Understanding Science Through Faith

Science can be a scary word for Bible-believing Christians. It has been twisted by those in our society whose agenda is to push God out of the equation. But the problem lies with the worldview of the scientist, not with science itself.

Hebrews 11:3 says that it is “by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”  We must have faith in the truth of the Bible first. Only then are we ready to use science to understand how the physical evidence supports Scripture.

Understanding the relationship between science and the Bible should be important to parents since science is often one of the primary reasons families choose to homeschool. You don’t want your children exposed to a secular view of science in which the role of God in creation is marginalized as a theory or not present at all. As a result, Christian homeschool families like yours turn to Christian publishers to provide textbooks that give God His rightful place as Designer and Creator of the universe.

That’s exactly the right thing to do, but it only deals with the first part of Genesis 1. That’s only half of what children need to know to have a truly biblical worldview of science.

Once your children understand by faith that science supports the Bible and does not contradict it, they’re ready to learn about its second purpose. Genesis 1:26–28 instructs mankind to subdue and have dominion over the earth. Your children need to know that science is one of the tools God has provided for us to use to improve our lives and be good stewards of His earth. It can be used to subdue the earth and make things better for our neighbors. All of these are things God has commanded us to do.

Construction workers use science to build houses for us to live in. Farmers use science to grow larger quantities of food. God has clearly made science an important part of our lives, but even this aspect requires an understanding based on faith. No human act can ultimately undo the damage caused by Adam’s Fall.

We can use science to fulfill God’s directives and make our lives more comfortable, but science itself is not the answer to all of our problems. It’s important that your children are taught to have a biblical worldview of science that allows them to appreciate it as a tool God has given us but also shows them the limitations of science.

Not all science programs are created equal. Parents who want their children to have a truly biblical worldview need to use a science program that doesn’t just accurately teach the facts about creation, but one that also prepares students to use science to glorify God and obey His instructions.

You can learn about the BJU Press science curriculum here.