Science as religion?

God wrote a set of laws for man to obey and put them in the Bible. He also wrote a set of laws for the physical universe to obey like the law of gravity, the law of conservation of matter, etc. Science is nothing more than the study of the laws in God's creation. Scientism is a disturbing set of beliefs that man's ultimate salvation will come from science and not from Jesus Christ.

True science poses no threat to the knowledge of God. Dr. Gerald L. Schroeder earned his Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before moving to laboratories at the Weizmann Institute, the Hebrew University, and the Volcani Research Institute in Israel. His work has been reported in Time, Newsweek, Scientific American, and in leading newspapers around the world. Dr. Schroeder proclaimed in a recent interview that the more science learns about the universe the more proof we have for the existence of an omnipotent and omniscient creator God. This should come as no surprise to us as Colossians 1:17 says "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." You can't objectively study creation and not see God's fingerprints all over it.

Science becomes problematic when people look to science for the salvation of the human race. They reason that since science has made so many wonderful discoveries it will someday find the answers to all suffering, war, famine, injustice and even overcome death itself. Michael Chrichton who authored a number of science fiction novels including "Andromeda Strain" and "Jurassic Park" noted in a lecture that the most powerful religion on earth is Environmentalism. It promises salvation through recycling with the reward being Paradise on earth. Sound familiar?

Scientism is described in a book by Wesley J. Smith called "Consumer's Guide to a Brave New World." He warns that Scientism has driven the biotech industry to create human life simply to harvest it like a commodity. They are pushing to repeal laws against human cloning in the name of ending all disease. They argue that science should not be hindered by rules and regulation since it has the good of humanity as its goal.

Why is this a big deal? Scientism is at the heart of the atheist movement around the world. If science can provide man's salvation who needs God? They have taken the knowledge of God and replaced it with technology. It has lead to the devaluing of precious human life as evidenced by embryonic stem cell research. Romans 1:28 tells us "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." Unfortunately "depravity" has taken on a whole new meaning in the 20th and now the 21st centuries.

Science without a moral foundation in God's law has lead to untold suffering and death. The Eugenics movement sought to sterilize all African-Americans in the US. It was inspired by Darwinian evolution. It also inspired Hitler to kill millions of physically and mentally disabled individuals in Germany. Because of a book by Rachel Carson called "Silent Spring" DDT was banned by the UN. Use of DDT has become one of the mortal sins of the Environmental movement. As a result the Anopheles mosquito population spiked. This mosquito is the principle carrier of Malaria. Without DDT it was free to spread the disease resulting in the deaths of more than 35 million people. To this date no one has provided valid scientific evidence that DDT when used as intended poses a serious threat to the environment or human life. Many poor countries are petitioning the UN to remove the ban on DDT so they can use it to protect their people. Another example of the horrific consequences of putting science ahead of God's law is the fact that a million Africans die each year because they don't have electricity. They are forced to cook and keep warm by burning wood and refuse. As a result, millions of Africans die from lung disease. Why don't they have electricity? Because Environmentalism says that building hydroelectric dams will ruin wild life habitats.

Scientism is just another symptom of an age old problem: worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. Not only does Scientism lead to pain and suffering, it leads to eternal separation from God.

- Filip Cruz

Our faith is based on fact

The unbelieving world has done a great job of convincing people that Christianity is based on nothing more that myths and legends. To put it bluntly, this is a lie. There is such strong evidence for the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that it would hold up in a court of law.

Simon Greenleaf was one of the most successful attorneys in history. Born in Massachusetts in 1783 he helped to expand Harvard Law School and contributed greatly to jurisprudence by developing the laws of evidence still in use today. Greenleaf was an atheist who decided to examine the evidence for Christ in the four Gospels hoping to disprove them. He applied strict rules of evidence just as if he were prosecuting a court case. After carefully examining the facts he was so impressed that he became a Christian and a passionate apologist for the Christian faith.

"Testimony of the Evangelists" has become a classic in the defense of Christinanity. This brilliant man who was a firmly convinced atheist examined the evidence objectively and was left with no other conclusion except to believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Greenleaf is just one of many non-believers who set out to destroy Christianity only to fall in love with Christ when they dug deep into the facts. Frank Morison was a British journalist who wrote the book "Who Moved the Stone?" He too thought he could expose Christianity as fraud, but ended up embracing Christ.

The fact of the mater is that there are over 5000 ancient documents that attest to the birth, death and resurection of Christ. Some of those documents were written by non-believers. We have letters from Roman soldiers, letters written by Roman politicians and the writings of Jewish historian Josephus. The Toledoth Yeshu is a colection of Jewish writngs from the first century that claims the body of Christ was stollen by His desciples. The writer inadvertently provides evidence that the tomb of Jesus was empty and everyone accepted that fact at the time it happened. There were still witnesses alive who could attest to the empty tomb. This refutes the notion that non-believers put forth that the resurrectoin was symply a myth invented centuries after the fact.

When you hold the Bible in your hand you can be confident that it is absolutely true. When Jesus said, "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6 you can embrace it with full assurance. We can proclaim the Gospel boldly because the evidence is on our side.

- Filip Cruz

Why do people still believe in Evolution?

I saw this comment on a blog recently, "Most well educated, intelligent people believe in Evolution." I paused for a minute and thought, "I guess Sir Francis Crick and Carl Sagan weren't very intelligent." Sir Francis Crick won the Nobel prize for his work on human DNA. Carl Sagan was a famous astronomer who authored the Cosmos series for PBS. Both men were committed atheists and yet both men were skeptical of Darwinian Evolution.

Why? Because, as scientists both men understood that something as complex as human DNA could never have evolved by pure, mindless chance. They were convinced that some kind of "intelligence" had to have played a role in it all.

There's no evidence that these men ever became Christians before they died, but they did raise serious questions about the "science" behind Evolution. As we understand more about the complexity of the human cell and DNA, the more we must confront the reality that something so sophisticated could not have just happened as the result of billions of lucky accidents. Do you believe you could role a pair of dice a thousand times and have them come up 7 each time? The odds of a single cell creature evolving by pure, random chance are infinitely higher.

It's important to note that the Theory of Evolution is the only "scientific" theory that is protected by law in some states. It is forbidden to teach any theory that questions Evolution in some public schools. Perhaps Evolution needs the protection of the courts because like other endangered species it is on the verge of extinction.

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." Psalm 53:2

- Filip Cruz

You left your First Love

One of my favorite places to turn to in the Scriptures is the book of Revelation. I enjoy looking at what God, has to say about the churches. I believe, that we can always, get something special from them. Especially when we ask, the questions like, what is God, saying to me and how, can I apply it. When you and I practice this, scripture, seems to come alive. This is something Pastor Burt taught me a long time ago.

So with that lets turn to Rev. 2:1-7 "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; these things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in is right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou has tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars: and Hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, Because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I come Quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast , that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolataitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is the midst of the paradise of God." This is a message from the risen Christ to one of His churches. In fact, the church at Ephesus was one of the best, and one that Paul founded as recorded in Acts 19.

Paul had come from Corinth, and had found some believes at Ephesus. He instructed them in the Lord for two years, and so mightily grew the word of God and “prospered” we see this in Acts 19:20 Ephesus was a city of great prominence. As the Roman writer put it, “Ephesus is the first and greatest metropolis in Asia.” Ephesus was also a pagan city. The temple to the goddess Diana was located there This temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus was a magnificent city indeed. We could liken it to a city like N.Y.C. or Boston, with all its glamour, or maybe Hollywood with all its bright lights. Yet the church of Ephesus, had nothing to do with any of this, one would think this was a separated church, for the glory of Christ.

Lets see what God has to say about this church. I first want us to notice, that before He says something negative. He complaints them

1. Their works in verses 1-3 of Revelations 2, Christ praises this church. He says "I know thy works." The works here means "hard labor." It means the kind of toil, that takes all the energy of mind, and muscle, This was a very active church, Her weekly calendar was full. The members gave themselves to their church work with great energy.
2. He reminds them of their patience. This word means "steadfast endurance." This was a type of steadfast, or endurance, that turns hardship, and suffering into grace and glory. I mean they were doing what needed, to be done.

One would think the blessing they must be getting from God. But instead of blessing, there was condemnation. Why? They had become a backslidden church. "How" The word against this church, they had lost there first love. "WOW" The Ephesians’ zeal in the Lord had grown cold. You and I need to be on guard. We can become so concerned about programs and works that the Spirit is forgotten. I need to ask myself, what about me, have I lost my first love? Have I lost some of that zeal and love I had in the lord when I first believed?

I remember my first love. It magnified my sin; It kept me faithful in daily bible reading, I couldn't get enough preaching tapes to listen to. It made me fervent to win my family and friends to Christ. Remembering and repenting is not of value, unless, we return, to our first love. That brings about those first works.

Lets read verse 5 of Revelation 2 for a moment. Lets read it carefully. "Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." The word "works" here is not the same as the word in verse 2. In verse 2 it is hard labor and grinding toil. Here the word works means “occupation,” the job you have to do according to one writer. Here he said, Christ was telling them to return to their first business, their first responsibility, their first charge. And for any church, that ought to be the work of evangelism—reaching and winning people to Christ.

How, are you doing in that area of your life I know when I first got saved, I would tell anybody I see, and not care, what they would say. What happened, what changed in my life? You might say I have backslidden in this area of my life. Or we may ask how do we know if we backslide? How can we prevent it?

Ray Stedman gives good insight in this area. He said there are always symptoms, and signs, of this happening. He gives three of them. That Is what I want to share with you this morning. The first one, visible at first only, to the individual It is the loss of the joy and glow of the Christian life. It soon becomes humdrum and routine. You begin to feel like you have heard it all already. Even the church service loses its impact. It seems mechanical, routine, dull and drab. That is a sign you are beginning, to lose your first love.

Second, you lose your ability to love others. One of the great revelations, of the Scripture, Is that the reason we love others is because we have first been loved ourselves. We especially see this In the book of 1John When we lose that consciousness of the wonder of Jesus’ love for us as an individual We also lose our awareness of others and find our first love for them fading. It is difficult to love. We become critical, inclined to find fault. In other words, we become judgmental and complaining.We begin to choose our friends more closely and only associate with those we like. We lose the compassion that once reached out to them.

Third, we lose healthy perspective of ourselves. We become more and more important in our thinking. In our wants and in our needs instead of what the Lord wants and what will please Him. Gradually we become sensitive and touchy, unable to bear criticism. This begins to make divisions and often separation in a congregation. Another words cliques. You know those people who think like me. Individuals in the church are no longer interested in evangelism. They are no longer concerned about about those around them without Christ. But are focused on themselves, their own comfort, their own pleasure. Self-centeredness sets in. Those are the marks of the loss of the first love and this is what was happening at Ephesus.

When a whole congregation begins to reflect that atmosphere it loses its influence. its lights go out. Its lamp has been removed. What do we do when this happens? How do we recover from this? Our Lord gives three clear, specific steps to take: Remember, Repent, and Return. There it is.

Remember, the height from which you are “fallen.” Look back. Remember what it was like when you first came to Jesus. Remember the joy you had in the Lord. Remember the closeness you felt to Him and Him to you. Remember the inner support you leaned upon in times of pressure and trouble. Remember the ease with which you prayed. Remember the delight, you took in other Christians and in the reading of the Word and the hearing of it. Remember how you could hardly bear to miss a service, Because you were learning so much truth, about life. Remember that? Look back. Think back. Our Lord says, “Remember the height from which you have fallen."

Repent and change your mind. That is what repentance means. Change your mind about what has taken the place of Jesus in your life. Renounce that ambition, that pride of position, that longing for approval. That has become all important to you and is motivating your work. Give up your critical spirit, your complaining attitude, your reliance on your knowledge or your training to make an impact in life. Put the Lord back in the center and focus of all your endeavors. Repent. Change your mind.

And then, return! "Do the things you did at first,” Jesus says. What are those things? Well, you read your bible with eager eyes. You could not get enough of it. You longed, to find out what, the word of God said. And you prayed about everything even finding a parking place. You responded to the hurts and needs around you with compassion and with love. And you did not count it an imposition. And above all, you praised God from your heart. You loved to sing praises, to His name and to think about His grace to you. Now do that again, Jesus says.

Start here. When we look at this letter from church history, we see this lost, of first love, becoming widespread in the churches after the apostles had passed away. During that time the churches were drifting away from a warm, loving, compassion-filled ministry. To a church getting involved with doctrinal controversies and theological discussions; making that there main stay rather than evangelism and focusing on the love of Jesus Christ our first and only true love.

The shame of this is we still see it in our churches today. “To him who has an ear,” to the one who is willing to listen to the voice of the Lord. What about you? Do you have an ear to hear what Jesus is saying to you? Do you respond with sympathy and obedience to the word that He gives us? Do you have an open ear? Are we listening to God or to self? Then this is what He says, To him that overcome I will give, the right to eat, from the tree of life. Which is in the paradise of God. Our Lord is Himself that tree of life. This is a symbol of Jesus, says Ray Stedman.

-- Pastor Fred Ferreira