This week I have been spending quite a bit of time with the atheist philosophers and scientists, trying to understand their stance or at least their way of thinking. One of the more famous ones, Richard Dawkins, recently said in an interview that he sees himself as a “cultural Christian” – in other words, He wants the benefits of living in a Christian society without having to contribute to the morals and values that creates that society, except on his terms…
I can accept that.
(There are things I enjoy and admire from other cultures without giving myself over to all of the beliefs and systems.)
In this search, I came across so many interesting scientific factoids, like, when Carl Sagan postulated in the 1960’s that there are 2 things a planet needs to be able to support life, the possibility of finding another planet was virtually guaranteed! But over the last 60 years, every now and again we keep finding “one more thing” that needed to be in place and perfectly timed with the moment of creation of the universe for life to exist (and never mind life, the galaxy as a whole!)
The list has now grown to over 200 critical points, many of whom needs to be just perfect. Any one failure and nothing would exist. The odds against us is just staggering! (and virgin birth, not quite as impossible as we thought…)
This brought me neatly back to 1 Corinthians and God’s Wisdom.
Paul teases that we, as mature Christians understand the wisdom of God. And that those outside God’s “circle” will not understand the mysteries that God is revealing to us.
Paul quotes Isaiah:
“However, as it is written:
’What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him’”
(1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)
It is such a tempting treasure! Fusion and Fision? the secrets of Dark matter? The inner workings of the human Genome? God knows it all. He created it after all.
Imagine a physicist working at CERN vs a 6yr old with a spinning top. The child’s discoveries are mind-bending to himself, but toys for the scientist. I can see God spinning the planets and stars, and then deciding to spin a few the other way, just because… and it destroys mathematical models of astronomy for 200 years!
The secrets of the universe are nothing to God. It is as simple as counting on our fingers… or spinning the top.
So as I am reading and re-reading the chapter on God’s wisdom, I come to understand the connection with the words of Jesus about the greatest commandment.
“None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
(1 Corinthians 2:8 NIV)
God revealing mysteries is probably not in any way related to AI, Genetics or Scientific discovery, but all to do with what you do with the newfound knowledge. Are you sharing or are you hoarding? Are you making life better for all or better for your bank account?
“Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.
What advantage have the wise over fools?
“even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?”
This too is meaningless,
a chasing after the wind…”(Ecclesiastes 6, NIV)
God wants you. He wants a relationship with you. Everything stems from that. The choices we make, the way we act… it is all driven by the relationship.
I remember when I first fell in love with my wife. I found out she loves eating with her fingers and deconstructing food. I found out she adores the smallest flowers, and is fascinated by baby plants. Spending hours trying to figure out her mysteries, and after 30 years, I am still finding things out… This is how I feel about God and opening my Bible every day… something new!
Paul bases his words on how Jesus blew the minds of the religious leaders 2,000 years ago:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
(Matthew 22:37-40)
I think Prof Dawkins has had an epiphany… That the love and care and service professed by Christ and His followers have an unquantifiable and underestimated value that in all his knowledge and wisdom, he completely missed and cannot understand because the sacrifice of self is beyond his comprehension and ability.
Which begs the question: What will I do today to live my calling?
Will I fight as hard as Professor Richard Dawkins for what I believe in? Will I work as hard on my calling?
Be blessed!
