A Career in Science
(The following is an edited email correspondence.)
I have somehow come across your books, and I feel very fortunate to have done so. I am having a little problem, and after having read much of your materials, you are the only one I know of that I trust can give me a wise solution to it.
After quite a while of digesting scientific "creationist" materials, the truth of the Bible became apparent to me. I was in my 3rd year of a 6 year term in the Navy when I realized this, and in my 4th year I was convinced that I was called to go to college and become a creation scientist. After praying quite earnestly, I was permitted to leave the Navy after only 4 years, and was allowed to keep all of my education benefits. This, to me, constituted a confirmation of what I was supposed to study — and I chose to study biology and geology.
However, after reading your materials in depth, and listening to some lectures from Gordon H. Clark that I downloaded, I now realize the futility of empiricism — the best I could do to defend the faith as a scientist is to defeat the theory of evolution, using its own flawed methods. Now, I am not certain whether I am choosing the correct path.
I have given my life to the Lord, and want to use my life to bring honor and glory to His name, but I want to do it the best way that I can. My problem is that I was entirely convinced that I am supposed to go to college and become a scientist. However I now see it's ultimate futility, because even if scientists eventually overturn the theory of evolution using empiricism, some evil-minded fool will invent some other anti-biblical theory.
I was hoping you could give me some guidance on this problem, because as I said, I feel you are the only one I know of that I trust to recieve a wise answer from.
If I have imposed too suddenly or have taken too much of your time, I apologize. Other than that, please keep up the good work, as you are definitely a blessed child of God.
Thank you for your message.
I appreciate your taking the time to clearly explain the problem. Although I cannot include everything that might be helpful to you in an email, I will try to help you think this through.
First, I commend you for accurately understanding my position on scientific arguments. I am referring to your statement, "The best I could do to defend the faith as a scientist is to defeat the theory of evolution, using its own flawed methods." This reflects a proper understanding of my position; that is, I would never say that no one should be a scientist, or that scientific arguments have absolutely no place in apologetics. What I do say is that by the scientific method a person can never obtain any positive knowledge or provide positive justification for any claim, since scientific reasoning is always formally fallacious (it involves empiricism, induction, affirming the consequent, and so on). Of course, this position is unpopular enough, but it would be wrong to infer more than this from what I have written.
As a scientist, all you can do is to use the scientific method better than the unbeliever so as to prove him wrong, so that scientific arguments can have only a negative function in apologetics, but they cannot prove any positive claim. And even from the scientist’s own perspective, any supposedly proven claim can be overturned in the future. The use of science is an optional aspect of apologetics, since it is possible and even easy to refute all anti-biblical scientific arguments without using scientific arguments ourselves. So, science is not completely useless in apologetics, but at best it serves only a negative function, and it is never necessary.
This is relevant to your situation, since in considering whether you should study to become a scientist, it is better to understand what science is, and the proper place of science and scientists. Of course science is never above Scripture, but many people place it almost on the same level with Scripture; and then, there are those who place it below Scripture as support, when it cannot even do that. It is important to understand this because if you think too much of science, then you will expect too much from it (in your case, in what it can accomplish for the Christian cause), and then you will be disappointed and disillusioned.
Take as an analogy a Christian who is wondering if he should become a policeman. This career is certainly a legitimate option for a believer, and it is possible for a believer to glorify God through it. However, if the believer thinks that he can completely and permanently destroy all crimes by becoming a policeman, and that he can even positively turn many people’s hearts toward good, then he has a very unrealistic expectation of what a policeman can do, and he is going to be disappointed and disillusioned.
Similarly, if you choose to pursue a career in science, you must find a realistic reason for it. Since science can never provide positive vindication for the biblical worldview (or for anything else), it follows that you must not pursue a career in science for this reason. Nevertheless, there are other legitimate reasons for pursuing a career in science.
Based on what you wrote, it seems that you were planning to pursue a career in science not only because you would be good at it, but your greatest desire for making the right career choice has to do with promoting and vindicating the Christian faith. Science was going to be the means by which you would attain this end. The problem is that you thought science was something that you now realize it was not, and you thought that it could do something that you now realize it could not do. In any case, it is better that you realize this now than later.
My suggestion is that you should not eliminate science as a career option just yet, but you should also consider other possibilities. If possible, you should more clearly and narrowly define your end, and then consider the means by which you can best attain it, keeping in mind God's providential arrangements, your interests and abilties, and any practical concerns that are relevant to your situation.
After reconsidering your options, you might still want to become a scientist — there is nothing wrong with that in itself, as long as you have a realistic view of science. Nevertheless, now that you realize what science can never do, even if you choose to become a scientist, you should not make science the primary thrust of your apologetic. Instead, your approach should be biblical and presuppositional, and science should at best serve as an ad hominem "arm" of your entire approach. Also, consider the fact that there are other legitimate reasons for becoming a scientist other than to defend the faith. You can glorify God by teaching, by conducting research, and so forth.
Moreover, right now we are not just talking about training in apologetics, but also a career, so you should consider the whole range of relevant issues in making this decision. No, I am not saying that you must choose a vocation that will definitely make you a lot of money, but you should understand what you are getting into when you choose a career.
After considering all your options and all the relevant issues, you might even end up deciding that you should go to a seminary to study theology and then become a preacher, or a writer in theology and apologetics. You should not dismiss this possibility outright.
Also, it might be wise to gather some information about each of the possible career options, including the prospects for each path. You might also want to discuss this with people who care about you and about your faith. This might include your parents, pastor or church elders, friends, and teachers, as well as dedicated Christians who are already involved in the various careers that you are considering.
I also recommend reading my article on biblical guidance (see Godliness with Contentment, chapter 3).
I hope that the above has given you some useful guidelines and suggestions. After thinking about it for a while, if you have other specific questions that you wish to run by me, please feel free to contact me again.
Would you grant me permission to post your message and my response on my blog? This exchange might help other believers think through similar problems.
Thank you for such a speedy reply. Your e-mail is very helpful to me.
Yes, please do use my message for your blog! If my inquiry will help others as well, then I have no problem with that whatsoever.
The truth is, I really don't know what I am, and I still have to give some more thought as to what I am going to do. I will give it some more thought and prayer. Pursuing the knowledge of God is the only thing that has captivated my attention recently, and it continues to do so, unlike some of the other "interests" I've had. All other "interests" I have very recently regarded as somewhat worthless, although I think they had served a purpose in my past. I have always been interested in knowledge and truth, and now I realize that knowledge and truth have no meaning apart from the God of the Bible.
I have downloaded some of John Robbins’ lectures from his site and they are VERY informative. I thank you both for your contributions. Your writings, Mr. Robbins's lectures, and Gordon Clark's lectures seem to be the only sound, logically defensible doctrines I have found. Could I one day study under you or Mr. Robbins? This would be ideal, but the Lord has a plan for me and whatever He is willing, I will do. I consider myself undeserving of even having found your books, and those lectures mentioned.
Keep contending earnestly for the faith, and may many more blessings come upon you.
Thanks for your comments.
There are many more faithful servants of Christ than either of us know about, and you will come across more of them as you continue your studies. God has the pattern of reserving for himself in each generation those who have not compromised the truth (1 Kings 19:18).
I can’t speak for John Robbins, but it would be wonderful if I can take on as students and interns all those who have made such a request. But such a program requires a lot of resources, and right now we are not set up to do it. But I have big plans for the future, including a training institute for theology, apologetics, and ministry, as well as other programs. God willing, this will happen some time in the future, but this will not be a degree program, and it will most likely not happen in time to affect what you do in the next several years. So you will have to make your decision without taking this into account. However, if and when we succeed in establishing such a program, you might want to apply to receive additional training, and maybe to even help us produce more valuable teaching materials for believers everywhere.
Meanwhile, consider your career choice carefully. Remember, if you are going to choose a path that might sometimes make it harder for you to make a living (such as being a minister), you must count the cost. Otherwise, you might just end up hurting yourself and not helping anybody.
If you choose a "safe" path, you might not end up with as much spiritual influence as you might like, but if you do well, then at least you will not bring shame to the kingdom of God. It is all right to be a scientist, or an accountant, or a school teacher, or a housewife, etc., as long as you labor to glorify God as much as you can within your sphere of activity. Of course, I am not discouraging you from choosing the more "risky" path — you just have to count the cost, and understand what you are getting yourself into.
Then, although it is better to make a good decision now, remember that it is also possible to make a change later on in life. So, although your decision is important, it might not absolutely final.
Recommended:
Apologetics for Christian Students
Vincent Cheung, Systematic Theology
Vincent Cheung, Commentary on Ephesians
Vincent Cheung, Ultimate Questions
Vincent Cheung, Presuppositional Confrontations
Vincent Cheung, Apologetics in Conversation
Gordon Clark, Christian Philosophy
Gordon Clark, A Christian View of Men and Things
Gordon Clark, The Lord God of Truth
Gordon Clark, Philosophy of Science and Belief in God