In the Beginning
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
During Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearing, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn asked her to define a woman. The judge replied, “I’m not a biologist” (Dastagir, paragraph 2). Reference: Dastagir, A. (2022) Marsha Blackburn asked Ketanji Brown Jackson to define ‘woman.” Science says there’s no simple answer. usatoday.com
Science is a blessing on many levels. We fly in jets because of science. Science helps prolong life and improve its quality. We communicate with handheld devices because of science. Breathtaking structures stand tall because of science. Science continues to advance and improve.
The Bible mentions science. Jesus endorsed medical science when He said, “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick;” (Luke 5:31) When the Babylonians captured Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar wanted the smartest Jews to serve him. He wanted young people “…skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science,” (Daniel 1:4, boldface added)
Yet many agree with Judge Jackson that it is up to a scientist to define a woman. Do some people depend too much on science and not enough on reason? Or do they wish not to offend those who believe in more than two genders and that gender is fluid?
The Bible speaks about men and women: “…he [God] which made them at the beginning made them male and female,” (Matthew 19:4) Yet it does not define either one. It does not even define God. It simply starts, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
We do not even need a Bible to know God is sovereign and powerful: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood [not by the Bible, but] by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;” (Romans 1:20)
Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” It does not say that the fool questions God’s existence, but he DENIES God’s existence. With all the evidence God has given of Himself, a man who says from the heart that there is no God is a fool in God’s sight. If a man will not believe in God because God’s existence is not proven by science, such a man has made science his ultimate authority. In a sense, then, science–and therefore, scientists–are his gods.
God uses people of science to contribute invaluably to our world. Yet scientists are human and imperfect, and no decent scientist would think his or her education elevates them to godlike status.
All people, highly educated or not, are also sinners whom Jesus loves and for whom He died, was buried, and rose again. If you want to see how to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 5/23/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822