Faith vs. Science (May 2013)

Part 1:

I had an interesting discussion at Lunch with a group of friends on truth and the role Science vs. Faith in this pursuit. Are these 2 mutually exclusive? Thought I would illustrate for me at least the links I see between Science and Faith:

Scientifically Provable:

1) Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in cave in Iran/Iraq around 1945, they have been carbon dated from 300BC up to 50BC , contain entire old testament except for Esther.

2) When comparing the Dead Sea scroll copies of the old testament (Which had been manually copied down through the centuries) to later copies of the old testament copied down through the centuries that had been found around 900AD, they match almost word for word. (As An FYI, the Old testament was originally written in Aramaic and Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek, so in other words the original Hebrew copies of the Old Testament from 300BC match word for word with the Hebrew copies from 900AD and thus would translate to English versions of the bible (KJV, NASB, NIV, etc. the same).

Faith:

Leads me to believe then that though I can not prove Scientifically that Isaiah was written 800BC, nor can I prove original words in Isaiah match what is found in Dead sea scrolls, given above, I believe it was written then because it says it was, and prior to 1945 the closest I could come was 900AD. I now can get back to 300BC. Who is to say eventually we can not get all the way back to 800BC. I also believe our copy of the old Testament matches the original copies since the copy from 300BC matches the copy from 900AD almost word for word.

The evidence leads me to what I at least consider a reasonable conclusion but it is Faith that takes me the rest of the way.

Scientifically Provable:

1) If we count, There are far more accounts of Jesus life (Gospels, but also many accounts outside the Bible) than there is evidence Ceasar Augustus took Gaul.

2) Our entire calendar is Based on the Date Jesus was Born and His Impact on History in current day stretches the entire globe.

Faith:

While I can not prove Jesus lived beyond a doubt, the Archeological evidence, written accounts, Impact on History lead me to Believe Jesus did indeed live in the time period ascribed to him.

Scientifically Provable:

In Dead Sea scrolls copy, Carbon Dated prior to Historically Documented year of Jesus Birth, these Old testament items were written:

A) In Genesis, there is an account of Abraham being asked to Sacrifice his Only son (through Sarah) Isaac. In the account, God delivers an alternate Sacrifice to take the place of Isaac.

B) Also in Genesis, There is Historical account of the Passover that Jews celebrate today. The Blood of an Innocent Lamb was placed on Doorposts and the Death Angel passed over any home where the Blood was placed.

C) Messiah Birth in Bethlaham predicted in Micah

D) Isaiah chapter 53 is an interesting read and seems to point to what type of Life and Death the Jewish Messiah would have

Faith:

A1) I can not prove it, but by Faith I believe this is a Picture of Later New Testament John 3:16, God the Father letting His Son Jesus be sacrificed instead of us , the Old testament groundwork is seen fulfilled in New Testament. They seem to work together to me.

B1) There is Historical account of the Passover that Jews celebrate today - For me, it is clear the Passover Lamb whose blood saved them from death is a picture of Jesus dying on the cross in the New Testament, but it is Faith that makes me connect these ultimately.

C1) According to Historical records, there was indeed a census that Caused Joseph and Mary to return to Bethleham, so there is a reason this Prophecy was fulfilled, but aside from that, I have Faith it specifically relates to Jesus.

D1) Hard to read Isaiah Chapter 53 and not think this is a Prophesy about Jesus, however, I can not prove it is. It passed a reasonableness test for me, and from there, I take the rest on Faith that this does indeed predict Jesus Death in same manner it is later historically recorded.

So, for me, there is a point where Science ends and Faith begins, they are not mutually exclusive, but they are also not dependent on each other.

I have found as I wrestle through my own Faith and beliefs, Science can get me started, but Science can only take me so far, from there, Faith takes me the rest of the way.

Part 2:

I had an experience Saturday March 16th, 2013 that ties into the Science vs. Faith Discussion I wanted to Share.

I have never in my lifetime Physically seen an Angel lit up in all their Glory, nor have I ever heard an audible voice come out of a burning bush, unlike some of my friends, I do not have the gift of tongues, never the less, by Faith I believe the Holy Spirit directly communicates with me personally. Sometimes it is through Music and Praise worship, Sometimes in a Sermon, Sometimes as I read the Bible, and sometimes in a very odd and unexplainable experience like I had on Saturday night.

Here is what happened:

I took my Daughter Mercy to the "Winterjam" event in Rupp Arena, which is where a group of about 10 Christian contemporary bands put on a concert.

Rupp was almost completely full, about 21,000 people. Tickets were 10$ apiece General Admission, but we paid $15 to get in early.

We got in around 4 to 4:30 and the concert went until 10:30PM.

About 9PM a guy came out and said that while the tickets were $10 as they wanted to make sure the event was affordable and people could get in, that price was not sufficient to cover the cost of all the transportation, renting Rupp, all the bands, staff, etc. As such, they wanted to take up an offering to make up the difference.

So, they passed around KFC Chicken buckets for people to put cash in.

I was sitting about 20 rows up. So I thought, I would like to help, how much should I give.

Then a thought came into my mind, and in my Spirit I perceived it was from God.

The thought was "How Much did you pay to get in here?"

I thought "$15 for me and Mercy, so total of $30"

Then Thought from God was "OK, Give that"

Well, at this point, before we left, I had given my Wife Colleen $90 in cash, Mercy and I had been to Rupp concession stand and got 2 Chicken Sandwiches, 2 bottled waters, 1 giant Pretzel. In Addition I bought her a $2 Poster, $5 Poster, and several CDs.

Bottom Line, I did not even know If I had any money left. So I looked in my Wallet where I keep my cash. I had $10. Next, Knowing that when I had gotten change I had stuffed it in my pockets, I looked in my Right front pocket, I found another $10. So now I am up to $20 out of the $30.

I looked in my Left front Pocket, I had a $5 and four $1 for a total of $9. So now I was up to $29. I looked in both back pockets and had no money.

So I thought, OK, $29, close enough.

Then this thought came into my mind, and Again I felt in my Spirit it was from God "I did not say $29, I said $30!"

By this time, the bucket was about 5 rows from me. I then scrambled and rechecked every pocket. No Money, not even change.

I went back into my Wallet. If you could see it, I have various papers about an inch thick in my Wallet. I looked through them. In the middle of the papers, wedged down towards the bottom of my wallet was a single $1 bill. Now my total was exactly $30, the exact amount of the thought that came into my mind. I looked through the rest of my wallet in every piece of paper to make sure there was no other money hidden. Not a cent!

So:

Science and Provable to everyone:

I was at Rupp Arena and they took up a collection and I put in $30

Science and Provable only to me:

I had no idea how much money I had, and the thought to put exactly $30 came into my mind, and the thought $29 was not sufficient came into my mind.

by Faith:

Now some will say being an accountant, I could keep up with the amount of $ I had in my subconscious through all those transactions, and I would agree that might be possible to explain the $29. However, it is very difficult to explain the $1 wedged down in my wallet for who knows how long. I go with to me the more reasonable answer and accept by Faith that Saturday night God directly spoke to me. Not through an Angel, not in a Burning Bush and not through tongues. God chose to speak directly to my mind and my spirit. It is not provable, it is by Faith I accepted the thoughts were from God. It was by Faith that I went back to search again in my Pockets and Wallet to find the missing $1 and it was by Faith that I fully expected to find it. My Faith was rewarded.

Other things I learn from this and accept by Faith:

God did not put me in a position where I would risk for obeying. I had Gas in my car to get home, a debit card if issues. It was just a very small test of my faith. However, I am thankful for this test. I have in the past failed on tests of Faith, it is comforting to me to know God personally communicates with us, wants a personal relationship with each of us, and God does not give up on us when we fail, but provides us new opportunities to succeed and cheers for us to get it right.

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