6.14 EXPLORING
GOD'S CREATION
In 1991 Synod took
several actions with respect to issues concerned with creation and science.
Fundamental to the issues on which Synod made declarations and gave pastoral
advice is the understanding of theorizing. Nicholas Wolterstorff poses
the question as follows:
The Christian who
is a scholar finds himself in two communities: the community of his
fellow Christians and the community of his fellow scholars. Each has
its own criteria for membership, its own characteristic practices, its
own characteristic training programs. . . . if one who is a scholar
as well as a Christian wants coherence in life — or even if he
only wants self-understanding — he cannot help asking, how does
my membership in these communities fit together? . . . The basic issue
behind our question is that of the role of one's Christian commitment
in one's practice of scholarship. . . . it is a theory of theorizing
that we need along with an understanding of the nature of Christian
commitment. (Reason Within the Bounds of Religion, Wm.B. Eerdmans,
1976, pp. 21-22.)
For the above reason,
in its "Pastoral Advice" (Acts of Synod, Article 93) the synod
urged the church's scholars to reflect on their obligations with respect
to sensitive issues of faith and learning. In response, Calvin College
presents the following affirmations and principles, describes its understanding
of the Synodical action, and provides general guidance for teaching and
writing on potentially controversial issues.
Affirmations:
As
followers of Jesus Christ,
living in this
world -
which some
seek to control,
but which others view with despair -
we declare with joy and trust:
Our world belongs to God.
(A Contemporary Testimony, par. 1)
Our world not only
belongs to God, but it was created and is sovereignly governed according
to God's will. God has specially equipped some to explore the structures
of the created world and the structures of governance that are woven into
that world and through which God reveals himself Lord. Recognition of
God's ownership and sovereignty demands that we be faithful in our exploration:
open to the cleansing light of revelation, always subservient to God's
word in scripture and creation.
Of course, as creatures
of this world's dust, we belong to God too, and we must not forget that
our deepest belonging rests with Christ's work and not our own. Our identity
as God's children is neither enhanced nor eroded by the correctness or
incorrectness of our theories or by the inability either to grasp or to
accept such theories. We recognize the obedient exploration of creation
as the legitimate task of some, but the ultimate salvation of none.
These affirmations
find their place not in a vacuum, nor in some ivory tower, but in the
context of a liberal-arts college serving a confessional community. Consequently
these affirmations have implications in our scholarly work and can create
tensions as we interact with our several communities. The obligations
we have to our disciplines, our theological tradition, and our confessional
community all have to be respected, even when they seem to pull us in
different directions. However, while we are accountable to distinct communities
with differing standards, our final accountability must be to God.
At Calvin College,
we claim and enjoy an academic freedom that comes from the freedom we
have in Jesus Christ as Lord of life and learning. Within our confessional
terminology, academic freedom might better be understood as our God-given
liberty in the academic profession to which we are called. In our vocation,
we have the right and responsibility to explore thoughts and confront
theories not always comfortable to ourselves or members of our constituency.
But we exercise this freedom with a view toward our largest obligation,
ultimately to bring every thought captive in submission to Jesus Christ.
Principles:
The position taken
by 1991 Synod seems to embody the following general principles:
- Christian scholars
have a responsibility and mandate to pursue research and scholarship
into all areas of God's creation.
- The proper calling
of the church is to proclaim Scripturally-mandated beliefs which guide
obedient theorizing (whether scientific, philosophical, theological,
or other).
- The beliefs in
question involve, among others, such essentials to the faith as creation,
sin, redemption, and human uniqueness in imaging God.
- Beyond the central
core of Christian beliefs, the church in its ecclesiastical assemblies
is neither called nor equipped to pronounce on technical aspects of
scholarly theories, and therefore must respect the scholar's calling
and freedom to explore creation.
- Christian scholars
must exercise responsible pastoral wisdom in both theorizing and espousal
of theories, must be sensitive to the needs and expectations of the
various audiences with whom they communicate, and must accept the burden
of establishing both the professional and confessional legitimacy of
their particular work.
The Task of the College:
Part of the mission
of Calvin College is "to produce substantial and challenging art and scholarship"
(The Mission of Calvin College: Vision, Purpose, Commitment). Consequently,
the College should encourage the scholarship and research activities of
its faculty. Such activities should always be done with a critical sensitivity
to philosophical foundations and an acknowledgement of the often close
and reciprocal relationship between worldviews and theories. The College
should also encourage communal dialogue on and assessment of the formulations
of such research; such review should consider the implications of worldview
as well as the commitments and capabilities of the intended audience for
that research.
While affirming the
important role of and mandate for scholarship, the Pastoral Advice expresses
a concern about the grip that scientific theories may have on persons
who accept them uncritically and those who do not understand the assumptions
implicit in scientific work. In its action, Synod 1991 seemed to be looking
for assurance that the scholars of the church not only believe the teachings
of scripture and the Reformed confessions and relate these beliefs to
their science and teaching, but also exercise prudence in presenting the
ideas in teaching and writing. As an academic community we share these
concerns. We understand the tentative nature of all theorizing and affirm
the duty of all scholars always to remain open to new evidence, both exegetical
and empirical.
With respect to the
particular case of the creation-science controversy, the College should
continue to promote and support research that deals with the historical
and developmental aspects of the world and of human life.
