“If all truth is God’s truth — and I believe it is — then dividing things into sacred and secular is a false dichotomy. Every -ology is a branch of theology!”- Mark Batterson
“Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, having been understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”- Romans 1:20 (NIV)
In his opening comments to Part 1 (“God Most High”) of A Million Little Miracles, Mark Batterson tells the story of renowned Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546- 1601). In addition to his study of the stars, Brahe practiced spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and meditation.
Therefore, Pastor Batterson views science as our friend. And, as Annie Dillard once asked:
“What is the difference between a cathedral and a physics lab? Are they not both saying: Hello?”
By 1592, Markl notes, Tycho Brahe had catalogued 777 starts. Above all, Brahe paved the way for his protege, Johannes Kepler. Kepler discovered the laws that govern planetary motion.
Certainly, creation is much larger than we can imagine. For example, Mark states, astronomers estimate that two hundred sextillion stars exist in the observable universe. However, Mark cautions, many people seem quite content with their catalog of 777 stars. As a result, they settle for a god they can measure and manage — the flannelgraph god. A cognitive bias called narrow framing.
In conclusion, Pastor Batterson exhorts:
“The bigger God gets, the more holy confidence I have. A high view of God doesn’t just change what we believe. It changes who we are. You are more than a conqueror! Even when you don’t feel like it, it doesn’t change your identity in Christ. . . .
Permission to speak frankly? Most of us pray like God is omnipotent, but we act like is impotent. . . . If we believe God is omnipotent, let’s live like it. To the infinite, all things are equal. There are no degrees of difficulty. There is no impossible.”
Today’s question: Do you, like Mark, see a false dichotomy between the sacred and the secular? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Hidden in plain sight”