Wisdom, Knowledge, and Glorifying God

Max Planck, the father of modern physics, once described the integral relationship between faith and science: “Religion and science demand for their foundation faith in God.  For the former (religion), God stands foremost; for the latter (science), at the end of all thought, for religion, He represents a basis; for science, a crowning solution towards a world view.”

Although religion and science are often seen as conflicting with one another, this is merely a falsehood fabricated by post-modernists who have sought to replace God with knowledge. However, such individuals fail to remember that many of history’s greatest scientists were also deeply committed men of faith; for instance, Albertus Magnus, Francis Bacon, and Galileo Galilei.

Although we live in a fallen world, that does not mean we live in utter darkness.

In its purest form, scientific research is meant to be geared toward the pursuit of wisdom. If we search the Bible, it is abundantly clear that the pursuit of wisdom is considered to be a Godly occupation.  As we see in Proverbs 19:8: “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.”  We should not fear the wisdom and knowledge gained from science since such wisdom can be used for the betterment of mankind.

It is the sacred compassion imbued by God in all of humanity that leads to innovations that improve the quality of human life.  For instance, the use of vaccinations which were developed through scientific discovery has drastically decreased child mortality around the world.  Prior to their inventions, hundreds of babies died in infancy.  However, because of these advances in human wisdom, millions of people are alive today who would otherwise be dead.

Yet another example of these wonderful possibilities can be found in the recent headline published by The Hill, pronouncing that the “End of AIDS could happen by 2030.”  The report outlines that many countries have adopted aggressive research-based responses in order to meet the so-called “95-95-95” rule, which means “95 percent of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95 percent of the people who know they’re living with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 percent of people who are on treatment are virally suppressed.”

Whereas an HIV/AIDS diagnosis was once a death sentence, the miracle of modern science has made it possible to not only survive but thrive despite the horrific disease.

Of course, we must always remember that wisdom and knowledge pale in comparison to the power of God: “I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”  Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:16-17).

We must always be careful to remember that our ultimate loyalties are to God and that science is merely a means to an end, not an end in and of itself.  However, we must not become afraid to celebrate the glimmers of the world to come, the glimmers of hope and healing that God has imparted through the wisdom He allows us to discover.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel