The Songs of Creation

Originally, this was going to be a Lagniappe item as I sometimes do. But as I watched it again with one of my students, I decided it was worth a full post. Louie Giglio is a well-known evangelist who likes to find cool things in science that seem to support Scripture. While he is clearly not a scientist, this is a particularly interesting and cool synthesis of whale song, pulsar signals, and a praise song.

What I like about this is how it shows a dimension of Creation that is just now accessible to us as creatures. God promises in Scripture that His wonders are beyond even the conception of our imagination. Honestly, I questioned this given the fertility of our imaginations through literature such as fantasy and science fiction that bring truly fantastic things to life.

Then, we discover something like this. All of a sudden, I am very curious and excited to see what manifold dimensions of wonder He awaits to reveal to us. We have all of eternity. He promises it will be worthwhile. I’m starting to believe it.

SDG

What Did Mary Know?

In chapter 12 of John’s Gospel, Jesus is attending a party at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, whom he just raised in chapter 11. The party is going fine, when Mary shocks everyone. She pulls out an alabaster (likely modern day calcite) jar of fine perfuming oil called spikenard. Largely due to its likely origins in the Himilayas, it was extremely expensive. The jar contained about a pound of it, costing a year’s wages. She breaks the flask open, begins to pour it all over Jesus, head to toe, including his feet. If this weren’t scandal enough, she uncovers her hair, letting it fall free, so that she could wipe the excess up with it.

To the party’s guests, this was wrong on so many levels.

Agnus Dei

A friend linked this video on facebook. This kid on a Brazillian young talent show belts out one of my most favorite songs. I’ve been posting a lot recently on heavy policy stuff and other denser fare. Here is a pleasant, inspiring break from that to remind us why we do all that we do. I hope you will take four minutes to quietly enjoy this.

I first remember hearing this song in the summer of 1991. I was studying abroad in Siberia, and our group was on a bus riding through the Altai Mountains in south central Siberia. I was borrowing a friend’s Michael W. Smith cassette and had the earphones on as I watched the scenery go by, and this song came on.

It is hard to describe the jumble of feelings that I had—a sense of both home and homesickness, joy, awe, and I don’t know what else. I was carried to a special place and listened to it over and over. I can’t hear it today without remembering that day.

I pray there are songs or sights or smells that carry you to a special time or place. They are true spiritual treasures.

SDG

Vibrant Dance: Not Just Origins

The first plenary on Wednesday was by Deborah Haarsma from Calvin College, on “Not Just Origins:  Engaging Science in the Life of Your Congregation through Creation Care, Worship and Education.” It was designed to give the audience take home ideas for applying science to the various ministries of the local church—outreach, worship, and discipleship. As Haarsma pointed out, science and faith intersect on more than origins. As stewards of Creation, what we learn about it through science, illuminated by the practice of our faith inspired by the Spirit, should impact how we take care of the parts of the world with which we have influence.

Creation Care:

Many Biblical commands have a scientific component: care for the poor, sick, young, old (i.e. “least of these”), species extinction, deforestation/agricultural issues, pollution, sea level rise, natural evil, AIDS, global access to health care resources, cloning, etc.

Many Christians, when faced with this laundry list, ask, ‘what can the church do?’ The first answer is ‘not everything.’ However, every one of these issues is complex and neither end of the political spectrum has ‘the answer.’ Politics and media love sound-bite solutions, but the church uniquely understands that human issues are extremely complex, and should be equipped to bring a compassionate voice to minister to multiple parties.

Take deforestation/agriculture for instance. Third world farmers are trying to improve their standard of living and would like to do so quickly so they can enjoy the benefits we now take for granted. It is not reasonable, much less compassionate for us as the first world to dictate to them environmental policy for sustainability and biodiversity. Their justified response is that who are we to talk—we already raped our landscape, and can afford to go back and fix things. They are just trying do to more than survive. What the developed world needs to do is to come alongside with solutions to accomplish both purposes and get our hands dirty with them to help lift them up in a way that preserves the beauty and biodiversity, potentially helping them to capitalize on their unique biodiversity rather than just copying what works somewhere else.

The first step for us as believers is of course, is to pray. Second, get educated on an issue, really educated. Too often we shoot off our mouths on topics we have only a 30 second news bite understanding of things and we react. It is appropriate to respond rather than react. Start by reading 2-3 books on a particular topic that is on your heart. Prayerfully read from different perspectives to get a sense of the various issues involved and different takes on them, without neglecting those outside of Christendom.

A second step is to partner with ministries of denominational groups who address science issues. For most issues, there is already someone working as Christ’s hands there. Don’t start from scratch; help multiply what they are doing.

Remember, Creation Care is the application of stewardship-a response could result in changes in lifestyle, not just a collection of ideas. Don’t make it political. By reading even one competent book on a subject will make you more informed than pretty much everyone else, yet it is still only one book. Humility with a teachable spirit is key here, too.

Worship:

Science and faith should not be primarily about controversy or apologetics. In fact, most Biblical references to the natural world are in the context of worship and understanding God’s character—the ‘sense of the divine’ we experience when we look at the natural world. Therefore, we should encourage Christians to enter all fields of science. As Kepler said, we get to “think God’s thoughts after Him.”

There some pitfalls Haarsma warned against. 1) Don’t make a sermon a science lesson. Instead, weave it into one’s preaching/teaching. Use science in illustrations. She gave the following example—when describing the Holy Spirit as breath, describe what happens in lungs when we breathe air. Also, nature is a revelation about God—i.e.-a supernova explosion as a demonstration of God’s power. We can use science to discuss loving the poor with appropriate technology. Focus on God. Use science to illustrate points.

Science stretches the imagination. Seeing the wonders of nature inspires worship. One site to use as a reference/for inspiration—www.seasonofcreation.com She also recommended www.biologos.org/blog/categories/worship.

Science itself speaks of nature in neutral language. Some scientists will use atheistic language, yet Christians will speak of nature as God’s creation. It helps to understand the vocabulary. Science and technology reveal parts of nature that we cannot detect with our unaided senses and illustrate God’s attributes even more dramatically. Haarsma offered the idea of using science illustration/terms in congregational prayer that worships God as Creator.

Ptifall #2: Scientific explanations do not replace God and conversely, do not worship the god-of-the-gaps—i.e.- praising God mainly for things that science can not explain. The danger here is that when a scientific explanation is found, faith is reduced/damaged. Instead, praise Him for all of Creation, both what science can and cannot explain currently.

Haarsma pointed to Psalm 104, which sees things occurring both ‘naturally’ and by the Hand of God, and what’s more, does so interchangeably. Above all, she begged repeatedly and emphatically, “Please, PLEASE, do not praise God for your scientific ignorance!” (Pitfall #3!)

Education:

Other ways to include science in congregational life include going on a nature walk after a church picnic and ending with a song of praise, host a star party after evening worship where a local astronomer can set up their telescope and show what is in that season’s sky, use scientific images in sanctuary banners, work with local health care resources, convert vacant lots near church to gardens/parks, and so on. 

Regardless, always connect activities back to Biblical principles. Showing an informed interest in science will help break down barriers to the Gospel. It can also help equip our youth to better hold on to their faith when in college science classes. It gives us more opportunities to let Christ’s light shine to the world and gives opportunities to praise God for the Glory displayed in nature. Of all people, it is the Bride of Christ who should be the best steward of Creation.

Haarsma concluded with the admonition from Micah 6:8—“Do justice, and love mercy.”

RJW note:  I have very much merged my thoughts and extrapolations with Haarsma’s in this post, more than in others. The nature of the topic and length made it a bit pedantic to keep them fully separate. One thing I do want to add is a strong caution that some of these areas are sufficiently controversial that sincere believers are deeply emotionally connected to different sides of an issue, and just bringing up some topics can trigger strong responses. I recommend before embarking on a science-inclusion campaign that church leadership spend several months preparing a congregation for this, through occasional messages, notes in bulletins, emails, etc. Even bringing the topic of science up can invoke reactions because of the strong anti-science bias even on some elder boards. This is not meant as a discouragement, but an encouragement of a critical area of ministry—moving God’s people from darkness to light, milk to solid food. There will likely be growing pains, so extravagant love and grace are needed.

Similarly, particularly in environmental related issues, there is much that is popular but scientifically uncertain or even disputed or debunked. As you are getting started, stick to principles rather than concrete recommendations and as you learn more, gradually shift. Science is dynamic, and some ‘discoveries’ made one day are shown the next to have significant holes. Think about how often the medical journals report something as healthy or dangerous only to have it reversed in the next study.

For example, one area of which I am highly skeptical is that of the CFL lightbulbs. My experience is they rarely last significantly longer than traditional bulbs. Also, their manufacturing is much more involved, taking more resources to make them, use much more hazardous materials (primarily mercury) which are disposal hazards, are typically made in parts of the world where manufacturing standards are not as environmentally friendly, which makes them more dangerous than incandescent bulbs for the manufacturing environment, and the price difference is not offsetting for the supposed benefit. It is important to consider the ‘cradle-to-grave’ impact of ‘green’ technology, not just the user’s impact. I have a lot of hope in the new LED light bulbs. They are cheaper, more versatile, simpler, and less hazardous. Their key drawback now is brightness. In time, this should be corrected. In the meantime, I’m stocking up on incandescent bulbs before they are banned in 2012. There are similar issues regarding the electric and hybrid cars. Start with awareness and principles, love and grace, glorifying God, and see where He leads on specifics.

SDG

Vibrant Dance: Worship and Artistic Interlude

There were a couple of ‘features’ throughout the conference that I have heretofore ignored: several sessions of “Worship and Artistic Interlude” and testimonies of various speakers. I tended to miss some of these due to volunteer activities and frankly due to being unimpressed with some of the ‘artistic interludes.’ Several involved a liturgical dance group, and of all the arts, dance speaks to me least and can be distracting. However, some sessions were quite enjoyable and worshipful, and when I could hear the testimonies I tried to take notes, and will share them.

The evening interlude was a non-dance one—Deborah Haarsma from Calvin College (Astronomy) shared with us a worshipful devotion based on the beauty of the heavens and sharing in course various Scriptures, including the classic idea of the heavens declare His glory, power, and faithfulness.

Let’s ourselves take an interlude of worship and meditate on Scriptures that compare God and the astronomical Glory He has displayed there.

This is what the LORD says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night and established the laws of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.’” Jeremiah 33:25-26

Yet their voice[a] goes out into all the earth,

   their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

   and makes its circuit to the other;

   nothing is deprived of its warmth.

                                Psalm 19:4-6

LORD, our Lord,

   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory

   in the heavens.

Through the praise of children and infants

   you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

   to silence the foe and the avenger.

 When I consider your heavens,

   the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

   which you have set in place,

 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

   human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels

   and crowned them with glory and honor.

You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

   you put everything under their[g] feet:

all flocks and herds,

   and the animals of the wild,

the birds in the sky,

   and the fish in the sea,

   all that swim the paths of the seas.

 LORD, our Lord,

   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

                                Psalm 8

Praise the LORD, my soul;

   all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, my soul,

   and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

   and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

   and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The LORD works righteousness

   and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

   his deeds to the people of Israel:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

   slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

   nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

   or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

   so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 As a father has compassion on his children,

   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

   he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

   they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

   and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,

   and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant

   and remember to obey his precepts.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

   and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the LORD, you his angels,

   you mighty ones who do his bidding,

   who obey his word.

Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,

   you his servants who do his will.

Praise the LORD, all his works

   everywhere in his dominion.

   Praise the LORD, my soul.

                                                Psalm 103

SDG