"Science vs. God"

CORE-RELATE! Some people say science cannot prove the existence of God. We don't have to dig in deep to know - to believe - God. As a matter of fact science is just one of the many evidences to God's existence.

This message was e-mailed to me by one of my friends...

Science vs. God

'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.'

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely. '

'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'

'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!'

He considers for a moment.

'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues, 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him.. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'
'Er...yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student : 'From...God. .'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes.'

'So who created evil?'
The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student: 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'.
We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that.
There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.
Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat.
We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy.

Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.

Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?'

The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

Pass this on if you love Jesus.

NU-Joy!

Initially, the band was named 'N-Joy' but Wendell, our leader, discovered that it was the name of a dance group something-something in Czechoslovakia. So he changed it to NU-Joy (which kinda reminds me of a cosmetics line). Suffice it to say, both N-Joy and NU-Joy (or even NU-Skin) embody newness. And core-relating it to the Christian's spiritual walk, I must say that it bespeaks of the joy that we gained the very first time we encountered Christ in our lives; the joy that we gained when we re-committed or re-dedicated our lives to Him; the joy that we gain everytime we serve Him wholeheartedly, knowing fully well that it is only when we let ourselves be stripped to the barest minimum that He can fully use us in whatever way He sees fit for His name to be glorified.

I have no formal training in voice nor music and there were times when I felt that perhaps it's 'premature' to be up there on stage with the band when there are other Christians in CCF who are more spiritually mature and more talented and equipped in that area of giftedness. I had my fears, I had my own "What ifs" and "I am not worthy" moments but through prayer and the encouragement of my Christian friends, it dawned on me once again that "There is no turning back." When I got hold of the shaker, the tambourine and the microphone, I knew it wasn't me anymore but the power of the Holy Spirit moving me to make a joyful noise and sing. It isn't about me nor the band but all about God and I knew - I KNOW - and I am convinced, that it is my heaven-bound duty to fulfill His call to be committed in the mission He has set before me by using the gifts He has given me.

Perhaps you might agree with me in saying, "There is no such thing as a shy Christian"? that we cultivate not self-confidence but God-confidence, knowing fully well that there is new joy to be found, waking up to a new day, each day, serving Him and walking with Him.

 "21 Yet this I call to mind
       and therefore I have hope:

 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.

 23 They are new every morning;
       great is Your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:21-23

"Go forth and multiply..."

When God said those words, He meant only good. If I'm not mistaken, those were His words to Noah and his family after the great flood. (Genesis 9:1,7) I remember a pastor saying that drunkards, adulterers, or the plainly irresponsible people shouldn't take those words as heeding God's commands when they 'sow' their seeds by having multiple partners. That is just so absurd and downright blasphemous, right?

The Multiply site and all other online social networks are tools made by humans for the purpose of interaction and it is such a pity when some people misuse or abuse these 'privileges,' by engaging in misleading debates, sinful indulgences or illicit affairs. At some point in time, I too, have been guilty of 'misusing' my privileges. But God's graciousness and loving mercy has made me understand what it truly means to mingle and to share His love and goodness to everybody. It brings joy to my heart knowing that there are sites like this - no matter how virtual - that bridge people with common beliefs and values together.

God has meant something good for everyone of us and I believe that if He has so planned for me to get married, then I will. Otherwise, I shall be single forever and dedicate my life in full service to Him. Whatever the case may be, I must say that I am just enjoying this season of singleness to the fullest, investing my time and resources in activities that make my life worthwhile; in nurturing relationships that help me strengthen and grow in my faith; and in bringing people to experience God's love through the way I go through life each day.

I invite all singles out there who are in the quest for the seemingly elusive 'perfect match,' to check out our CCF Singles group here in Multiply and join us in our 'purposeful waiting' as we "go forth and multiply" the number of single people who believe in God's wisdom and trust His perfect timing for everything.

"If it's meant to be, it can only be good." Natasha Bedingfield