Loading...
Larger font
Smaller font
Copy
Print
Contents
  • Results
  • Related
  • Featured
No results found for: "".
  • Weighted Relevancy
  • Content Sequence
  • Relevancy
  • Earliest First
  • Latest First
    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents

    CHAPTER XV. THE STUDY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE

    IN the realm of physical science the Bible is not the direct and full treatise that it is in the mental and moral sciences. Yet all that is said in the Bible touching any of the physical sciences is as certainly true as is what is therein said on any other subject.PBE 147.1

    For instance, the Bible said that the atmosphere has “weight” three thousand years before Torricelli discovered and announced it to astonished because benighted Europe. The Bible said that one star differs from another star in brightness and beauty—“in glory”—more than seventeen hundred years before astronomers discovered that it was actually a difference in glory instead of in distance. The Bible said that there is “healing” in the sun’s rays, two thousand two hundred and ninety years before medical science made the discovery of it. 1[Page 147] Upon the authority of that Scripture text alone, the writer of this book, in public addresses, urged physicians to search for that healing in the sun’s rays, before Dr. Finsen made his scientific discovery of his ancient Biblical-scientific truth.PBE 147.2

    These instances are sufficient for illustration, though many more might be cited. These statements of the Bible were all these ages true—scientifically true. If men had read the Bible with anointed eyes and enlightened minds, and had believed simply what it said, they would have all these ages know these scientific truths. And the men who did believe these Bible statements seventeen hundred to three thousand years ago, knew these scientific truths as certainly as any scientist or anybody else has known them since their discovery.PBE 147.3

    When the Bible is studied with enlightened and devout mind, it will very soon be discovered that there is far more therein said touching natural philosophy and physical science than is believed even by the vast majority of Christians. And in all these things speaking the truth in the perfection of knowledge, the Bible is thus the true guide in the study of physical science as well as in the study of the mental and moral sciences. The Bible is therefore altogether worthy to be the text-book in physical science as well as in every other line of study, and should be given that place, in every Christian school. In this book it would be too much to undertake extensively to trace each phase of physical science as touched in the Bible. All that can he here attempted is merely a brief running sketch illustrative of how, and how trustworthily, the Bible can be used as at least the test book in the realm of physical science in Christian schools.PBE 148.1

    The Bible is the true and perfectly reliable basis of the study of physical science, because it is the true and perfectly reliable record of creation. And Creation, not evolution, is the origin of all things. Creation by the Word of God being the origin of all physical as of all spiritual existences under God, Revelation by the Word of God is the true and reliable source of all instruction in physical as well as in spiritual science. As already indicated (page 134,) true knowledge and understanding of the physical creation are acquired by precisely the same means as are knowledge and understanding of the spiritual creation: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3. Much has in recent years been made of “natural law in the spiritual world.” That is well. But far more needed than is that, and far more profitable, to be made far more of, is the reverent recognition and devout study of spiritual law in the natural world. Faith, faith is the way to knowledge and understanding in the physical as in the spiritual world: for all worlds are of God, by the Word of God; as is faith also of God, by the Word of God. Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6, 9; Hebrews 11:3; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 10:17.PBE 148.2

    Many even of professed Christians are quite incredulous of the proposition that for Christians the Bible must be the basis of all true education and the textbook in every line of study. They “can not see how this can be so,” because they do not believe it; and then will not believe it, because they can not see it. But the only real ground of this incredulity is the exceedingly small place that the Bible occupies in their lives. That place is so very small, so utterly narrow and confined, that in their estimation, to undertake to make the Bible the basis of all education and the textbook in every line of study, is equivalent to teaching practically nothing at all. It is therefore literally the truth that the attitude which each one occupies toward this proposition publishes the measure that the Bible occupies in that person’s life.PBE 149.1

    However, there is a very common mistake that is made with respect to the use of the Bible as the textbook in all studies. With many the idea obtains that this means that the Bible must be the only study-book: the only book used in school. Even if this were so, used by those who know the Bible, it would be far better than is now done in popular education. But that is not by any means what is meant. There is a very material difference between a text-book and a study-book. This mistake or thinking that the Bible as the text-book means the Bible as the only study-book came about by the fact that in the schools of the day all study-books are called text-books. To the teachers these books are supposed to be text-books; while to the students they are expected to be study-books. But instead of the study-books of the students being textbooks to the teachers, nine times out of ten the textbooks are study-books to the teachers; and the teachers do not get out of the text-books, and the students hardly ever get into the study-book.PBE 150.1

    The Bible is a book of principles, that are the sure guide in the right way in everything that pertains to the life. The Bible as the text-book therefore is not the Bible merely as a storehouse of worthy sentiments, sayings, or mottoes, from which can be selected a sentence or a verse as the basis of a lecture, or the suggestion of a disquisition. The Bible as the text-book is the Bible as the book of divine principles which are the life and guide of study, the light to lighten the path of the student, that the truth, and only the truth, in philosophy and science, shall be known. The use of the Bible as the text-book of all study is to know in the Bible the principle, to plant yourself upon that principle as your firm basis and sure guide, and then from this basis and in the light of this principle use all the realm of nature, revelation, and human experience as the study-book.PBE 150.2

    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents