Of Science and Faith

One theme that kept coming up during the Discovery Channel's six-hour documentary film "When We Left Earth" was the theme of greatness -- especially the greatness of mankind. "Look at all the amazing things we did in the 1960s," the documentary film boasted. "Is there anything we cannot do?" The theme found within the film raises up the modern age-old question: does science refute faith, or vice-versa? Is it true that there is nothing mankind cannot know, see or do when we put our minds to something?

I'm reminded of the story of the tower of babel, recorded in Genesis 11. At that time, mankind was of one language and centered in one general location. They started making bricks and mortar for construction and decided to build a major city with a major tower that would "reach the heavens." They thought there was nothing they couldn't do. They were out to trumpet themselves. But God looked down upon their building project and confused their language, scattering them across the face of the earth into various people groups. The Sovereign never lost His sovereignty.

Here is one aspect of the relationship of faith and science that I believe rings true in eternity as it does in time: There are two types of knowledge that exist in space, time and eternity. One type of knowledge can be discovered, explored, and dispensed. It is within the grasp of mankind to uncover because God has allowed it to be ours. Science is exploring this vast expanse of knowledge in increasing measure every day. Genetics, forensics, ecology, zoology, etc. are all within our grasp. The science of space is within our grasp.

But the second type of knowledge is not within our grasp. There is information that we will never discover -- stuff that we will never know. We cannot know it. It is knowledge reserved by God Himself and held by our Sovereign in exclusivity. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts," God states in Isaiah 55:8-9. "Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?" the prophet tells his audience in chapter 40. God withholds certain knowledge for Himself. And He does not share it.

So how does this relate to the NASA special? It puts the achievements of mankind into perspective. There ARE things we cannot know -- things we cannot achieve. All knowledge is NOT within our grasp. There will be unanswered questions and unsolved equations. What those scientists did in the 1960s in getting America into space (same for the Russians) was remarkable based upon what had previously been done (or not been done). I still get goosebumps thinking about what they accomplished. But any knowledge we obtain from science was given to us by a God who cannot be fully known or understood. I said FULLY known. Anything true that science discovers was given to us by God. It is knowledge we can know. Thus, we should praise the God who gave us the knowledge instead of lifting up ourselves.

Make sense?