My Faith's Resting Place - God's Word or Science?

My early days of ‘rediscovering Adventism’ were particularly interesting and full of joy. This was the year 2014 to around 2015.  Until then I had not really experienced the joy of being an Adventist because previously I was merely an Adventist by virtue of being born in an Adventist home or an Adventist by association. Now I was an Adventist by conviction and this was so exciting. Studying our ADVENTIST books and literature was one thing I really loved and I was not getting enough of it. The Spirit of prophecy writings by Ellen G White were particularly inspiring and enriching and I was always looking forward to the Sabbath.

However, my honeymoon did not last long. I soon realized that there was controversy in almost every teaching/doctrine in the Adventist church. For each teaching, there was at least two versions. Be it the 1888 Message, the Sanctuary, Investigative judgement, 2520 and prophetic periods, Covenants, the nature of Christ, definition of Sin, Church leadership, the Spirit of Prophecy, the health message and in just about everything there was something controversial. For somebody who is excited and rediscovering Adventism, I was disappointed and at times confused.  In all these debates and controversies, every person quotes the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy writings.  Of course, quoting conveniently, there is always something for everybody.

During that period of confusion and seeking grounding, I happened to read two books that took me right into the midst of the controversies. ‘Must We Be Silent’ and ‘Receiving the Word’ both by Samuel Korateng Pipim. Of all the controversies one could expect, I did not expect the Bible and Creation to be controversial.  In the controversies, it had appeared to me that at least we had the Bible and Creation right and we were joyfully commemorating GOD’S Creation through the weekly Sabbath. Appearances can be deceiving! With continued studying and to my sorrow, it became evident to me that just like there was divergent views on every teaching in Adventism, CREATION and the interpretation of the Bible were deeply controversial. Honestly, this is not what I had signed up for.

‘Truth by definition is mutually exclusive’. If A is Truth, B is obviously false and here I am faced with inclusivity and pluralism on everything. It was a bit sickening.  One thing led to another and I began a journey trying to understand biblical interpretation and CREATION. I had previously thought it was so simple and so obvious until I started considering materials from Adventist scholars on Creation and the Genesis accounts on creation. There are scores of materials on this debate one can get from the many FAITH AND SCIENCE CONFERENCES that have been held by the General conference and few other local conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

From the onset, it was clear to me that depending on the school of thought one subscribed to, the accounts of Genesis Chapter 1 all the way to Genesis Chapter 11 could have diverse interpretations depending on who is reading. Creationism and biblical interpretation was at the center of this controversial debate. Is the Creation account in Genesis Chapter 1 and 2 literal, chronological, historical and did it occur in six literal 24- hour days? Alternatively, is the account poetic and allegorical? Is the Creation account Theology or Science? Is the Bible really interested in telling us the how of Creation or the Who? I was being confronted with “The Many Faces of Adventist Creationism’ and "The Conflict Over Origins."

In my search I came across statements like, ‘Concerning historical and scientific matters, the Bible is errant; it contains myths; its purpose is salvation, not science”. This was concerning. In addition, the explanations on days being long geological ages spanning millions of years was not convincing. The Creationists were convincing in their arguments in support of a literal six-day creation except for only one ‘small’ problem, they could not give a satisfactory explanation on what a day is without ‘fixing’ themselves. The definition of the creationists of what a ‘day’ is, was borrowed and it came with borrowed troubles that I thought they should have foreseen.

Their definition of day being the time it takes the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis around the SUN, immediately raised an obvious question.  How can one have a first, second and third literal "day" before the creation of the SUN? How do creationists reconcile the Sun centered definition of day with the fact that literal chronological reading of Genesis puts the creation of the Sun on the fourth day?

In my mind, something had to give; either reject the literal and chronological reading of the Genesis Creation account or solve the ‘Solar-based day’ issue.  On this particular issue, the Adventist CREATION scholars were not helping much. From my reading of their arguments and explanations, I understood them to be saying that the biblical six-day Creation has some few ‘scientific problems’ but it is not a reason to abandon it. I was not impressed. I had to find answers for myself.  Remember I had already read ‘Receiving the Word’, ‘Must we be Silent’ and in my studies about the one true GOD I had come across ‘Miller’s rules of Bible interpretation’. So, giving up literal and chronological reading of the Genesis creation account was not an option for me.  Where do I go from here?

My next logical step was to try to understand the SOLAR SYSTEM/heliocentric model and as providence would have it, my feet wandered into ‘unfamiliar territories’ or should I say into “conspiracy theories’ as the views that are against the official narratives are commonly called.

 In my studies about heliocentric model, it was not lost on me that the theory/model emerged as Rome’s counter-reformation efforts.  Due to the resurgence of the Bible and its translation to the languages of the people, the Papacy had to wrestle from the hearts of men faith in the Scriptures.  In addition, what better way could they do it than teach men that the Genesis creation account is poetic and allegorical with no literal chronological order. Introducing ‘learning against learning’, they say. This was quite similar to my early troubles in Adventism of their being a controversy in every teaching/doctrine. Here the JESUITS have been brilliant in overwhelming us and keeping us in a constant state of disputes as per plan. “Since printing cannot be put down, it is best to set up learning against learning, and by introducing all persons to dispute, to suspend the laity between fear and controversy. This at most will make them attentive to their superiors and teachers.” Cardinal Wolsey.

To me this debate on the GENESIS CREATION ACCOUNT, BIBLICAL COSMOLOGY and THE HELIOCENTRIC MODEL of cosmology has not been merely about science (the good and the bad). It is a matter of biblical inspiration, authority, and interpretation.  ‘Jesus answered him, "What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?" Good News Translation, LUKE 10:26.

As Ellen White puts it, “…those who leave the Word of God, and seek to account for His created works upon scientific principles, are drifting without chart or compass upon an unknown ocean. The greatest minds, if not guided by the Word of God in their research, become bewildered in their attempts to trace the relations of science and revelation…” Patriarchs and prophets pg.113.4.

When the findings of science conflict with the literal reading of scriptures, do I make science the yardstick and hold the teachings of Scripture hostage to current scientific interpretations of data? Should knowledge from science inform and shape my understanding of Scripture or should knowledge from the Bible inform and shape my understanding of Science?

I will conclude this by the common story told about ‘the Emperor’s new clothes’ It is a story of a proud and vain emperor who had an obsession with fancy new clothes. One day, two conmen visited the emperor pretending to be fashion designers and they offered to supply him with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are either incompetent or stupid. When the emperor paraded around in clothes that are invisible, no one said anything because everybody thought that if they could not see the clothes, they are stupid, ignorant, or insane.  Every adult was ‘seeing’ the ‘invisible clothes’ and the sham continued until a child exclaimed, "The emperor has no clothes!".

The heliocentric theory plus other theories of modern science have become so popular and widely accepted that it is difficult for anyone to question them without being branded as "ignorant, stupid, or insane."  Who will dare say that ‘the emperor is naked? A child will say it. God will have children who will read the language of scriptures and accept it in its literal simplicity.  ‘Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts." — Isaiah 28:9 KJV

There has been a long term and sustained attack on the true science of God’s creation. I have had to make a choice. God’s Word or ‘science falsely so called’. Evolution, the Big Bang theory and the spinning globe in the heliocentric model are closely intertwined. This always flew under my radar. How was I not seeing it? The Big Bang theory is an inseparable part of the science needed to sustain heliocentric model.  One cannot effectively and fully be ‘exorcised’ from the magic of evolution, without first discovering the fact the heliocentric model laid the ground for evolution.

Our loving heavenly FATHER is good, He is near, not located billions of light years away; He has His throne just above the firmament, and is constantly observing and taking care of the inhabitants of Earth below. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." KJV, psalms 19:1 and truly, "GOD’S word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" Psalm 119:105 KJV.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:…WHO LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH, THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED FOR EVER.” Psalms 104:1-5

I do not have all the answers yet but yes, my faith has found a resting place, not in a manmade creed but in the written word of God.