Faith, Reason, and the Miracle of Virgin Birth
Summary
In today's reflection, I explored the tension between faith and reason, particularly focusing on the concept of the virgin birth. Many people, including myself at one point, struggle with the miraculous elements of Christianity, viewing them as irrational or incompatible with a scientific worldview. However, through a conversation with a retired Princeton professor and further contemplation, I realized that everyone, regardless of their belief system, accepts some form of miraculous origin story. For Christians, it's the virgin birth of Jesus. For atheists, it's the spontaneous creation of the universe from nothing, as proposed by figures like Stephen Hawking and Clinton Smith. Both perspectives require a leap of faith into the extraordinary.
The universe itself is a testament to the miraculous. We live on a planet spinning at incredible speeds, part of a galaxy hurtling through space, yet we often take this for granted. The regularity and predictability of the universe, such as the consistent strength of gravity, suggest an underlying order that points to a divine creator. This regularity is the foundation of scientific inquiry, and I argue that it only makes sense if God exists. Without God, the coherence and order we observe lack a satisfactory explanation.
The virgin birth, often singled out as the most unbelievable miracle, challenges us on a deeper level. Unlike other miracles, it demands a response from us, as it did from Mary, who accepted God's plan with humility and obedience. This miracle confronts us with the question of control in our lives. Are we willing to surrender our plans and desires to a God capable of creating life from nothing? The virgin birth invites us to trust in God's power to bring life and light into the darkest parts of our hearts.
Key Takeaways:
- The concept of a virgin birth is not exclusive to Christianity; atheists also believe in a form of miraculous origin, such as the universe creating itself from nothing. This highlights that everyone exercises faith in the extraordinary. [02:18]
- The universe's miraculous nature, with its incredible speeds and vastness, often goes unnoticed. Recognizing this can open our eyes to the possibility of miraculous explanations for our existence. [03:22]
- The regularity and predictability of the universe, such as gravity's consistent strength, suggest an underlying divine order. This regularity is essential for scientific inquiry and points to the existence of God. [07:14]
- The virgin birth challenges us to consider our willingness to surrender control of our lives to God. It demands a response, as seen in Mary's acceptance of God's plan, and invites us to trust in God's transformative power. [09:23]
- The virgin birth is often singled out because it represents God's claim on our lives, challenging our desire for control and inviting us to trust in His ability to bring life from what seems impossible. [09:43]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - The Struggle with Faith and Reason
[00:32] - Encounter with a Book
[00:57] - Email Exchange with a Professor
[01:36] - The Concept of Virgin Birth
[02:18] - Atheistic Views on Creation
[03:22] - The Miraculous Nature of the Universe
[04:11] - The Mystery of Life's Origin
[05:04] - Probability and the Universe
[06:16] - The Regularity of the Universe
[07:14] - God and Scientific Inquiry
[08:00] - The Significance of the Virgin Birth
[09:11] - Control and Surrender
[09:43] - Trusting in God's Power
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 1:26-38 (The Annunciation and the Virgin Birth)
- Hebrews 11:3 (Faith in the unseen)
- Romans 1:20 (God's invisible qualities in creation)
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 1:26-38, how does Mary respond to the angel's message about the virgin birth? What does this reveal about her character?
2. According to Hebrews 11:3, how is faith described in relation to the creation of the universe? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on faith and reason? [02:18]
3. Romans 1:20 speaks about God's invisible qualities being evident in creation. How does this passage support the sermon’s claim about the universe's regularity pointing to a divine creator? [07:14]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the miraculous nature of the universe that we often take for granted? [03:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of a virgin birth challenge both believers and non-believers in terms of faith and reason? What does this suggest about the nature of belief? [01:36]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the regularity and predictability of the universe point to the existence of God? How does this align with Romans 1:20? [07:14]
3. How does the sermon use the analogy of the virgin birth to compare Christian and atheistic beliefs about the origin of the universe? What does this reveal about the nature of faith in both perspectives? [02:18]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of surrender and control in the life of a believer, particularly in relation to the virgin birth? [09:23]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with the tension between faith and reason. How did you navigate that struggle, and what role did faith play in your decision-making process? [00:17]
2. The sermon suggests that everyone believes in some form of miraculous origin. How does this perspective influence your understanding of faith in your daily life? [02:18]
3. Consider the regularity and predictability of the universe as evidence of a divine creator. How does this perspective impact your view of scientific inquiry and faith? [07:14]
4. The virgin birth challenges us to surrender control to God. What areas of your life are you holding onto tightly, and how can you begin to trust God with those areas? [09:23]
5. Mary’s response to the angel was one of humility and obedience. How can you cultivate a similar posture in your own life when faced with challenging or unexpected situations? [09:23]
6. The sermon discusses the miraculous nature of the universe. How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude for the world around you in your daily routine? [03:22]
7. How can the concept of a virgin birth inspire you to trust in God's power to bring life and light into the darkest parts of your heart? What practical steps can you take to open yourself to this transformation? [09:43]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith in the Extraordinary
In a world where both believers and non-believers hold miraculous origin stories, faith becomes a universal experience. For Christians, the virgin birth of Jesus is a cornerstone of belief, while atheists may see the universe's spontaneous creation as their extraordinary event. Both perspectives require a leap of faith into the unknown, highlighting that faith is not exclusive to religious belief. This shared experience of faith in the extraordinary invites us to explore the deeper meanings behind our beliefs and the mysteries of existence. [02:18]
Hebrews 11:3 (ESV): "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Reflection: Consider a belief you hold that requires faith. How does acknowledging this faith shape your understanding of the world and your interactions with others?
Day 2: Recognizing the Miraculous in the Mundane
The universe is a testament to the miraculous, with its vastness and incredible speeds often going unnoticed in our daily lives. We live on a planet that spins at remarkable speeds, part of a galaxy moving through space, yet we rarely pause to consider the wonder of it all. Recognizing the miraculous nature of the universe can open our eyes to the possibility of miraculous explanations for our existence, encouraging us to see the divine in the everyday. [03:22]
Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."
Reflection: Take a moment today to observe the natural world around you. What aspects of creation inspire awe and wonder in you, and how might they point to something greater?
Day 3: Divine Order and Scientific Inquiry
The regularity and predictability of the universe, such as the consistent strength of gravity, suggest an underlying divine order. This regularity is essential for scientific inquiry, providing a foundation for understanding the world. The coherence and order we observe in the universe point to the existence of a divine creator, offering a satisfactory explanation for the mysteries of existence. Without God, the order we see lacks a deeper meaning or purpose. [07:14]
Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: Reflect on a scientific concept or natural law that fascinates you. How does this regularity and order influence your understanding of God's role in creation?
Day 4: Surrendering Control to God
The virgin birth challenges us to consider our willingness to surrender control of our lives to God. It demands a response, as seen in Mary's acceptance of God's plan with humility and obedience. This miracle invites us to trust in God's transformative power, challenging our desire for control and inviting us to let go of our plans and desires. Are we willing to trust in a God capable of creating life from nothing, and allow Him to bring life and light into the darkest parts of our hearts? [09:23]
Luke 1:38 (ESV): "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle to relinquish control. What steps can you take today to surrender this area to God and trust in His plan?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Transformative Power
The virgin birth is often singled out because it represents God's claim on our lives, challenging our desire for control and inviting us to trust in His ability to bring life from what seems impossible. This miracle invites us to reflect on our own lives and consider where we need to trust in God's power to transform and renew. Are we open to the possibility of God working miracles in our lives, even when it seems unlikely or impossible? [09:43]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems impossible to change. How can you invite God into this situation and trust in His power to bring about transformation?
Quotes
there was a a conversation with someone that began to change my thinking about this i was emailing back and forth there was actually a retired princeton professor in the history of science and he was a friend of mine and we were we were emailing back and forth and i was kind of being drawn more towards the christian faith and he was opposed to it and in this email he was listing all of his different reasons for why he felt you couldn't believe in christianity and he listed a variety of different reasons and then in the last line as if to trump all the other arguments he simply wrote nor can i believe in a virgin birth full stop like no further explanation needed about why not it's just it's a virgin birth it's crazy i can't believe in that end of argument and sent the email and i remember being rattled by that and i can remember starting to draft an email back maybe trying to open up the conversation and say well maybe you could believe in a virgin birth if and then i sort of stopped and something struck me for the first time and i had this thought that everyone believes in a virgin birth not just christians [00:53:50]
christians believe in the virgin birth of jesus that's absolutely extraordinary but what do atheists believe about the birth of the universe for instance here's how the brilliant cambridge physicist stephen hawking puts it here's how he attempts to propose an atheistic birth of our universe he says the universe can and will create itself from nothing spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing why the universe exists why we exist that sounds a lot like a virgin birth to me or consider the words of clinton smith is a prolific atheist philosopher 12 books 150 peer-reviewed articles to his name a serious thinker here's what he says he says the fact of the matter is that the most reasonable belief is that we came from nothing by nothing and for nothing we should acknowledge our foundation in nothingness and feel awe at the marvelous fact that we have a chance to participate briefly in this incredible sunburst that interrupts without reason the reign of non-being [00:02:18]
i thought that definitely sounds like a virgin birth and so the conclusion that i came to is we live in a miraculous world like there is no getting around that theist atheist agnostic right now i am sitting on a rock that's rotating at a thousand miles an hour it's flying around the sun at 67 000 miles an hour it's part of a galaxy that's being hurled through the universe at over a million miles an hour like it's amazing how often we just walk through our days just thinking things are normal and reasonable and sober minded like we live in a miraculous world and we shouldn't be so surprised if therefore there are some miraculous explanations for the miraculous world that we live in so i began to read some of that and think some of that through and i thought to myself you know what it's not a matter of whether you believe in a virgin birth it's just a matter of which virgin birth you choose to accept [00:03:22]
there's a virgin birth of the universe and then what about a virgin birth of life even once you have a universal life within the universe we read similar sorts of things i mean here's professor james torre this is one of the world's like leading nanotechnologists leading chemists an absolute premier thinker here's what he says about the state of science with respect to where life came from once you have a universe how do we how did life emerge here's what he says he says we synthetic chemists should state the obvious the appearance of life on earth is a mystery we are nowhere near solving this problem the proposals offered thus far to explain life's origin make no scientific sense another virgin birth not a matter of whether we believe in a virgin birth but which one we choose to accept [00:04:11]
have you ever thought about the regularity in the universe another thing that most people go their whole lives and never even think about like take the strength of gravity right gravity has a certain strength that strength was the same two days ago and yesterday and today and we all believe it's going to be the same tomorrow and the next day and the day after why i mean logically there's an infinite number of different strengths that it can take and somebody say well that's the way it's always been in the past so that's why we think it's going to be that way in the future but i'm saying no that's not an answer to the question that is the question why logically there are all these different strengths it can take why is it taking the same strength every day until now and we assume it's going to every day into the future i actually think if you take god out of the picture you don't have an explanation for that [00:06:16]
if you put god into the picture and say actually this universe is governed by somebody who wants us to live coherent lives and to be able to make sense out of them and therefore there's a regularity and a predictability to the processes within the universe then you have a reason for why we have that regularity and the amazing thing is that it is that regularity that is at the foundation of the entire scientific enterprise that is why we have science that is why we can do experiments because the universe is regular and i think that only makes sense if god exists and so i really appreciate that this question is saying we shouldn't believe in the anti-scientific i actually couldn't agree more but i actually think you need the existence of god in order for the universe to have the regularity which is the precondition of science itself i don't think science disproves god i think only god actually proves science [00:07:14]
the other thing that my friend's letter made me ask was how come it's always the virgin birth that people go to like why not jesus walking on water or you know why not like why not the loaves and the five you know feeding five thousand people like there's lots of miracles to choose from and it's very often the virgin birth and i've given that some thought and i wonder if you know walking on water we're happy we're happy for god to do what he wants with his own body breaking the loaves feeding the five thousand great you want to give me gifts i'll take it but there's something arresting about the virgin birth there's something arresting about mary finding herself pregnant and her plans and the way people saw her and and everything being thrown up into the air right like god having a claim on our lives right there's something about the virgin birth that demands more of us [00:09:11]
when mary has to respond and chooses to respond i am the lord's servant it's a very different posture of the heart and so i think the virgin birth confronts us with that question of whether we are going to hold on to control of our lives no matter what or whether we're going to say look if there is a god who can make a virgin birth of the universe if there is a god who can make a virgin birth of life within the universe then maybe that's a god worth turning over what's dark and what's dead in my own heart as well and trusting that he can bring life out of that as well [00:09:43]
i resonate with this i mean this is this is like my starting point because i i just thought christianity believes the crazy stuff and science believes the same sober rational stuff i remember walking into a bookstore and finding a book on the on the shelf and and it described itself as trying to hold on to a form of christianity while explaining away all of the miracles in naturalistic terms and i can remember like hoping it could be done because i had started to read the bible at that point i was attracted i was drawn to the person of jesus but i just thought but this stuff is just too crazy to be true i can't just throw my brain out in order to take this blind leap of faith into the irrational abyss [00:00:17]
i was emailing back and forth there was actually a retired princeton professor in the history of science and he was a friend of mine and we were we were emailing back and forth and i was kind of being drawn more towards the christian faith and he was opposed to it and in this email he was listing all of his different reasons for why he felt you couldn't believe in christianity and he listed a variety of different reasons and then in the last line as if to trump all the other arguments he simply wrote nor can i believe in a virgin birth full stop like no further explanation needed about why not it's just it's a virgin birth it's crazy i can't believe in that end of argument and sent the email and i remember being rattled by that and i can remember starting to draft an email back maybe trying to open up the conversation and say well maybe you could believe in a virgin birth if and then i sort of stopped and something struck me for the first time and i had this thought that everyone believes in a virgin birth not just christians [00:00:57]
i thought that definitely sounds like a virgin birth and so the conclusion that i came to is we live in a miraculous world like there is no getting around that theist atheist agnostic right now i am sitting on a rock that's rotating at a thousand miles an hour it's flying around the sun at 67 000 miles an hour it's part of a galaxy that's being hurled through the universe at over a million miles an hour like it's amazing how often we just walk through our days just thinking things are normal and reasonable and sober minded like we live in a miraculous world and we shouldn't be so surprised if therefore there are some miraculous explanations for the miraculous world that we live in so i began to read some of that and think some of that through and i thought to myself you know what it's not a matter of whether you believe in a virgin birth it's just a matter of which virgin birth you choose to accept [00:02:18]
there's a virgin birth of the universe and then what about a virgin birth of life even once you have a universal life within the universe we read similar sorts of things i mean here's professor james torre this is one of the world's like leading nanotechnologists leading chemists an absolute premier thinker here's what he says about the state of science with respect to where life came from once you have a universe how do we how did life emerge here's what he says he says we synthetic chemists should state the obvious the appearance of life on earth is a mystery we are nowhere near solving this problem the proposals offered thus far to explain life's origin make no scientific sense another virgin birth not a matter of whether we believe in a virgin birth but which one we choose to accept [00:04:11]
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