My area of expertise seems to be the assurance of salvation since I have backslid so many times and have had to repent and do the first things over and go back to square one so to speak ("I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely"). Sometimes I have compared myself to other Christians and have been discouraged, e.g. when they say they hear God's voice audibly and I don't, I think something is wrong. It is not just a matter of curiosity, but for our well-being.
We are commanded to seek assurance: "Let us draw near to God with full assurance of faith;" "Be diligent to make your calling and election sure..." "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith, test yourselves...." It seems like I have been saved many times, which I know is not biblical. I have a tendency to compare myself with others and wonder if I should be experiencing the same thing e.g., hearing audible voices from God.
I know the best assurance is that which comes from a holy and obedient life per Is. 32:17, which says, "The fruit of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance." Chuck Swindoll adds that only obedient Christians can have assurance. Disobedience and consequent chastisement take away one's feeling of the joy of salvation and one may doubt his position in Christ.
Remember: David prayed for the "joy" of his salvation to be returned in Psa. 51:12, not his salvation (after Nathan had told him of his sin and he repented). Soli Deo Gloria!
About Me
- Karl Broberg
- I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Is Assurance Automatic?
Assurance belongs to the well-being of faith, but not to the being of faith (the bene esse, not the esse). It is not an automatic fruit, but, like all fruit, must be grown. Obedience and sanctification bring about the testimony of the Spirit within. Now, when I am talking of assurance, I am not talking about objective assurance or the knowledge that Christ died and rose again according to Scripture, but the subjective reality that it applies to you personally--like maybe you wonder if you have repented enough, etc.
The church of Rome has a pernicious doctrine that denies any assurance or ultimate security, except by divine revelation to that effect. The Canons of Dort (ca. 1618) condemned this position. They affirmed that it arises from good works, a good conscience, measure of faith (it can be intermittent or in degree), and from the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit ("The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God").
Christians can struggle with assurance and have carnal doubts, but usually, this is in the state of backsliding and maybe God's way of warning him. Martin Luther called this attack the "Anfectung" of Satan, whereby he wants to take away our security in Christ. The Westminster Confession asserts that infallible assurance does not belong to the essence of salvation.
We can feel abandoned by God, but we aren't, for He has promised us he "will never leave us nor forsake us." Sproul says we do not have to know we are saved to be saved, and I agree from personal experience. The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (which really means God preserves as we persevere) affirms not only our present security but also our continuity in the state of grace and in the end we will not fall from it.
In sum, we are exhorted to "make our calling and election sure," and it a tremendous benefit or boon to our well-being to have this knowledge which leads to higher levels of sanctification. Remember, it's not an automatic fruit, and we can be saved without assurance, but the more pressing concern is those who have false assurance and think they are saved when not. Soli Deo Gloria!
The church of Rome has a pernicious doctrine that denies any assurance or ultimate security, except by divine revelation to that effect. The Canons of Dort (ca. 1618) condemned this position. They affirmed that it arises from good works, a good conscience, measure of faith (it can be intermittent or in degree), and from the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit ("The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God").
Christians can struggle with assurance and have carnal doubts, but usually, this is in the state of backsliding and maybe God's way of warning him. Martin Luther called this attack the "Anfectung" of Satan, whereby he wants to take away our security in Christ. The Westminster Confession asserts that infallible assurance does not belong to the essence of salvation.
We can feel abandoned by God, but we aren't, for He has promised us he "will never leave us nor forsake us." Sproul says we do not have to know we are saved to be saved, and I agree from personal experience. The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (which really means God preserves as we persevere) affirms not only our present security but also our continuity in the state of grace and in the end we will not fall from it.
In sum, we are exhorted to "make our calling and election sure," and it a tremendous benefit or boon to our well-being to have this knowledge which leads to higher levels of sanctification. Remember, it's not an automatic fruit, and we can be saved without assurance, but the more pressing concern is those who have false assurance and think they are saved when not. Soli Deo Gloria!
My Assurance
My area of expertise seems to be the assurance of salvation since I have backslid so many times and have had to repent and do the first things over and go back to square one so to speak. Sometimes I have compared myself to other Christians and have been discouraged, e.g., when they say they hear God's voice audibly and I don't, I think something is wrong. The existence of the written Word of God doesn't preclude audible revelations or voices today. But I have learned to believe in the Word of God itself. The Bible doesn't preclude the possibility of God's audible voice today. My favorite slogan vis-a-vis assurance: God said it in His Word, I believe it in my heart, that settles it in my mind. Soli Deo Gloria!
Empirical Assurance
My doctrinal area of expertise and domain and what seems to be my element seems to be the assurance of salvation, since I have backslid so many times and have had to repent and do the first things over, and it seems like I have been saved many times, which I know is unbiblical. I have a tendency to compare myself with others and wonder if I should be experiencing the same thing: like hearing audible voices from God.
I know the best assurance is that which comes from a holy and obedient life per Isaiah 32:17 which says, "the fruit of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance." Disobedience and consequent chastisement take away one's feeling of the joy of salvation and one may doubt his position in Christ. In the Golden Chain of Redemption (Rom. 8:29-30), no one is lost in the shuffle! Soli Deo Gloria!
Distinguishing Works In Salvation
The best Scripture I've seen for the proof of eternal security is Rom. 8:30 which says that none will be lost--all who are foreknown will be justified. Without eternal security, there is no assurance of salvation, (the two can be distinguished but not separated) like the Romanists maintain.
If our salvation depends on our works we might blow it in the end--how do we know that we will endure to the end to be saved? The Bible always speaks of eternal life as something we have now, not after we die. If it is eternal it cannot be interrupted or lost. In a works religion you just never know how much is enough or how little is too little to lose it. Jesus said all manner of sin can be forgiven except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, so what sin do they think cannot be forgiven--Jesus makes intercession for us when we sin (Heb.7:25; 1 John 2:2). Your only way to have full assurance is to for salvation to depend on God and to be of grace alone! Soli Deo Gloria!
If our salvation depends on our works we might blow it in the end--how do we know that we will endure to the end to be saved? The Bible always speaks of eternal life as something we have now, not after we die. If it is eternal it cannot be interrupted or lost. In a works religion you just never know how much is enough or how little is too little to lose it. Jesus said all manner of sin can be forgiven except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, so what sin do they think cannot be forgiven--Jesus makes intercession for us when we sin (Heb.7:25; 1 John 2:2). Your only way to have full assurance is to for salvation to depend on God and to be of grace alone! Soli Deo Gloria!
Blessed Assurance!
"... Do not be unbelieving, but believing" (cf. John 20:27).
"For the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God" (cf. Rom. 8:16).
"For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (cf. 2 Tim. 1:12).
"... [B]e all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10, ESV).
The title is taken from Fanny Crosby's hymn. We don't find out we're saved because we're curious, but because we are commanded to do so in 2 Pet. 1:10, but it's not an automatic fruit of salvation, even if one's faith is alive and growing--for dead faith or faith minus works doesn't save (cf. James 2:20), and we are commanded o examine ourselves as to whether Christ is in us on a regular basis to reassure ourselves. (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5). It is not the preacher's duty or job description (nor any authority figure's for that matter) to give assurance of salvation--they can only reassure, but one must trust in the Word as a conviction and join it to the assurance of the Holy Spirit as dual assurance.
We must learn the lesson to take God at His Word, once the initial highs and feelings have left us (when normalcy sets in) and the feelings of our initial response to salvation when God is testing the validity and reality of our faith, which is more precious than gold and silver and must be confirmed by fire. If we don't have any assurance, we will be paralyzed in our walk and stunted in growth, not able to walk forward with Christ in faith, but treading water and going backward even. This assurance is meant to enhance our sanctification and to be a boon to our experience in Christ.
R. C. Sproul says that to gain authentic assurance we must "search our own hearts and examine the fruit of our faith." And also that "the Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit" is God's normative methodology of assurance. When we are fully assured we will never succumb to doubt, having on our helmet of salvation, because it will be a done deal and we can overcome the Anfectung (Luther's German for attack) of Satan. Let's be leery of being like those who waver in the faith and are rebuked and chided by Jesus, "Oh you of little faith!"
Note that no one has to have perfect assurance nor perfect faith in this life to get saved, or it wouldn't be called faith but knowledge. If someone says he has no doubts, he's never been tested in his faith or doesn't know himself well, for faith is not the same as knowledge of which we will inherit in glory. NB: you will never have "smoking gun" evidence that you can be as assured as you see the sunshine in the sky, for we are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight in 2 Cor. 5:7. You don't need all the answers to believe or make a decision for Christ!
We are to "taste and see that the LORD is good," so that we can existentially and empirically know God by the experience of the spiritual world by faith. One of God's chief complaints and pet peeve is that man doesn't have the "knowledge of God" (cf. Hos. 4:1). Later cf. Hosea 6:3 which says to let us know, let us go on to know the LORD. We can sincerely pray for God to increase our faith, and God does commend strong faith, but it isn't the amount of faith that saves, but the object (faith doesn't save, Christ does, or it is fideism, faith in faith). There are degrees of certitude and the faith/doubt continuum varies throughout one's spiritual journey.
Many preachers dichotomize salvation's security from its assurance in the here and now--these must never be divorced for they are two sides of the same coin and one cannot exist logically without the other (if you can lose it, how can you ever have full assurance and know you won't slip into sin?). We say in theology that we can indeed distinguish these doctrines, but cannot separate them--they are two sides of the same coin (the flip side).
Roman Catholics will tell you that assurance is a pure sin of presumption unless you've had a special revelation or experience with God to assure you, but it's not conjecture nor presumption, it's doable and a duty. It's true, as some may point out, that some leave the faith, but these were never genuine believers in the first place according to John in 1 John 2:19. Orthodox doctrine says that we persevere in the faith as God preserves us, for if it weren't for grace, none of us would survive spiritually.
The biggest problem in the church regarding this issue is not patient with struggling believers who have doubts, but bearing with those who presume and have false assurance, for assurance must be biblical and based on sound doctrine or dogma. And so people can be ignorant of Scripture or aren't taking God at His Word--or they may simply be going by feeling. We are accountable for the faith bestowed on us to be faithful to it and grow fruit accordingly (cf. Rom. 12:3), and our faith must not be feigned or hypocritical, but sound and sincere--i.e., albeit not perfect (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5).
In sum, the best assurance is to claim the promises of God as one's spiritual birth certificate, like one of mine in John 6:37 that says, "He who comes to Me I will in no way cast out." FIND YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR PASSAGE THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR OWN HEART AND SITUATION. Soli Deo Gloria!
"For the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God" (cf. Rom. 8:16).
"For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (cf. 2 Tim. 1:12).
"... [B]e all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10, ESV).
The title is taken from Fanny Crosby's hymn. We don't find out we're saved because we're curious, but because we are commanded to do so in 2 Pet. 1:10, but it's not an automatic fruit of salvation, even if one's faith is alive and growing--for dead faith or faith minus works doesn't save (cf. James 2:20), and we are commanded o examine ourselves as to whether Christ is in us on a regular basis to reassure ourselves. (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5). It is not the preacher's duty or job description (nor any authority figure's for that matter) to give assurance of salvation--they can only reassure, but one must trust in the Word as a conviction and join it to the assurance of the Holy Spirit as dual assurance.
We must learn the lesson to take God at His Word, once the initial highs and feelings have left us (when normalcy sets in) and the feelings of our initial response to salvation when God is testing the validity and reality of our faith, which is more precious than gold and silver and must be confirmed by fire. If we don't have any assurance, we will be paralyzed in our walk and stunted in growth, not able to walk forward with Christ in faith, but treading water and going backward even. This assurance is meant to enhance our sanctification and to be a boon to our experience in Christ.
R. C. Sproul says that to gain authentic assurance we must "search our own hearts and examine the fruit of our faith." And also that "the Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit" is God's normative methodology of assurance. When we are fully assured we will never succumb to doubt, having on our helmet of salvation, because it will be a done deal and we can overcome the Anfectung (Luther's German for attack) of Satan. Let's be leery of being like those who waver in the faith and are rebuked and chided by Jesus, "Oh you of little faith!"
Note that no one has to have perfect assurance nor perfect faith in this life to get saved, or it wouldn't be called faith but knowledge. If someone says he has no doubts, he's never been tested in his faith or doesn't know himself well, for faith is not the same as knowledge of which we will inherit in glory. NB: you will never have "smoking gun" evidence that you can be as assured as you see the sunshine in the sky, for we are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight in 2 Cor. 5:7. You don't need all the answers to believe or make a decision for Christ!
We are to "taste and see that the LORD is good," so that we can existentially and empirically know God by the experience of the spiritual world by faith. One of God's chief complaints and pet peeve is that man doesn't have the "knowledge of God" (cf. Hos. 4:1). Later cf. Hosea 6:3 which says to let us know, let us go on to know the LORD. We can sincerely pray for God to increase our faith, and God does commend strong faith, but it isn't the amount of faith that saves, but the object (faith doesn't save, Christ does, or it is fideism, faith in faith). There are degrees of certitude and the faith/doubt continuum varies throughout one's spiritual journey.
Many preachers dichotomize salvation's security from its assurance in the here and now--these must never be divorced for they are two sides of the same coin and one cannot exist logically without the other (if you can lose it, how can you ever have full assurance and know you won't slip into sin?). We say in theology that we can indeed distinguish these doctrines, but cannot separate them--they are two sides of the same coin (the flip side).
Roman Catholics will tell you that assurance is a pure sin of presumption unless you've had a special revelation or experience with God to assure you, but it's not conjecture nor presumption, it's doable and a duty. It's true, as some may point out, that some leave the faith, but these were never genuine believers in the first place according to John in 1 John 2:19. Orthodox doctrine says that we persevere in the faith as God preserves us, for if it weren't for grace, none of us would survive spiritually.
The biggest problem in the church regarding this issue is not patient with struggling believers who have doubts, but bearing with those who presume and have false assurance, for assurance must be biblical and based on sound doctrine or dogma. And so people can be ignorant of Scripture or aren't taking God at His Word--or they may simply be going by feeling. We are accountable for the faith bestowed on us to be faithful to it and grow fruit accordingly (cf. Rom. 12:3), and our faith must not be feigned or hypocritical, but sound and sincere--i.e., albeit not perfect (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5).
In sum, the best assurance is to claim the promises of God as one's spiritual birth certificate, like one of mine in John 6:37 that says, "He who comes to Me I will in no way cast out." FIND YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR PASSAGE THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR OWN HEART AND SITUATION. Soli Deo Gloria!
Are We Friends Of Jesus?
Some Christians imagine that they are "buddies" with the Lord. Paul calls us doulos or servants. John MacArthur says we are not His "sidekicks." What they are is bond-servants as Paul was Jesus will call us "good and faithful servants." Jesus called us all "friends" in the sense that we know His will and what He is doing. "I lay down my life for my friends," and we are His friends if we do what He commands. Doing His will doesn't mean we won't do things not His will!
We cannot be egotistical in thinking we are above other Christians or a "cut above" others because Christianity is egalitarian and we are all one in Christ. There is neither male nor female, etc. If we are not His friends we are His enemies; there is no middle ground. Let's not let it go to our heads that we are all as believers the "friends" of Christ. Saying one is a special buddy of the Lord like Abraham was indeed the "friend of God" is a bit grandiose.
We cannot be egotistical in thinking we are above other Christians or a "cut above" others because Christianity is egalitarian and we are all one in Christ. There is neither male nor female, etc. If we are not His friends we are His enemies; there is no middle ground. Let's not let it go to our heads that we are all as believers the "friends" of Christ. Saying one is a special buddy of the Lord like Abraham was indeed the "friend of God" is a bit grandiose.
We are only friends if we do His commandments! He is our friend even when we aren't His. Christians are never His enemies! Soli Deo Gloria!
Are We 100 Percent Spiritual?
We are not always spiritual in the sense that sometimes we are carnal and out of fellowship because of sin in our lives. On the other hand, we can be "so spiritually minded and no earthly good." Some Christians talk of their favorite sports team with the enthusiasm that should also belong to the Lord.
It is a shame if we cannot praise God with equal zest. Now there is nothing wrong with sports that teaches so many valuable life skills and lessons, but it is not to be an idol or a religion as it were. They say the second biggest religion in the State of Hockey (Minnesota) is hockey. This is not really a compliment.
I believe we will play sports in heaven, though with fair play in all aspects I would add. (No checking or free-for-all's in hockey, but our resurrection bodies won't feel pain. Baseball is a gentleman's sport and I believe we can play it in heaven and we won't be depressed if our team loses--we will praise the Lord anyway!) If we can show great enthusiasm for sports we should also be able to do it for the Lord.
All of our time in heaven won't be occupied with worshiping God per se, though we will praise God continually in what we do, work, leisure or play. There are special angels that spend all their time worshiping God, but we will have duties to do and responsibilities to attend. So don't let anyone tell you not to talk of mundane subjects because they are not "spiritual."
"Whatsoever you do, do to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Brother Lawrence wrote a book Practicing the presence of God in which he wrote about work being worship and finding God's fellowship in everything you do. Martin Luther taught that work is worship when done to the glory of God.
It is a shame if we cannot praise God with equal zest. Now there is nothing wrong with sports that teaches so many valuable life skills and lessons, but it is not to be an idol or a religion as it were. They say the second biggest religion in the State of Hockey (Minnesota) is hockey. This is not really a compliment.
I believe we will play sports in heaven, though with fair play in all aspects I would add. (No checking or free-for-all's in hockey, but our resurrection bodies won't feel pain. Baseball is a gentleman's sport and I believe we can play it in heaven and we won't be depressed if our team loses--we will praise the Lord anyway!) If we can show great enthusiasm for sports we should also be able to do it for the Lord.
All of our time in heaven won't be occupied with worshiping God per se, though we will praise God continually in what we do, work, leisure or play. There are special angels that spend all their time worshiping God, but we will have duties to do and responsibilities to attend. So don't let anyone tell you not to talk of mundane subjects because they are not "spiritual."
"Whatsoever you do, do to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Brother Lawrence wrote a book Practicing the presence of God in which he wrote about work being worship and finding God's fellowship in everything you do. Martin Luther taught that work is worship when done to the glory of God.
It is wrong to dichotomize between the clerical and the secular or the spiritual and the mundane, for we can do all things to God's glory! Soli Deo Gloria!
What Is Subjectivism?
Just because we have the right to interpret Scripture doesn't mean we have the right to interpret it any way we want to. Just because we feel something is true doesn't make it so: e.g., not believing in election because it seems to make God out to be a despot. We cannot fabricate our own truths! We are obliged to cutting it straight so to speak. There have been many "mystics" who claim special revelation and new interpretations that only they have been privileged to know. For example, the Quakers believe they should listen to an "Inner Light" and Mormons believe God testifies His Word with a "burning in the bosom."
Remember the road to Emmaus: "Were not our hearts burning within us?" Neo-orthodox theologian Karl Barth said that a passage becomes the Word of God when you have an existential experience with it. Well, that could subjectively mean anything: Does he mean getting goosebumps, chills down the spine, or burning in the bosom? Somehow God can convict us of the truth and speak to our hearts; it is usually different to each individual. Reading into the Scriptures what we want to see is called eisegesis and correct interpretation is called exegesis.
God can speak through the air vent if He chooses, but He has chosen to primarily speak through His Word. "And the Word of the Lord tried him." "He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word" (1 Sam. 3:21). "For it is no empty word for you, but your very life" (Deut. 32:47). "Do not My words do good to him whose ways are upright?" (Mic. 2:7). Note that God uses His Word. "The LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD" (1 Sam. 3:21).
Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian Emmanuel Swedenborg was a mystic that decided he would eliminate some of the books of the Bible that he didn't "feel" were scriptural. Today we have a sect following his errant teaching. If God is going to reveal the meaning to you He will do it to other members of the body also as confirmation. "For no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation..." (2 Pet. 1:21). In summary: Subjectivism is a road to mysticism and we must endeavor to be objective, even though there is no such thing as total objectivity except with God. Soli Deo Gloria!
Remember the road to Emmaus: "Were not our hearts burning within us?" Neo-orthodox theologian Karl Barth said that a passage becomes the Word of God when you have an existential experience with it. Well, that could subjectively mean anything: Does he mean getting goosebumps, chills down the spine, or burning in the bosom? Somehow God can convict us of the truth and speak to our hearts; it is usually different to each individual. Reading into the Scriptures what we want to see is called eisegesis and correct interpretation is called exegesis.
God can speak through the air vent if He chooses, but He has chosen to primarily speak through His Word. "And the Word of the Lord tried him." "He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word" (1 Sam. 3:21). "For it is no empty word for you, but your very life" (Deut. 32:47). "Do not My words do good to him whose ways are upright?" (Mic. 2:7). Note that God uses His Word. "The LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD" (1 Sam. 3:21).
Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian Emmanuel Swedenborg was a mystic that decided he would eliminate some of the books of the Bible that he didn't "feel" were scriptural. Today we have a sect following his errant teaching. If God is going to reveal the meaning to you He will do it to other members of the body also as confirmation. "For no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation..." (2 Pet. 1:21). In summary: Subjectivism is a road to mysticism and we must endeavor to be objective, even though there is no such thing as total objectivity except with God. Soli Deo Gloria!
Science Owes Christianity
Science was made possible by the discovery of a rational universe, perceived by a rational mind, using rational modus operandi. Induction, deduction, experimentation, measurement, repeatability, theory and hypothesis make science possible. The Eastern religions don't believe in a rational universe, but in Maya or that the universe is a figment of our imagination and that it isn't really real. It was the Christian worldview of 15th century Europe that really got the scientific method off to its debut. Sir Francis Bacon is considered the "Father of the Scientific Method."
All of the early great scientists (Galileo, Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, Boyle, Pascal, Maxwell, Boyle, Bacon, et al.) were Christians. In fact, science owes its existence to Christianity. But the ironic thing is that now science seems to be thinking that religion, in general, is the "enemy" and incompatible with the scientific method.
Science is only one avenue to the truth. Some things are not verified by test tube, repetition, observation, measurement or confined to laboratory conditions. I.e., you cannot take a pound of love and a pint of partiality, nevertheless we affirm their existence.
All worldviews require presuppositions and so-called "natural science," as opposed to the supernatural, does too. In fact, it takes more faith to believe a naturalistic universe without any intentional design than it does to simply believe in a supreme being. The evidence is in favor of a deity, but people are not willing to take the leap of faith in the direction of the faith because of moral issues, not intellectual problems. They don't believe because they don't want to believe, not because they can't. "Even though he performed many miracles there, they would [not could] not believe in him" (John 12:37). Soli Deo Gloria!
All of the early great scientists (Galileo, Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, Boyle, Pascal, Maxwell, Boyle, Bacon, et al.) were Christians. In fact, science owes its existence to Christianity. But the ironic thing is that now science seems to be thinking that religion, in general, is the "enemy" and incompatible with the scientific method.
Science is only one avenue to the truth. Some things are not verified by test tube, repetition, observation, measurement or confined to laboratory conditions. I.e., you cannot take a pound of love and a pint of partiality, nevertheless we affirm their existence.
All worldviews require presuppositions and so-called "natural science," as opposed to the supernatural, does too. In fact, it takes more faith to believe a naturalistic universe without any intentional design than it does to simply believe in a supreme being. The evidence is in favor of a deity, but people are not willing to take the leap of faith in the direction of the faith because of moral issues, not intellectual problems. They don't believe because they don't want to believe, not because they can't. "Even though he performed many miracles there, they would [not could] not believe in him" (John 12:37). Soli Deo Gloria!
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