Why do we study science?

God desires our worship

There are many reasons we study how the world works and all the things in it, but is there anything extra for a Christian?  When you watch a nature show or read about animals, space and other things, did you know that there will probably be something big missing?

The Bible has a lot to say about what unbelievers will focus on and what we can do to show that we are God’s.  Here’s what the apostle Paul said about them: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Romans 1:20-23

What’s this saying?  All people can see that someone far greater than humans made everything, but they didn’t want to worship God and be thankful, so they worship people, birds, animals and reptiles.

So what do we see on evolutionary shows and books?  They love to talk about how amazing the adaptations a plant or animal has, how huge and beautiful things in space are, but the only thing they will praise for having done this is Nature and Natural Selection.  This is exactly what Paul was talking about even though people now don’t bow down and pray to the idols they’ve made.

Ok, so what does God want from us?  God wants (and deserves) our praise.  When we see how big and beautiful space is and think how small we are, we can praise God for how big and beautiful He is.  David did this in Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?.

God often points out how great His creation is to draw us to worship and trust Him.  He did with Job for four chapters!  Reading Job 38-41 is very exciting because you have God Himself describing animals and things that bring Him honor because He created them.  BTW the last two chapters are talking about dinosaurs and sea monsters; definitely some of my favorite readings.

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: Isaiah 42:5

When God wanted people to trust His prophecies (of non-Jews finding Jesus) in Isaiah 42:5, He talked about stretching out the heavens.  Earlier in 40:22 He uses that same act of creation to show how stupid worshiping idols is compared to worshipping God.  There are twelve places in the Old Testament that talk about God stretching out the heavens.

Scientists didn’t figure out the universe is expanding, just like God told us, until the 1920s.  Even Einstein had earlier tried to work out a ‘static’ universe theory until the things scientists were seeing in space forced them to rethink their ideas.

The Expanding Universe

Back on topic… so when we see how awesome, jaw-dropping, mind-boggling, weird beyond anything we could dream up the universe is, what shall we do?  Stop and praise the One who thought of all these things, designed how to get them to work and SPOKE them into being.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.Revelation 4:11