Chapter 2 [8]
SCIENCE AND RELIGION
By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze
Science
Science is a systematic study of nature through examination, testing, and verification. The word Science was derived from the Latin word 'scire', which means “to know.” Science is one of the greatest fields of human endeavor. It is also among the most influential.
At present, different branches of Science investigate everything that can be observed or detected. Science shapes the way we study, understand and relate to the universe, our environments, and other living things. Science classifies all things into living things and non-living things. But to the spirit, all things are living. All things are spirit.
In a vision, I saw a child bend down to pick up a paper. Behold, as the child touched the paper, both turned into spirit.
Religion
Religion is the sacred engagement with what is believed to be a spiritual reality. It is a worldwide phenomenon that plays a major role in all human cultures.
Scientists Do Not Challenge God
Scientists do not challenge God, because they have been empowered by Him to create, innovate and invent. It is the glory of God to conceal things (treasures of life) and that of men to find out hidden things. God gave man dominion at creation. Besides, there are scientific laws and principles in the Bible. Man is a child of God. Only man creates the same way God does. However, time has come for the scientists to consult God in their scientific adventures, and get His approval before certain scientific experiments and innovations.
Scientific Principles In The Bible
There are several scientific facts, which are stated in the Bible. Yet, the Bible was written many years before the scientific age. In this way, the Bible bears evidence that there is a supreme God who is Omniscient.
Since the Bible was written, it has not been considered a scientific book. Still, Science from time to time, end up finding out or confirming the truth stated in the book. Examples would serve to make this clear.
Mendel’s Law of Heredity: Gen. 1: 11-12 states: Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” God destined that the nature and qualities of a tree have to be embodied in the seed. A fact observed and confirmed by Genetics, which is a branch of Biology. When Mendel stated the principle of inheritance, he did not create a new law, but was merely stating what God had commanded into Nature.
Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that, “Action and reaction are equal and opposite” in life. Jesus said the same in Matthew 7:2, “For the measure you give, will be the measure given to you.” In Matthew. 7:12, he stated that “...in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Jesus was saying that, in Nature, whatever you do to others must come back to you. The same point He made clear when Peter drew out his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest, cutting off one of his ears. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
Before Science started to apply the law of action and reaction, the birds used it to fly: the fish used it to swim: and people used it to walk, for no physical movement is possible without its application.
Increase in Knowledge: In Dan. 12: 4, Angel Gabriel told Daniel “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” This prophecy has been fulfilled. The fulfillment continues at present. The twentieth century has witnessed the explosion of knowledge, in diversity and magnitude. Yet, Gabriel spoke of it when the world knew little about Science. Science and Education have caused people to go here and there: the search continues.
Today, the problem of “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”, AIDS, confronts mankind. Everywhere, medical doctors, health officers, government officials, as well as the society, institutions and the public are crying against sexual promiscuity. But when God, through His servants and the Bible, told mankind to refrain from it, they remained adamant. The Bible puts it aptly; “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it leads to death.” (Prov.14: 12).
Predictions and prophecy: Some say that prophecy was of old, and claim that it has no relevance today. Prophecy was indeed of the old. More importantly, it is for the present and for the future. Prophecy is everlasting, for God and His Nature do not change. Mankind may assert that prophecy is no more a reality, but how do we explain the fact that at present mankind predicts Nature and the future, through experiences, forecasts, trends, charts, astrology, calculations, interpolations, statistics, etc. In fact, the ability to predict accurately has now become a standard measure of understanding in Sciences and otherwise.
Research and development: The scientific discoveries, inventions and developments were not there when Jesus said, “Seek and you will find" (Matthew. 7: 7). Nothing has helped man to effect wonderful achievements and developments, if it is not in line with His word that “...He who seeks finds,” (Matthew 7:8). The principle of seeking, asking and knocking is the essence of “scientific inquiry,” which companies call Research and Development, and institutions call project.
Isaiah.42: 9 reads.
“ See, the former things have taken place,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring into being
I announce them to you”.
In John 8:32, Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” What a reality! Indeed, Wonderful. Mankind has been freed from slavery, Dark Age, ignorance, fate and circumstances, by knowledge, which has been increasing. This is a confirmation of God’s statement in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge”.
Today, Psychology and Metaphysics tell us that a man becomes what he usually think of himself. They inform us that thought has the inherent ability to materialize physically. Thus, science confirms the frequent statement of Jesus, “According to your faith be it done to you.” (Matthew 9:29)
Use of silence: It was God who said, “Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) He said this long time ago. Today, Psychology and Metaphysics teach us that silence is the element in which we discover the secrets (hidden treasures) of life and commune with God. Silence is the guardian of wisdom.
Healing and deliverance: It is a reality at present that many of the sick people, who fail to find cure through medical science, have been healed by simple prayers of the ministers of God. This confirms Isaiah.45: 22
“Turn to me and be saved,
All you ends of the earth
For I am God and there is no other”.
It is now a standard practice, widely adopted by medical doctors, to refer sick people to prayer houses.
Creativity has become a very important word in Education and life. Man has created wonders: plane, automobile, television, radio, refrigerator etc. And of all the created things, only man has the ability to create profuse things like God. In other words, the Bible, which was written before Education and Science, is right in asserting than man was created in the image and likeness of God. He is a child of God and is God, just as the lamb is also a sheep.
Science emulates God: What is Science if it is not the study, explanation and utilization of Nature which God has made? It is true that things are being discovered or invented, and named after their respective discoverers and inventors. But scientists do not discover new things. They only come to know what God has already made possible. Before Isaac Newton discovered the law of action and reaction being equal and opposite, the fishes were using it to swim and birds were using it to fly. Before electricity was discovered, lightening has been in manifestation. Before man developed fan, wind and breeze have been in existence. Before the air conditioner was developed, harmattan has been taking place. In fact, in all his endeavours and accomplishments, man is following the footsteps of God, which is Nature. A fact of life is new to a person at the time the person discovers or understands it.
The examples are endlss. Isaiah 45:19 reads:
“I, the Lord, speak the truth;
I declare what is right’’.
And Isaiah 48: 17 states:
‘‘.I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go’’.
I do not wish to make conclusions for you: the facts are evident and irrefutable. Perhaps, the necessity is that the modern man should pay more attention to the word of God, the Bible, and study Nature more and more closely, in silence, in solitude and in meditation.