The Christian Faith

The Old Testament of the Holy Bible gives many examples which provide modern man with guidelines for the use of scientific method. Millam (2008) explains that there is an underlying order in nature demonstrated by the patterns and regularities of God’s creations. These regularities can be seen in the forces of nature and are stable throughout space and time (Millam, 2008). The original classification of species, use of precise measurement, and even the first account of scientific research, are all included in the Old Testament of the Holy Scriptures. God gives scientists some clear frames of reference for seeking knowledge and truth in science.

In Aloys Hütterman’s essay, he gives excuses for the destructive behavior of mankind. He explains how the actions of mankind are actually God’s way. One way he does this is through the logic that God created everything, meaning that everything he has created can not be gods themselves. As these creations are not gods, scientists have permission to study them and use them as a tool to understand God and fulfill his commandments.

"When the question is asked, what we are to believe in regard to religion, it is not necessary to probe into the nature of things, as was done by the Greek scientists. We need not be alarmed should the Christian not know the number of elements; the motion of the heavenly bodies; the shape of the cosmos; the species of animals and plants; the nature of stones, rivers, and mountains; about time and distance; the signs of coming storms; or about a thousand other things which these scientists have either found out, or think they have found out.

In Christianity, the external reality, the universe, is created by the God from out of nothing, which works orderly according to the natural laws in a harmony (Sire, 2006, p. 32). Christian perspective of God’s character is closely reflected in God’s creations, gives an establishment for science, morality and reason (Sire, 2006, p. 32).

As William Paley once wrote, “There cannot be design without a designer; contrivance without a contriver; arrange without anything capable of arranging.” In our world today, the ultimate designer, contriver and arranger would be considered God to many. Although the existence of God has consistently been debated throughout the course of time, the cause of debate has almost always returned to science. Considering the Design Argument and the Anthropic Principle, science can be seen to simultaneously support and go against the existence of God depending on one’s own perception of the topic.

The Article Are Scientist Playing God? It Depends on Your Religion, by John Tiereny goes into

Theistic evolutionists concur that God placed the world in motion but disregard the personal creation of mankind in Genesis. Instead they suggests that non-living organisms transformed into living, breathing organisms. In the collaborative article An Archaeal Origin of Eukaryotes Supports Only Two Primary Domains of Life, written and edited by Tom Williams, Peter G. Foster, Cymon J. Cox, and T. Martin Embley, this group of scientists accredit creation to eukaryotes and prokaryotes. This claim holds the potential to alter the entire backdrop of the purpose of faith in

Biology professor Kenneth Miller’s central argument is that science should not undermine one’s faith in God. “Science itself does not contradict the hypothesis of God.” He makes this argument by stating that science explains the things that God has made and in doing so, trying to prove the existence of God through natural or scientific means does not make sense. Once the supernatural is introduced, there is no way to use nature, thus science, to prove or disprove its existence. Miller argues that science gives us the window to the dynamic and creative universe that increases our appreciation of God’s work. The central point of his argument is evolution. Creationists, of the intelligent design movement, argue that nature has irreducible complex systems that could have only arisen from a creature or designer. This theory is widely supported among devout believers in the Bible and God. Miller argues that if they truly believe this, completely ignoring hard facts and theories, then they are seeking their God in the darkness. Miller, a Christian himself, believes that this “flow of logic is depressing”; to fear the acquisition of knowledge and suggest that the creator dwells in the shadows of science and understanding is taking us back to the Middle Ages, where people used God as an explanation for something they have yet to or want

How can a Christian be a Biologist? In my opinion, a Christian can be a biologist, because in this field of science you are surrounded by proof of a spectacular creation. Biologists can see the perfect alignment of the universe in the creation of cells, new life, and systems that are so intricately detailed with checks and balances. For example, this can be seen in cell division or apoptosis. I can answer this question of how a Christian can be a Biologist with a quote from the book Biology Through the Eyes of Faith by Richard T. Wright that says, “The Scriptures proclaim that creation declares its maker, and that the testimony of the creation is so strong that we are without excuse if we do not see in it the evidence of a Creator God.” Even though biologists can see the magnificence of God’s world through their work, it is also easy to see The Fall. We have recently learned about proto-oncogenes, oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes. The mutations in genes that cause cancer or misregulation could be signs of The Fall, in how they affect an individual and their family’s lives. Although I believe in God, the Savior, I shamefully have doubts about creation. I look at my doubts as tests of faith, and pray that I will surmount these tests, and that through biology, I can gain an even stronger faith in God. It seems as if some modern scientists use science to disprove faith, but for me, science proves faith.

Christians may disagree amongst themselves on how the universe and the earth were created, but the communal belief between the groups is that God created everything. The timeline and the process in which it was done are debated between the various groups of Christianity. In Genesis we discover that it takes God six days to create the earth, heaven, universe, and all the species found on Earth (Genesis 1-2). In the beginning God is introduced as the creator and he reins supreme over his creations. Later on in the Bible God’s attributes and characteristics are presented to the reader. In addition to being the creator he is also all knowing, enteral, loving, compassionate, forgiving, and good (Diffey, 2014,). In Christianity God is the Father and mankind is referred too as his flock. God enjoys walking with, conversing, and tending to his flock. God created

“Describe and trace the invention and diffusion of one important philosophy or religion studied through week 3 of this class. How and why do you believe this philosophy or religion changed as it entered a new area and interacted with new people?

As stated by Groothuis (2011) “But Christianity, on the contrary, depicted God as a rational, responsive, dependable, and omnipotent being and the universe as his personal creation, thus having a rational, lawful, stable structure, awaiting human comprehension” ( p. 102). All that is in the universe, except for God Himself, is God’s creation. Therefore, my Christian worldview begins with the existence of a God who is the personal and creator of everything we survey. Knowing that God is the cause for creation, brings perspective to my life. It establishes the place of a great being that took time, out of time and space to create the world in which I exist. A world meticulously designed to work as one connected string. How can a world be fine-tuned with irreducible complexity, without a designer?

When God created human beings, He created them in His image. Adam sinned and the image was corrupted. However, Jesus, who is the perfect image of God, will restore us to the original image of God. God is the Intelligent Designer and has displayed His intelligence in the microscopic world of cells and molecules. Humans display God’s glory and all the different types of cells and molecules display His glory as well. Just like humans, cells make mistakes. However, they will be perfected whenever we are perfected.

"Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason." Stephen Gunter writes, "Perhaps no theological topic has been the focus of more debate with The United Methodist Church over the past quarter century than the 'Wesleyan Quadrilateral '" . It should be noted that John Wesley never used the term Wesleyan Quadrilateral to describe his process of theological affirmation. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral has been misinterpreted to mean four equal sides; however, it was never meant to be understood that way. Scripture is always the most essential authority for determining our beliefs and practices. The Bible was so important to John Wesley 's faith that he referred to himself as homo unius libri or a man of one book (The Bible). John Wesley believed that Scripture was the primary source for theological reflection and Scripture should be read and interpreted in context and as a whole.

God being in control and intimately involved with His creation is essential to our faith as Christians. This belief impacts all Believers regardless of vocation however it is especially important for those of us going into ministry as pastors. “I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up asking God to do His work through me.”(Hudson Taylor) Throughout all of Scripture we see God alluding to the truth that He created all things and is at work in all things and ultimately it will be God who ends all things. In Genesis 1:1 we see God speak the whole universe into existence and begin to form all things into being. Initially the earth was void and without form until God began His work bringing order to what He