Because it is a rainy Monday, and since I’ve much to do, here is a re-post made from the car.
Proud Doubter
Last night I was scrolling through the Facebook posts of a friend. Actually, I wouldn’t exactly call the person a “friend” as much as a former acquaintance. The person I used to know as a young, vibrant Christian student, one who boldly proclaimed his faith, has now become proud doubter.
Look, let me be the first to say that moments of doubt are not uncommon, and far be it from me to cast judgment on those who do. I have had my moments of doubt, and there have been many times when I’ve had to pray, “Lord, help my unbelief.” But one thing I’ve never done is boast about my doubting. G0d forbid!
Yet, as I scrolled through the posts and the comments of my young friend of years gone by, what I saw was one who was proud of the fact that he felt free enough to doubt, even to allow his doubts to affect what he believed about God.
A Blown Mind
Come to find out, my young friend has been doing some study. He has become fascinated with astronomy, specifically the “Big Bang.” As many have done, he has proudly ditched the supposed illiterate belief in a Young Earth creation and taken off full bore down the road of “true” science. He has been blown away by the scientific “evidence” that led him not only to doubt his earlier beliefs, but to look forward to other areas in which his understanding of God may be changed.
In other words, because of what my young friend has now learned, he is looking forward to the de-grandeurization of his God.
Did God?
If you will remember, it was Satan, in the Garden of Eden, who posed the first doubt-inducing question, “Did God…?” This led to Eve questioning the motives of her Creator.
Unfortunately, developments in modern science have been used in the very same way to create doubt, to cause believers to question the abilities of their Creator. They look at the marvelous works of creation and ultimately conclude that it was natural forces which created what we now see, not God. By doing so, they unwittingly fall prey to the gradual undermining of their faith, going from one “enlightening” conclusion to another, saying: “Well, if what I believed there is not true, then what else about God is not true?”
They proudly march forward with a presupposition of doubt leading the way, redefining God and His creation.
The Declaration
Credit: NASA, ESA and Allison Loll/Jeff Hester (Arizona State University). Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble)
But here’s the thing: Psalm 19:1 says that “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Even more, Psalm 97:6 says, “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.”
Is the universe expanding? Yes, it is. But what does that necessarily mean about God? The universe is expanding, and men are made up of the same elements found in stars. Does this mean that believing God created the heavens, including man, “as is” is out of the realm of possibility?
The God I serve is so big, so powerful, so awesome, so grand that when He said, “Let there be…” it was. There’s no reason to doubt, even if it doesn’t all make sense.
After all, the grandeur of creation was created out of nothing. If God could do that, then nothing is impossible for Him. Science doesn’t have to disprove anything; it should be declaring.
I’m a proud believer.
The Recovering Legalist 
Seems Scientific texts need revising every couple of years. Evolution is still a theory and don’t get me started on Global Warming/climate change. God’s Word has never been revised and has stood stronger and longer than any other text!
True dat!
The story of your young friend is exactly why Andy Stanley has chosen to suggest a different path, even though it has landed him in considerable hot water.
Stanley believes the problem is that people like this young man anchor their belief in “The Bible says…” but when the first few chapters of Genesis are challenged, then everything starts to collapse like the proverbial house of cards.
He suggests that we should instead anchor our children’s faith in the resurrection of Jesus. He sees this as a more secure foundation which, while it will still be challenged by disbelievers and skeptics, isn’t going away any time soon.
I’d be willing to agree to disagree with a young person on Genesis if it meant they still believe in the deity of the risen Christ.
If I had to choose, yes, the resurrection of Jesus would be more important. But I am one of the ones who’ve been turning up the eye of the stove on which Stanley’s water pot has been steaming. As a former fan of his I have been more and more discouraged with some of his choices. But thanks for sharing your thoughts “out loud.” 😊
If science is the foundation of our belief and we set out to prove creation through science or at least try to expand the biblical account of creation to meet our understanding gained through science then I assume we must also try to scientifically prove walking on water, resurrection from the dead, the blind receiving sight etc. – although checking your brain at the door is not an option neither is full explaining, through science, the miraculous works of God
True. The foundation of our belief should be in the character of God Himself: God cannot lie; His word is true. Can science explain the resurrection? No. The new birth? No. Being indwelt by the Spirit? Absolutely not. But are these things real? Yes. Can science 🔬 EVER reproduce any of it, especially the resurrection of Jesus? Nope. So, by definition some things are going to remain unscientific, but that doesn’t mean they’re not true.