QUESTION:

I’ve seen a lot of evidence that points to the direction of God’s existence. However, I was wondering what if in a couple of decades science and other areas (history, archaeology, etc) point to the opposite direction? I know new science discoveries are being made almost every single week. How would you respond if the evidence suddenly began to contradict the bible?

Answer:

To me this is like asking “what if you were suddenly one milimeter tall? Or what if 3 + 3 = 4. You are asking me a “what if” for something which is not possible.

Let me explain. The evidence for the resurrection is solid. There is no conceivable new information which could refute the resurrection. I cannot even imagine such evidence. Similarly, the evidence for design in nature is sufficient that there is literally no conceivable information which could overturn the conclusion that there is a designer.

I will admit that there are certain kinds of evidence, which could, conceivably, undermine one small piece of evidence for biblical inspiration or for the existence of God, but there are too many examples of evidence for which what you describe is simply not possible, so to answer the question really does not make sense. For example, it is possible that a particular fact about archaeology could be discovered which would prove one small specific area of historical importance in the Bible is simply not true. This might even slightly alter our definition of biblical inerrancy. I do not believe this will happen, but it is conceivable. However, the most that could even conceivably happen is that my definition of inerrancy or inspiration could conceivably change, but the general picture, which is that God exists, that the Bible is inspired and inerrant stand on kinds of evidence which cannot be overthrown by new evidence.

How would I respond if I found out that I was actually born on Jupiter? Hmmmm. I have no answer for this question.

John Oakes