful that science is proving some theological tenets wrong and setting up an encouragement for atheism. When religion retaliates, science loses respect for religion. A classic example ensued when Galileo proclaimed the earth was round and not the center of the universe, not even the center of the solar system. Pope Urban threatened Galileo with torture if he did not recant (The Making of the Modern Mind, by John Randall, p. 235). However, the conflict that disturbs the conservative church the most is the threat evolution seems to be posing to creation, as Genesis apparently understands it. Three statements may be in order as an effort towards resolution.
a. The Bible is not a book of science. The Bible is not interested in science, but rather it is concerned with religious ideas. We're mistaken if we think the Genesis writers were concerned with everything being created in six days. That was not important to them. What mattered was that there was a God responsible and God had plans for you and me. Many Christians are not aware there are two creation stories in Genesis. The first story, found in 1:1--2:4a (denoted by the use of "God"), was written about 850 B.C. and describes the process as having the animals being created and then people, the way science tells it. The second story, found in 2:4b-25 (denoted by the use of "Lord God"), has a person created before the animals. When considering the matter of time, the first story does not have "days" being created until the fourth day. Couple that with the idea that for God a thousand years could be compared to a day (Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8) and you see that time was relative.
b. Scientists are theologians. Since scientists are studying God's creation, the universe, I consider them to be theologians. They are in the process of seeking to understand how God worked in the past and is working today through natural laws. Not everyone in the science community recognizes God in the process, but many do. However, all of them are learning about God, whatever they think.
c. Theologians should be scientists. Many of the early scientists were, in fact, clergy or studied to be clergy. Clergy of today, if they are serious about knowing God, should be part-time scientists. I find science to be exciting and the more I know about the universe, the more wonderful God and creation seem. God works by evolution. If we eliminated evolution from the historical process, we would take the heart out of astronomy, geology, anthropology, biology, botany, and other scientific fields. Creation did not end with "six" days (however many eons that represents), but is still in process.
We have a history of animosity between science and religion. Religion is fearful that science is proving some theological tenets wrong and setting up an encouragement for atheism. When religion retaliates, science loses respect for religion. A classic example ensued when Galileo proclaimed the earth was round and not the center of the universe, not even the center of the solar system. Pope Urban threatened Galileo with torture if he did not recant (The Making of the Modern Mind, by John Randall, p. 235). However, the conflict that disturbs the conservative church the most is the threat evolution seems to be posing to creation, as Genesis apparently understands it. Three statements may be in order as an effort towards resolution.
a. The Bible is not a book of science. The Bible is not interested in science, but rather it is concerned with religious ideas. We're mistaken if we think the Genesis writers were concerned with everything being created in six days. That was not important to them. What mattered was that there was a God responsible and God had plans for you and me. Many Christians are not aware there are two creation stories in Genesis. The first story, found in 1:1--2:4a (denoted by the use of "God"), was written about 850 B.C. and describes the process as having the animals being created and then people, the way science tells it. The second story, found in 2:4b-25 (denoted by the use of "Lord God"), has a person created before the animals. When considering the matter of time, the first story does not have "days" being created until the fourth day. Couple that with the idea that for God a thousand years could be compared to a day (Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8) and you see that time was relative.
b. Scientists are theologians. Since scientists are studying God's creation, the universe, I consider them to be theologians. They are in the process of seeking to understand how God worked in the past and is working today through natural laws. Not everyone in the science community recognizes God in the process, but many do. However, all of them are learning about God, whatever they think.
c. Theologians should be scientists. Many of the early scientists were, in fact, clergy or studied to be clergy. Clergy of today, if they are serious about knowing God, should be part-time scientists. I find science to be exciting and the more I know about the universe, the more wonderful God and creation seem. God works by evolution. If we eliminated evolution from the historical process, we would take the heart out of astronomy, geology, anthropology, biology, botany, and other scientific fields. Creation did not end with "six" days (however many eons that represents), but is still in process.
