Exercising Faith

The last post discussed the process of acquiring faith, noting parallels with the scientific method. It described the natures of our spirits and the Holy Ghost, and various scriptural experiments we can try to gain faith: seek (e.g., in scripture), ask (prayer), act (put into practice), and reason/discern. I also listed some basic tenets of my faith – hypotheses that can be tested.

Works

As I concluded there, acquiring faith is far from the end. It would seem that works are intimately tied to faith – not only in developing faith, but in exercising, maintaining & growing it – faith motivates & facilitates actions. That is, works are integral to living by faith.

In James we read, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:18-20)

Further, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)

Further emphasizing the importance of works as evidence of our faith, we are told we will be judged and rewarded according to them:

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matth. 16:27)

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev. 20:12)

I will lean more on scriptures than commentary for this post – they say it better and more authoritatively than I could.

Keep my Commandments

Faith is the first principle of the gospel, a foundation upon which all else is built, and from which all else follows. When we have faith in God, we understand His goodness and love as expressed in what He has done for us, and promises us. That inevitably will instill in us appreciation and love for Him. But how can or should we express that? Christ said simply,

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Let us then consider some of those commandments.

Love

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
“This is the first and great commandment.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

Love, then, in addition to faith, is also a quality that motivates and facilitates and guides fulfillment of all other commandments. We learn of perfect love, or charity, in the following:

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:46-48)

Repentance & Baptism

Purification is key to becoming more like Him, and indeed we are commanded to do so.
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matth. 5:48)

The reason being, “... he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven;” (Alma 11:37)

Through faith we have an understanding of the nature of God and His perfections. And by comparison, and through the Holy Ghost, we recognize our own imperfections – our lack of charity, our disobedience to commandments and sinful nature. Our faith and love of Him give us desire to be reconciled with Him, and for assurance of that reconciliation. He has provided a way for all of that.

Like any good, loving parent who has had a wayward child, He wants us to get our lives in order – for our benefit, and reconciliation. He has sent prophets in all ages to cry “repent!” to His children. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord.
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa,
“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
“Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,
“And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.” (Matth. 3:1,2,5,6)

And though He was himself perfect, with no need of the cleansing power of baptism, “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
“But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
“And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matth. 3:13-15)
And so Christ set the example for us, by making a covenant with His Father.

Baptism is the first ordinance of the gospel – a covenant that gives us, and God, assurance, confidence and faith in our reconciliation with Him, and that we are on the right path.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matth. 7:13-15)

“WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Heb. 12:1)

Faith & Ordinances of Salvation Universally Required & Available

The importance of baptism was emphasized by Christ to Nichodemus: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

And again at the end of each gospel in His charge to the apostles,
“And he said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.’” (Mark 16:15-16)

Note that there are no exceptions stated in these verses. But how can a just God condemn or damn those who die without hearing the gospel or being baptized? One should expect from a just God (and He is just) that something universally required be also universally available. And so it is.

“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:29)

Baptism for the dead is one ordinance performed vicariously in LDS temples. But we have seen that a pre-requisite for baptism is faith and repentance. How can the dead fulfill that, without having heard the gospel?

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18-20)

“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6)

Gift of the Holy Ghost

As John the Baptist explained, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matth. 3: 11)

Then Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)

This, too, is an ordinance – performed by the laying on of hands of those in authority. “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given,...” (Acts 8:17-18)

As described in the previous post, the Holy Ghost guides us to truth, and away from sin and error, and after we have entered “...in at the strait gate” (baptism) it will help us remain on the “narrow way, which leadeth unto life...”

The Schoolmaster

God gave commandments to Adam and Eve, shortly after their creation, and by extension to all of their descendants. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)

Further, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;” (Genesis 3:19)

Various other commandments were delivered by prophets prior to Christ’s birth. “The law,” the 10 commandments, were received by Moses:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work...
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
“Thou shalt not kill.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.
“Thou shalt not steal.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, .... nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (Exodus 20:3-5,7-10,12-17)

To put the law into context, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24)

Song and gratitude are also part of worship. “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” (Psalm 30:4)

“Behold, ... the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)

One of the last commandments in the Old Testament is, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)

Christ’s Example & Teachings

After the schoolmaster of the law of Moses, Jesus Christ brought a higher law to bring us even closer to our Father in Heaven, and His entire life was an example of how to live that law.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)

“But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” (John 5:36)

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
“But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” (John 10:37-38)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught,
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven....
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you....
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matth. 5:16,33,48)

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's.” (Mark 12:17)

But we are counseled to not only do good, but avoid evil. “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” (Mark 14:38)

“... give yourselves to fasting and prayer;...” (1 Cor. 7:5”

When the storm arose on the sea, Christ said to His chosen apostles, “...Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?...” (Matth. 8: 26) Even at the last supper, after all that they had been through together, and miracles, Christ recognized that his apostles’ faith was imperfect. “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

Greater Works

But he knew that their faith would grow after He was gone – as is no doubt more prone to happen when we must look beyond what we can see. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 13: 12)

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1:17)

Hebrews chapter 11 is a long citation of many great and praiseworthy works performed by the faithful in scripture, by faith. After that, Paul wrote "... let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;...” (Heb.12:1)

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess.18:18)

“And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.” (Jacob 2:19)

May we be able to say as Paul did towards the end of his life, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7)

By Every Word

How do we keep the faith, or stand "fast in the faith?" By being true to the faith we have received, by exercising it in good works and obedience to the word of God we have received, and by being open to and receiving every word of God.

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matth. 4:4)

And so when God speaks, even in modern times by a prophet to all, or as He speaks through the Holy Ghost to us individually, we need to listen and live by it. He sent a prophet to prepare the way for Christ's mortal ministry. Why would He not speak through a prophet in preparation for His return in glory, surely one of the most momentous events in history?

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

Acquiring Faith

The previous post discussed the dual nature of man & the universe -- physical and spiritual. And the vitally important role of faith in understanding and acting in both of those realms, through science and religion.

Acquiring religious or spiritual faith -- assurance of God, His revelations and dealings with man -- like anything worth having, requires effort. Among those revelations, He has also provided guidance for us to determine their truth for ourselves – in various ways. He does not expect blind faith by asking us to lay aside that divine spark of rationality within us, or to proceed without any evidence. Here, too, it is interesting to note the parallels with science in the scientific method.

The Scientific Method

According to Wikipedia, “Scientific method refers to bodies of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

“Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methodologies of knowledge. Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses. These steps must be repeatable in order to dependably predict any future results. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many hypotheses together in a coherent structure. This in turn may help form new hypotheses or place groups of hypotheses into context.

“Among other facets shared by the various fields of inquiry is the conviction that the process be objective to reduce a biased interpretation of the results. Another basic expectation is to document, archive and share all data and methodology so they are available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, thereby allowing other researchers the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This practice, called full disclosure, also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established.

Our Spiritual Natures

Scientific methods are generally transferable from the physical to spiritual realm. But it is important to remember that the phenomena are different, just as the body and spirit are. Our bodies are equipped with various physical senses for observing physical phenomena around us, including physical scientific experimental evidence. Our spirits have a separate set of “senses” that observe and communicate spiritual phenomena. One should not expect that evidences of non-material spiritual things will necessarily be physically obvious or provable by conventional science (as much as we might like that), nor necessarily invalid because they are not. Just as it is not expected that prophets will typically reveal natural physical truths that are the realm of conventional scientific research.

While spiritual truths may be relatively easy to communicate, evidence of them is often more subtle, and difficult to communicate in the conventional sense. The prophet Elijah looked for the Lord in a great wind and then an earthquake, but He was not there – then came “...a still small voice....” and the Lord was there. (1 Kings 19:12) “...behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost,...” (D&C 8:2) The truth of spiritual things will be manifest to our minds and hearts – our intellect and emotions. Other “sensations” akin to a “burning in the bosom” have also been described. These are the data we collect through observation – empirical in the spiritual sense.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead who is a spirit, and because of that He can communicate directly with our spirit – individually – bypassing physical sound and hearing, or sight. Although on occasion, God, Christ and angels have appeared to and spoken with man directly in the conventional sense. But this was not the basis of Peter’s faith that Christ was the Messiah – “...flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matth. 16:17)

Of course our intellects and emotions are bombarded by many things that are not necessarily spiritually true or good, and can take us in many directions. Just as our physical senses are bombarded by many things, good and harmful, that we either embrace or reject. The challenge is to discern. That is an ability that comes with experience, and a gift given to those who seek and follow greater spiritual enlightenment. Just as with physical communication and learning skills. One of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is the spirit of discernment. Another is the gift of wisdom.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,...” (John 14:26)
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: ...” (John 16:13)

Following are some basic methods we are given to acquire faith: seek, ask, act (experiment), reason (including thought experiments) & discern. The results of those methods are the very essence of “... faith ... the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)

“...Seek, and ye shall find;...” (Luke 11:9)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) The revelations of scripture (assuming the hypothesis that they are inspired) provide a starting point for seeking spiritual truth and developing faith. They are given for that very purpose (among others) by a God who has shown desire and propensity to reveal Himself and truth to His children. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39) When I have not been afraid to dig deeply for answers, I have been rewarded greatly.

Scriptures are the key “documentation, archival & sharing of data & methodology” in the scientific method as applied to spiritual truth. They also provide the hypotheses to be tested. But scriptures can also facilitate part of the evidence. Two roles of the Holy Ghost are to bear witness of the Father & Son, and truth in general. As we hear or read -- or ponder, reason or act -- the Spirit may speak directly to our spirit, both heart & mind. In the scriptures, the prophets and apostles use reason and truth, including everyday analogies and parables, to communicate with both believer and non-believer. Truth should be expected to be satisfying to the rational mind, whether religious or secular. And spiritual truth is satisfying to our emotions -- bringing joy, sometimes even tears of joy.

Ask

The New Testament counsels, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” (James 1:5,6) God has given us the means to ask Him – prayer. The answer will likely come thru the (quiet) promptings of the Holy Ghost – “... a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12)

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9) I have asked & been given, sought & found, knocked & had it opened to me.

Regarding the Book of Mormon, its last prophet wrote, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Moroni 10:4) I have read, asked, and its truth has been powerfully and undeniably manifest to me.

Do His Will –Experiment on the Word

Christ said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17) As much of His will as I have done, I know it is of Him – as many others know.

As one ancient prophet taught, (Alma 32:)
26 “Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 “But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me....”

[here he figuratively describes the testifying of the Holy Ghost. He further describes how we either neglect or nurture the sprouting seed. If the latter, then:]

42 “And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

There are other testable promises (hypotheses) in scripture associated with obedience to specific commandments. For instance, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” ( Malachi 3:10)

Use Discernment & Reason

If we wish to learn, we should expect to study (especially the scriptures), ponder and reason. And to compare ideas we encounter with the truths we already know through faith to be true, including scripture. So it is with the validity of any who claim to teach divine truth -- not all will. Christ said there would be false prophets (He didn’t say there would be no true prophets, but rather the contrary), and that “by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matth. 7:15-20)

And what are their fruits? Their teachings should be consistent with previous true revelation. Their lives and lives of their followers should “...shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)
“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:17)

Some Basics of My Faith

Here are some of the basics of my faith, and the faith of millions more, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They are testable hypotheses, and the results of those tests can be attested to by millions who have tried the repeatable experiments described above -- not insignificant, statistically. See for instance the experiences & testimonies in the first link at the bottom of this blog.

• God, the creator of heaven & earth, is the Father of our spirits.

• Jesus Christ, His Son, showed us in His life the perfect example & made possible through the resurrection & atonement our immortality & eternal life.

• The Holy Ghost witnesses of the Father & Son and all truth.

• Through the ages God has revealed Himself and truth to prophets and through angels, and written accounts are recorded as scripture.

• The apostles Christ chose were killed, and as He foretold, the church He established fell into apostacy.

• He also foretold a return of a fullness of gospel truth & re-establishment of His kingdom before He comes again.

• That re-establishment has occurred, through a modern prophet, Joseph Smith. It includes:
 modern revelations pertinent to our day, but in agreement with the bible
 the return of divine authority and the ordinances of salvation, with apostles & prophets to lead His Church in preparation for His 2nd coming
 among its purposes is to help each of us to achieve the purpose of our creation – joy, fulfillment & growth in this life, and the next

Faith and Works

But acquiring faith is far from the end. It would seem that works are intimately tied to faith – not only in developing faith, but in exercising, maintaining & growing it -- faith motivates & facilitates actions.

18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
(James 2:18-20)

Faith, Experience & Reason in the Secular & Religious Realms – a Unity & Symmetry

Faith today is often denigrated as weakness, and yet it is the greatest principle of power. Hebrews 11 tells us that “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God," and that many other great works in the bible were done by faith. Faith is also seldom appreciated as a practical, everyday principle in many fields outside religion. And for too many, their faith has been displaced completely from religion and onto tenets of secularism. Many demonstrate great faith in materialism, environmentalism, atheism, socialism, narcissism, etc.

God created man in His image – physically, rationally and spiritually. Each less than perfect, and yet clearly with the potential to become such – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) This mortal existence is our opportunity to grow in each of these areas – resurrection to immortality is a free gift to all, but intellectually and spiritually much depends on our agency and choices, and taking advantage of what God & Christ offer us. And if faith is as important a quality as revelation would have us believe, this mortality is our opportunity to develop and live by it, and in this way also to become more like our Father in Heaven.

Science and reason can take us so far in the material and mental realms. Religion and faith can take us so far in the spiritual realm. The soul of man is comprised of a physical body and a spirit, and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. So it is with science/reason and religion. If both natural and spiritual law were authored and created perfectly by the same being, and if He is a God of order (The more we learn and deeper we probe the universe at the micro and macro levels, the more complexity and order we seem to find), they must ultimately agree when both are understood fully. “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3: 25)

Some scientists seek a "grand unified theory" to consistently explain all physical laws. Similarly, some in religion seek a unified religious “theory” – “Till we all come in the unity of the faith ...” Eph. 4: 13. One might go beyond both, to a “supreme unified theory” that could explain both the physical and spiritual aspects of the universe in a consistent manner. Some secularists claim, far too narrow-mindedly and prematurely, to know that such consistency is impossible. They in essence claim the same omniscience in themselves that they deny to God.

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image -- 10,000 galaxies in a spot of sky the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length, or looking through an 8 foot soda straw.  Which means at least 200 billion galaxies in the visible universe -- within Hubble's grasp.  Who knows how many beyond.  And within a typical galaxy are some 100 billion stars.  Typical stars have multiple planets, and many of those discovered so far are earth-sized, and the right distance from their star to harbor life.

In this life we will undoubtedly not fully have all the answers in either the physical or religious realm. We do not abandon Newton’s or Einstein’s theories just because they each only take us so far, or because parts have not been proven (e.g., gravity waves). [Update as of 2017 -- 8 years after writing this, gravity waves were first barely detected from distant merging black holes].  Nor do we abandon current fundamental particle theory just because we don’t understand what some 96% of the universe is made of (“dark matter & dark energy”). So the religious do not abandon their principles and faith just because they don’t yet have all the answers, or 100% certainty. Man grows bit by bit, but has been given ways to discern truth at waypoints along the right trajectory.

Elements of both science and religion are needed and frequently used in both realms. Scientists & engineers apply faith when they act on hypotheses and principles they do not have 100% knowledge are completely infallible and universally valid. They have limited experimental or experiential evidence – often not first-hand, or through indirect measurement. And all of us demonstrate faith when performing any simple everyday action based on assurance that the laws of nature and reason will hold. The religious grapple with their faith in rational terms and act based on their limited experiential evidence – often first-hand, except for those who settle for blind faith.

Few have actual first-hand knowledge of the most hard-to-come-by aspects of either realm. In science & engineering, those who do are called research/experimental scientists/engineers, and in religion they are called prophets. The rest of us take their documented experience on faith, and practice our science, engineering and religion by building on those fundamental tenets, combining them with our own more limited personal experience at a more superficial level.

Matters involving religion will almost by definition (and probably design) always be at least partially matters of faith, and not completely empirically, logically or scripturally provable. That is not to say that they are necessarily invalid or illogical, or that there are not reasonable experiences, rationales or scripture to support them.

Assuming God's existence, His rationality is a given. Certainly a deity who created this complex universe and the laws that govern it, has a mentality and rationality surpassing our own (“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8). But as a patient and loving Father, He is willing and able to condescend, communicate and reason at our level with us, His creations, as He has in the bible, and since. And even to send His Son to come and live with us, to show us how it should be done, and make possible our return to Him.

Science does not have all the answers, but certainly Deity – the Creator -- would. We make great efforts (e.g., the SETI project & Kepler space telescope) to locate and communicate with greater intelligence in the universe. The truth is, greater (omniscient) intelligence has already long been communicating with us, and even revealed some secular truths, in addition to all the spiritual ones He knows we need. It is up to us to recognize these revealed truths for what they are by acquiring and exercising faith.