Perception of conflict between Scientific Consensus and the Bible

Many people believe the scientific consensus and the Bible must be at odds.  This has been documented in many surveys and polls. I used to think that the two must be at odds. I thought that science must be missing a few things and that I could trust my reading of the Biblical account. While it is true that I can trust the Bible, and that science has currently not explained everything, that does not mean that I was seeing the whole picture. Nor did it mean that ignoring some good information that has been discovered through scientific inquiry is a wise course of action.

What I, and many who see the Bible at odds with the scientific consensus, was missing was that both science and the Bible are gifts from God for us to grow in understanding of the creation that He created. The Bible is the older divinely inspired revelation that God orchestrated through many human authors over a long period of time. Science is a relatively recent discipline that has empowered man to grow in our understanding of the physical universe that we see, touch, smell and hear. The Bible is God revealing Himself to man. Science is man describing the universe that we are a part of.

Does this mean that it is easy to reconcile the two? No and Yes, one needs to do some thinking, but the thinking is not rocket science.  One needs to move beyond being a passive person.

The Christian must not just read the Bible and listen to the occasional teaching about the Bible. The Christian should meditate on theBible.  The Christian should look up the cross-references, and other study aides. Christians should read books by theologians talking about the Bible and see if what the theologian is telling them is true.

If a Christian is called to teach or research in the sciences then they should study well what the scientific consensus is saying and contribute to the scientific process as best they can. Being a good scientist will open doors to discovery and possibly to evangelism. All Christians should faithfully answer their calling in life, that is what it means to follow Jesus the Messiah.