The Bible and Science: Unity Not Opposition

By Eddie D. Leach

The author has been a Christian since his youth. Upon discovering a love for science in grade school, he pursued that interest throughout his entire life. Sadly, he found disagreement and conflict between the Christian only and Science only viewpoints. Since he was both a Christian and a scientist, he had to resolve in his mind these differences for his own spiritual and scientific well being.

For more than sixty years, he has carefully formulated the words and concepts in this book that he hopes and prays will help others reach an understanding that both the Bible and the discoveries in science are true and reconcilable. God does not lie to us or mislead us. God is responsible for both His Bible and His Creation. Thus, any conflicts we find in the study of these two revelations from God result from our inability to interpret and understand properly either one or the other, or some of each.

To more fully understand God, one must study both Gods words (the Bible) and the scientific discoveries of the footprints and fingerprints He left during the creation process that we are now able to find and interpret.

We must correlate His words and His works to more fully understand Him. We must always be aware that our first impressions may not be entirely correct and that we must always continue to compare all our findings and interpretations with each other in an effort to seek and achieve the greater truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490853871

Eddie D. Leach

Eddie Dillon Leach, Christian and scientist, has enjoyed leadership roles in Church, college and university teaching, research, and medical product invention, development, and marketing. For over sixty years, he has studied, researched, and formulated in this book what he hopes will help resolve the ancient conflict between science and religion.

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Copyright © 2014 Eddie D. Leach, Ph. D.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-5388-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5389-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5387-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014917420

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/01/2014

Contents

Preface    Why I Wrote This Book

Introduction    A Parable

Chapter 1    The Importance Of True Testimony

Chapter 2    How God Reveals Himself To Us

Chapter 3    God’s Mystery

Chapter 4    What A Study Of God’s Creation Reveals To Us

Chapter 5    What Paul Teaches Us In Romans

Chapter 6    Where Should We Go From Here?

PREFACE

Why I Wrote This Book

After many years of teaching science in the college and university setting and after many years of membership in the Christian Church/Churches of Christ of the Restoration Movement, I am very troubled and perplexed over the various mindsets and opinions in the scientific and religious communities regarding the teachings of the Bible and the discoveries of science and the wonders of God’s creation.

It seems that there are three main, diametrically opposed groups at war with each other, creating a dilemma for human kind.

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The Bible Only Group is made up of those individuals who believe that the creation of the entire universe was done by Jehovah God in six, twenty-four hour days in approximately 4004 BC. This makes the universe a little over 6000 years old. (4004 BC plus AD 2014 equals 6018 years). This discipline teaches very plainly that God was responsible for the creation of the universe and all its components. It doesn’t explain in any detail how all of this was accomplished, but it certainly does tell us who did it.

The Science Only Group is made up of those who have studied extensively one or more of the many fields of science, i. e., biology, geology, paleontology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, astronomy, anthropology, and on and on. Through scientific discoveries made over the past few centuries, a different point of view has arisen. Members of this group believe that the origin of the universe and all its components came into existence over a much longer period of time — billions of years. Through their observations and discoveries, they’ve put together a roadmap or flow chart describing the events in order of their occurrence. They seem to believe that all matter, life forms, energy, space, and time came into existence without any origin or intervention by a supreme being. Most probably do not even believe in the existence of a supreme being. Their charts do not tell who did it, but they are telling us how it was done.

The Bible + Science Group is made up of individuals who’ve studied both the Bible and science. Members of this group, of which I am one, believe that the teachings of the Bible and the discoveries of science should not contradict each other since both have the same origin—God. They believe that many authors were inspired by God to express His thoughts and actions, and these authors then wrote the books of Bible to make a permanent record of them. Members of this group also believe that the study and discoveries of Science depict the power, planning, and majesty of God, just as the Bible does. Since both the Bible and science have their origins in God, there should be no discrepancies or inconsistencies between them. Just as a Bible student can use one part of the Bible to help understand another part, one should be able to use the Bible to help understand and explain science and use science to help understand and explain the Bible, because both of are true revelations from God to man when properly interpreted.

God is not going to lie to or mislead His children. He is always truthful to us whether He is speaking to us through the Bible or through science. If one perceives differences between the Bible and science, both of which are true, then the problem lies in the incorrect interpretation of one or the other of God’s revelations to us, or perhaps some of each. Knowing God is a constantly ongoing process of learning and discovery both in science and in biblical studies. Neither science nor biblical learning has all the answers. Is it even possible, much less probable, that we will ever completely know or understand the entire mind of God in our lifetimes?

There are differences in the purpose of the Bible and science, however. The Bible isn’t a science text and scientific knowledge isn’t the Bible. The Bible explains God’s plan of how His people should live to glorify Him, how to have their sins forgiven, and how to be reconciled to Him. God, who created science, has given us the ability to pursue scientific learning and discover His almighty power, majesty, and knowledge. This endeavor will make our lives much better if used correctly, or much worse if used incorrectly. For example, medicine has relieved untold death and suffering, while modern weapons of mass destruction have caused an immeasurable amount of death and suffering. Our lives are much more comfortable today with the earthly conveniences made possible through science.

But, while science doesn’t reveal any plan for our salvation or the proper relationship we should have with the Creator, it certainly does show the power, majesty, and supremacy of God. This aspect alone should help reinforce our faith in Him and hopefully help us realize that He cares for us and has a plan for each of our lives. It’s through careful study of both the Bible and science that we can more completely know and understand all of His knowledge and revelations to us.

This concept tells both who created and how it was done.

Some points to ponder:

Is this dilemma part of God’s plan and does it reflect His wishes for humankind?

What is the cause or origin of these differences in beliefs and opinions?

Should these differences be resolved?

Can these differences be resolved? If they can be resolved, how?

What harm is done if they aren’t resolved?

Are some of God’s children being misled or confused by these differences?

Will some of God’s children lose their salvation because of this dilemma?

Who will be responsible for the loss of their salvation?

What will be the fate of those who mislead some of God’s little ones?

As Jesus said,

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matt. 18:6 NIV)

And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. (Mark 9:42 NIV)

Who has the responsibility to make sure that they are teaching others the truth?

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15 NIV)

Since the New Testament Canon didn’t exist when these words were written, could Paul have been inspired to use the phrase,