Science, Falsely So Called

In the first letter to Timothy, chapter six and verses twenty and twenty-one, it mentions “science, falsely called.” This letter says: “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called . . .” the word, “science” was translated from a Greek word that means “knowledge.” The English word, science, has several meanings, so it’s hard to know what people mean when they say, “science.” False knowledge takes many forms, but the truth is different: truth is absolute.

A man I know was out in one of the Canadian provinces at a shopping center. When he came out to go to his car, there was suddenly a snow storm that resulted in a complete white out. When the snow is so intense that all that can be seen is white, it’s referred to as a white out. When a white out occurs, people can die because they lose their orientation and can’t find shelter. They are totally blinded by the snow. That’s what happened to this man I know. He walked out of the store and was totally lost in the storm and in danger. At this same moment, another man I know was some distance away and looked outside. Seeing that there was a white out, he felt a desire to pray. He asked the people there with him to join him in prayer, stating that someone may be in danger out in this white out. They prayed, and looked outside. The white out was gone and they praised God. The man in the parking lot gave praise to God that God had taken away the white out.

Here is the difference between science falsely so called and true science. It is the difference between that which is falsely called knowledge and truth. One of the speculative assumptions of false science is the assumption that there is no God, or at least that God is not involved in the material universe. Notice that the men mentioned above gave glory to God for what He had done. The meteorologists, on the other hand, became confused. Where had all the snow suddenly gone? Their false science was false because it only accounted for some of the factors involved in the events of weather and denied the possibility of anything outside of the material realm. Assuming that there was no God, they had to rationalize away the event that had just taken place.

A woman I know was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She could no longer dress herself, and the x-rays showed the bone spurs clearly impinging on her nerves. The doctor said that there was very little he could do. She went to a second doctor and got the same story. It just so happened that this woman went to a church that followed the scriptural order of elders overseeing and pastoring the local church with apostles set over the universal church. She called for the elders, who laid hands on her, anointing her with oil and praying according to James five. Two people at that meeting came to her afterwards and told her that they had seen, in a vision, the bone spurs dissolving. That week, she felt considerably better. She found that she could move and dress herself. Going back to the doctor, he became quite agitated. He made this incredible remark about the bone spurs, “Well I don’t know where they went, but they’re gone now.” The doctor was hindered by science, falsely called. He was assuming that God doesn’t heal. The woman and all the faithful who heard about it, on the other hand, were praising God.

I know a Christian man who was driving in his car toward a green traffic light. Suddenly, a loud audible voice said, “Stop!” The man hit the brakes and stopped. He immediately saw a car, that would have hit him broadside, run through the intersection ahead of him. Someone had run a red light, but this man was giving glory to God that God had kept him from being hit. I’m certain that many would use science, falsely so called, to try to cast about for a naturalistic, materialistic explanation. Naturalism is simply the unfounded presupposition that there is no God. Materialism asserts the same thing as materialism does and is just as baseless. The fool had said in his heart, “There is no God.”

We could go on about the broken neck that was suddenly not broken after two x-rays and a cat-scan confirmed that it was broken. We could talk about the abdominal growths that were suddenly gone, the knee that was suddenly made totally normal after confirmed diagnosis. We could talk about hopelessly ruined relationships that have been restored, and job situations and financial situations that have been reversed. We could talk about dead who have been raised to life. For all of these events, there’s no doubt that science, falsely so called, would be scratching around to fabricate some rationalistic explanation, while true knowledge is giving glory to God for what He has done.

These are just some of the events that I, or people whom I know, have witnessed. Others have seen greater things. I’ve read about some of them and marveled. For every time that God moves, those who despise God are working very hard to make it seem as if God were not moving.

Romans 1:18-2:12 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;