title: giving the whole truth- the limits of science text: luke 16:19-31 theme: when science is seen...

TITLE: Giving the Whole Truth-

The Limits of ScienceTEXT: Luke 16:19-31

THEME: When science is seen as the exploration of God’s creation the universe makes sense.

Richard Dawkins

Jesse’s father to Rich May

“He started telling me about the fact that he had been taking this biology class and as a result there were a lot of things that really challenged his belief and kinda shaken him and made him lose his faith in what he believed in. [He] specifically mentioned, too, that his professor recommended that he get ‘The God Delusion’ by Richard Dawkins.”

Rich May

“He had an instant realization that his nephew ended his life... because he completely lost hope in the purpose of life.”

Study from John West

• 59-70% of young people who regularly attend church during their teen years will drop out of organized religion at least during part of their early adult life.



• Some of their disengagement relates to intellectual questions (including questions about science).



• Some of their disengagement relates to intellectual questions (including questions about science).

• Science appears to play an important role in their decision to leave the faith.

I. The Premise: Science and Faith are in conflict- Science always trumps faith.


A. Science is the observation of physical laws and properties that can explain everything.



B. Unguided, purposeless, directionless and random natural processes can explain origins.




C. Science deals with objective facts.




C. Science deals with objective facts.

D. Christianity suppressed the advancement of science- science must ultimately win out.

Allen Chapman“I would argue, that modern science is child of Judeo-Christian, Greco-Roman parentage…”

II. The Problem

A. Few believers have an issue with science- even young earth creationists.

II. The Problem


B. The issue is naturalism and a view of origins that excludes God.

Phillip Johnson

“Naturalism is a metaphysical doctrine, which means simply that it states a particular view of what is ultimately real or unreal. According to naturalism, what is ultimately real in nature,

Phillip Johnson

“that consist of the fundamental particles that make up what we call matter and energy, that together with the natural laws govern how those particles behave… Nature is all there is, at least as far as they are concerned.”

II. The Problem


B. The issue is naturalism and a view of origins that excludes God

C. Both deal with objective facts and both deal with subjective faith

II. The Problem




D. Science and Faith are not two separate realms- all truth is God’s truth

II. The Problem




D. Science and Faith are not two separate realms- all truth is God’s truth

E. In regard to science it has rewritten history to fit its narrative.

III. The Biblical Response: The universe makes greater sense when we know its

Creator.

Phillip Johnson, “Reason in the Balance.” pg. 48

“Of course a social order should be founded on reality and not unreality, but if God exists, a naturalistic order is founded on unreality and nationalistic rationalism is an illusion…

Phillip Johnson, “Reason in the Balance.” pg. 48

“Of course science likes to assume that the cosmos is rationally understandable and not arbitrary, but how to better guarantee a rational cosmos than to recognize that it was created by a rational mind? If such a creator really does exist, then science itself is ignoring the most important aspect of reality.”

III. The Biblical Response: The universe makes greater sense when we know its

Creator.

A. Science works only because God holds things together.

Colossians 1:15-17

“15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

III. The Biblical Response: The universe makes greater sense when we know its Creator.


B. Science is the exploration of God’s creation.

Psalm 19:1-4

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

III. The Biblical Response: The universe makes greater sense when we know its Creator.


B. Science is the exploration of God’s creation.

C. The problem is not lack of evidence- the problem is a prejudice toward the evidence.

Luke 16:19-31

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. “

Luke 16:19-31

“23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. “

Luke 16:19-31

“26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

Luke 16:19-31

“29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

A spokesperson at McConnell Air Force Base

"The tower was in contact with the pilot … [but] the guy had no clue where he was landing." The pilot told the McConnell radio tower, "Apparently, uh, we, uh, have landed at Beech Factory Airport”

2 Corinthians 5:7

“For we walk by faith, not by sight”

Habakkuk 2:4“The just shall live by faith”

Joe McKeever “Those who trot out that lame excuse that “I

don’t do anything by faith” should open their eyes and use their brains. They do a thousand things a day by faith. So this excuse holds no water. People disbelieve in Jesus Christ because they have made up their minds not to believe. And they do that because to admit that He is Lord would require wholesale lifestyle changes, and that’s what they are unwilling to do.”

title: giving the whole truth- the limits of science text: luke 16:19-31 theme: when science is seen...

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