Counsel #13 — A Trustworthy Source

Picture: Counsel #13 — A Trustworthy SourceCSe 23.1

Is the Bible not a science textbook? This question is often used to suggest that the Bible lacks accurate scientific information, focusing solely on spiritual matters. However, the Bible claims to be divinely inspired. Consider this: if its divine Author knows less about science than we do, can we trust its spiritual insights? The Bible asserts that life forms on earth were created in six days. If this is false, does anything else it says hold value? Can the Bible’s God communicate accurately or know historical facts? Either the Bible and its God are entirely trustworthy, or they are not worth our time. The Bible may not be a comprehensive science textbook, but the scientific information it includes is accurate and worthy of complete trust. It provides essential knowledge, leaving the rest for us to discover.^{[21]https://files.circle.adventistlearningcommunity.com/files/CD2008/CD1/ict/vol_26B/26Bcc_139-162.pdf}CSe 23.2

“God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! Evening came, then morning—that was the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth and everything else were created. By the seventh day God had finished his work, and so he rested.” Genesis 1:31-2:2 CEVCSe 23.3

“The Creator and His works are beyond their comprehension; and because they cannot explain these by natural laws, Bible history is considered unreliable. Those who doubt the reliability of the records of the Old and New Testaments, will be led to go a step farther, and doubt the existence of God….” Ellen White in Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 307CSe 23.4

Reflect: What does it mean to you to have faith in the Bible and to integrate faith and reason?CSe 23.5