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.
