The Complacency of Science
The pursuit of knowledge of the world around us was originally intended to help humanity better understand the complexities of God’s creation and to magnify Him in that process. Yet, the more we became accustomed and familiar with atoms, molecules, and the elements of the world, we subtly removed God as the author of such complex mechanisms of existence. Our complacency towards God grew as if our understanding of how the universe works denies the person who created and the designed the systems in which they exist.
There can be a temptation to argue for this slippage. One might say, well of course this happens, as humanity understands the universe the need for religion to fill the voids of our understanding diminishes. However, I would like to make a simple (maybe too simple) analogy to support a counter to this claim.
A mechanic studies and learns the parts of a vehicle. He can break down a vehicle into different systems and subsystems. These break down even further to the tiny bits of machinery that hold each individual part together. Beyond just the physical components themselves, there is a science behind many of them. There are compression rations in each cylinder that have to be finely tuned to just the right air fuel ration at just the right moment that creates the ideal atmospher for a spark to ignite the air gas mixture. Thrusting the piston back down through its cycle. As it rises the piston pushes out exhaust gases from the cylinder because an exhaust valved opens for a precise amount of time. Then has the piston descends, another valve is opened and clean fresh air is sucked in by the vacuum made by the piston moving in cylinder. Simultaneous this a precisely tuned fuel injector sprays in a mist of gasoline to get the perfect atmosphere as mentioned above. The piston then surges back upward compressing the air gas mixture to a predetermined pressure level and BOOM the spark ignites repeating the process.
This takes place hundreds and even thousands of times per second across a multitude of cylinders. If any of this is slightly off by hundredths of a second or a fraction of a percent, catastrophe strikes. Things ignite when they should not. Valves are closed when they are supposed to be open. Metal starts sheering and sometimes launching through other bits of metal ending the life of the once perfectly humming engine.
The mechanics study of automobiles allows him to better steward the vehicle. It allows others who need help to find it in the mechanic. It (hopefully if he is honest) save families thousands of dollars from major repairs or having to purchase another vehicle. The vehicle in which, if we are being honest, most of us take for granted.
Do you know what the mechanic does not do with his knowledge? He does not deny that it was meticulously designed by someone other than himself. He knows that it had a maker. An engineer and designer to built it from the ground up. He knows that there was some corporate big shots who determined the fate of the vehicles production into existence and its continued existence still rest in the hands of the executive sweet at the auto maker.
With this in mind, the pursuit of science is not in vain. It equips us to do incredible things. Things that save lives, things that make living better. More importantly, the more we understand how deeply complex and intricate the universe and human flourishing is, how much more should it magnify the God who created it all. We will never be able to answer all the questions, but that is okay. What if God really gave us the ability to understand his supreme power and incomprehensible existence. If he allowed our minds to race through the physical understanding of the world into the greater understanding that can only come from Him? Even though we may not have the power to yield such displays of significance, would we become all the more complacent? Would our desire for him wither to nothingness? Due to our profound knowledge would resentment manifest itself into an “I could do better, give me the controls of this thing called life”?
I say yes
To our knowledge, angels and demons have such understanding, at least to a exponentially higher degree of our own. The fallen nature of many angels and satan himself is a testament to what would likely be our demise with such an understanding. Even more so than the angels as our current state of existence has already been infected by sin with the fall.
So let us think this. That in God’s wisdom, grace, and compassion; he allows our minds and hearts to seek understanding and closeness to Him. This inner pull is our need to get back to humanities original intended purpose. However, if he truly revealed himself in every capacity, assuming we would not evaporate in his righteousness, our sinful desire to usurp his power would ultimately put creator vs creation. Which is not a battle I want to be in.