Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Jesus Creed

Home
Evangelical
A Pastor’s Approach to Science (RJS)

A Pastor’s Approach to Science (RJS)

Last updated on: September 11, 2012 at 7:58 am by RJS

A Pastor’s Approach to Science (RJS) 2012-09-11T07:58:14-05:00 RJS

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Recently BioLogos posted a talk given by Pastor Joel Hunter at the March 2012 Theology of Celebration Workshop. I was at this workshop, and have had the privilege of meeting Joel Hunter a couple of times. He approaches the issue of science and faith with discernment, wisdom, and a pastor’s heart for his people. This means that he neither forces evolution down the throats of his congregation nor avoids the issue. To force the issue would be disrespectful of those devout Christians for whom evolution is the enemy, especially true in the South (his church is in Florida). To ignore the issue is to abandon those struggling over the apparent conflict between the science they’ve come to understand and faith in Jesus Christ.

This was an outstanding talk when originally delivered, and nearly as good (although not as powerful) as a written blog post. I strongly recommend the whole thing – A Pastor’s Approach to Science – not just the bits I highlight and comment on here.

In the United States the central task of most evangelical pastors is to exegete Scripture in ways that it continues God’s story (as fulfilled in His Son) in our present and personal lives. Such a task demands a comprehensive approach. We are not mere intellectual depositories, or we would be Gnostics. We are not summaries of moral right and wrong actions, or behavior modification would be all we need. We are not only spirit, or meditation/worship would be our exclusive activity. We have bodies and we reside in a physical world that is not only our environment, but a part of God’s ongoing revelation of Himself (Romans 1:20).

Is it possible to fully understand and practice Scripture without connecting with science? If science reveals God’s attributes, how can we fully relate to Him without some ongoing reference to the information revealed in scientific inquiry? Even more specifically, as preaching pastors, how many are we excluding if we ignore important facets of our congregations’ worldviews?

Hunter gives three guidelines that that shape his approach to science, and especially evolution, in the context of a sermon – as this is a key teaching opportunity in an evangelical church – and in the context of the church as a whole.

I decided on a hermeneutical approach. How would God’s patterns in creation published in scientific findings inform my understanding of Scripture?

…

I would use the “Dialogue” (W.G. Pollard Physicist and Christian: a dialogue between the communities, 1961) approach, since it emphasizes insight and investigation rather than answers, thereby leading to a sense of wonder and worship. Such an approach minimizes the hubris of knowledge (that will almost certainly pass away) and the hostility toward different perspectives.

I decided on a related-referential model rather than an issue-oriented one.

… So I use science as “now what do you make of that?” kind of illustration rather than an argument for my perspective.

The model must also fit the personality of the church. In our church issue-oriented subjects must be taught in classes or small groups where people have the chance to question/comment in ways not usually done in response to sermons.

Our church has decided that being a witness of the incarnate Christ means engaging, and learning from, the world as it is presently.

Following God’s example in Christ is entering into the world and serving in all its realms: spiritual, emotional, physical, and social.

Christ used the common knowledge people already had (much of it from nature) to reveal God.

That the model must fit the personality and location of the church is an important point. An appropriate approach in Longwood Florida where Joel Hunter is located, will differ from an appropriate approach for Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City and the people Tim Keller aims to reach, and both of these will differ from an appropriate approach for a church in a major University town desiring an effective ministry building disciples among students, scientists, and scholars.

But Hunter makes another important point – one I think fits not just his church but a wide range of churches. “In our church issue-oriented subjects must be taught in classes or small groups where people have the chance to question/comment in ways not usually done in response to sermons.” By and large “we” (i.e. large swaths of evangelicalism) have abandoned classes as “so 1960’s” for a church mix consisting only of general audience sermons (often intentionally simple so as not to put off the seeker) and amateur led small groups with little effective guidance and insufficient expertise (and too often remarkably large dollops of errant thinking). We have no forum for effectively introducing issues-oriented subjects to the audiences who need to wrestle with the ideas. There are many issues in 21st century Christianity that are not well suited to the sermon – small group program.

Summary Thoughts … From the last section of Hunter’s post:

My goal as a pastor is to equip the saints in my sphere of influence to see Christ and to worship Him. If those in my influence only can see God in Scripture, then they are half blind. But if we together can help each other see the unfolding redemptive purposes of every realm – of scientific inquiry, of business practice, of artistic expression, of church/family support for every individual in every field of endeavor – then we will be not only 20-20 but 3-D in every direction!

Of course, such a result will require a more comprehensive approach in preaching. And such comprehension will require a continuing dialogue with those who can help us see the truth from different perspectives.

I really like the way Joel Hunter put this – and would like to twist it a little to my perspective:

My goal as a Christian and a scientist in the church is to equip the saints in my sphere of influence to see Christ and to worship Him and to see the unfolding redemptive purpose in the realm of my field – scientific inquiry.

We don’t need a dialogue between communities. We need a dialogue within our community – the church of Jesus Christ. We need dialogue between and teaching from Christians with expertise in Greek, Hebrew, Cosmology, Biology, Chemistry and more (Hunter adds Business, Art, and we could extend the list). All are parts of the body of Christ. We need a dialogue respecting expertise on all sides, and this comes most effectively in personal relationships and face to face discussions.

Pastors, What do you think of Joel Hunter’s approach to science?

How can we engage Christians with expertise in science in this dialogue?

Here is another question – I’d like different perspectives on this question.

Does the pressure on a pastor to be the leader, the “go to man” with the answers, stand in the way of effective dialogue?

If you wish to contact me directly you may do so at rjs4mail[at]att.net.

If interested you can subscribe to a full text feed of my posts at Musings on Science and Theology.

Church

Pastoring and Preaching

Science and Faith

Previous Post

September 11, 2012

A New Position Challenged

Next Post

September 11, 2012 Bible Back in Schools

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How was the land divided among the tribes of Israel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

By age By family wealth By strength in battle By casting lots