I Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (kjv)
I was emailed a question as to whether or not a true Christian should be involved in anyway in the sciences. Following is my answer.
A simple "yes," or "no" regarding a Christian's freedom to pursue a career in any science would require the recipient of that answer to rely on my authority. That would be akin to leaning on a broken reed, which if a man leaned on it would pierce his hand. So let's consider some Scripture.
I have found only two places where the word "science" is used in the Bible with the use of my handy dandy complete concordance. I suspect it is accurate, and these are the only two. First in Daniel 1:4, and again in 1Tim 6:20. A serious meditation of the latter of the two verses answers the question your friend has put forth, "Can a true Christian be a biologist or a scientist, because biology follow evolution and it seems a coplete battle against the Bible?"
God, through the Apostle, Paul is here telling Timothy (even pleading with him), to keep that which is committed unto his trust. The letter is a personal letter from Paul to Timothy, but it is more than that. It is also a personal letter from God to us. I believe God is not telling only Timothy, or only preachers, of which class of men Timothy was, to keep that which had been committed unto his trust, but all Christians. That includes you and I. God also listed a couple things we are to do in order to keep that which has been committed to our trust.
First, we are to avoid two types of babblings: profane and vain. Now, it could be argued that if a bablling is profane, it is also vain, and if it is vain, it is also profane. I won't argue with that. In fact I agree with it. However, there are people who would suggest that we are to avoid only those bablings which are both profane and vain, and would make a division between the two definitions. this would have the effect of making it okay to participate in profane babblings that were not vain, and vain babblings that were not profane. In any case, we are to avoid both profane and vain babblings.
The other thing we are to avoid is oppositions of science falsely so called. Here's the meat of the answer to the question. Notice that we are not to avoid all science, rather only that science which is in opposition to something. That something is mentioned earlier in the verse, "that which is committed to thy trust." Ah-ha! Not all science is bad. Only that which is in opposition. What is it that has been committed to our trust? The oracles of God which were first committed to the Jews, and because of their unbelief, to us also. It is the Word of God. It is the whole councel of God from, "In the beginning," to, "Amen," and everything in between. (I just noticed how the word of God starts with the beginning and ends with amen, meaning end. It's very fitting since the word was with God in the beginning, the word was God, and the Word was made flesh, and it is that very same Word of God who said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.") Wow, God is AWESOME!!!!
So, we can see that the only science we are to avoid is that which is in opposition to the holy Word of God; that is, the KJB. As your friend noted in her question, "it seems a complete battle against the Bible." Yet, God is not done speaking about this subject. He goes on to say that any science which is in opposition to the Bible is, "falsely so called." AMEN! There is a true science, and a practice that is called science, but is actually falsely called by that name! Kids that are attending a secular school and go to a science class are actually going to false science, or false biology class. Now, to oppose God is to be in rebellion against Him. A dangerous thing indeed. Moreover, rebellion is as the sin of WITCHCRAFT (1Sam 15:23). I don't have time to fully explore this, but our public school kids are attending classes that teach witchcraft. Is it any wonder that our nation is nigh unto final judgment?
We could stop there, having accomplished what we set out to do, but why? It's so much fun to explore the Word of God, and we have not plummed the depth of riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Nor am I capable of doing so though given all eternity. Praise God! The excitement of hearing, and learning the Word of God will NEVER die! Man, eternity is going to be so much fun!!
What is science. This is really cool. Webster's 1913 dictionary (I don't have access to the 1812) defines it like this: "Accumulated and established knowledge, which has been systematized and formulated with reference to the discovery of general truths or the operation of general laws; knowldege classified and made available in work, life, or the search for truth;; comprehensive, profound, or philisophical knowledge. Especially, such knowledge when it relates to the physical world and its phenomena, the nature, constitution, and forces of matter, the qualities and functions of living tissues, etc.; -- called also natural science, and physical science."
There's more, and all of it proves my next point, but only this is needed. Here's the point, BY DEFINITION SCIENCE IS THE DISCOVERY OF TRUTH. It does not matter if that trut pertains to the natural world, or the supernatural world; the physical world, or the spiritual world. There is no difference in the study of matter, energy, time, space, or any other thing, if it is not truth, it is not science. Of course we already knew that because God said it was, "science falsely so called." I bring that up because even the secular definition of science says the same thing. Those who cling to their lies can not even find solice in their own literature.
The correct answer to the question is ONLY A TRUE CHRISTIAN CAN BE A SCIENTIST.
I would love to explore more in this, and certainly there is more to explore, but I must leave now and talk to my wife, who a I love deeply. Have a great night!
Pressing on,
Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?
