Ken Ham vs. Bill Nye - Has God lost control? (Does Randomness in Nature mean God does not Govern?)

Part 5 of 5 of the Ken Ham vs. Bill Nye series                            

Tonight is the night. Countless viewers will stream what some are calling the debate of the century.  Everything is on the line. Will the truth of God prevail? Or will the Nietzsche

’s conclusion be reached that “God is dead. We have killed him. Yet his shadow still remains.”

Will Nye prove that life happens by random chance? Or will Ham prove God is in control? After all isn’t that the implication of evolution? Life is the result of random processes and therefor there is no need to interject God.

Christians often say that life on earth is so amazing and complex that it could not have possibly come about through chance. Today I want to again take a look at how our worldview shapes our philosophical interpretation of science.

What does  “random” mean, and is there really a good reason to be afraid of it? Here are a few thoughts from the book “Origins” that will help better grasp this.

“When scientist say that something is random, they mean that the outcome is unpredictable.” It sounds scary, but it is not. For example, the weather is scientifically random. This scientific view of chance is completely compatible with the Bible view of God’s governance.

The disciples cast lots (played dice) to decide whom to replace Judas with.  This was highly unpredictable way to choose a disciple, but they understood that God could see every possible outcome and would persuade events one way or the other as he willed. The act was scientifically random, but God had no less control.

The leap is made from science to philosophy whenever the word “chance” is used to mean “lack of cause.“  The interpretation is made that something that has unpredictable outcome is without purpose. Of course this might not always be the case.  The disciple’s act was scientifically random, but still very purpose driven.

Science does not challenge our Bible based belief that God governs the natural world even if it appears to be (scientifically) random from our point of view. So relax the next time next time someone says life is produced through random events. Then understand that claims about intent and purpose(or lack there of) are philosophical/theological regardless of which side makes the claim. Either way science isn't the bad guy. 

Bonus:

Here is a trick to help you better convey that the world has intended purpose.

When you say, “Life on earth could not have happened by random chance” replace the words “random chance” with the words “without God.”

Check out my upcoming book at www.adhogan.com