Do you find it peculiar that in modern scientific university departments there are Christians? I hope not. But I reckon that a number of people around you would be surprised by that fact. It’s probably about a 50/50 Christian-to-atheist ratio according to Gerald Bray.
Why isn’t this a surprising matter?
Because, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1)
It’s really important to use the word creation. Behind that word is clearly a creator. And this is one of the fundamental aspects of reality—the Creator and creation distinction. One is not the other, nor is there only one and no other. Some might argue that the universe is simply a “brute fact” (Bertrand Russell), and that matter and energy simply are. People might say that matter and energy are eternal—without beginning or end. That’s scientifically tricky because the current scientific consensus points towards a beginning (the Big Bang). And it’s philosophically tricky because every moment depends on the moment before it. And if there is no first moment, well, there’s no next moment—there is no present. Even if the universe were eternal, that wouldn’t explain its existence at all—it’s not self-explanatory. Why is there something rather than nothing? Anyway, getting too deep (I know not everyone finds this helpful, but perhaps it might be a helpful primer for others).
What about the fact that there is order in the universe at all? This is something that is often taken for granted in these debates. But not so for the Christian, because, “God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds…’ And it was so.” (Genesis 1:24) “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” (Genesis 1:12) “Then God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth… each according to their kinds.’” (Genesis 1:20–21)
The ordered universe reflects the deliberate structure and design of God’s creative work, for “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) The ordered nature of the universe means that we can trust our senses as we delve into the depths of its beauty. We can rely on the fact that what we have experienced will be there again to be experienced by others and by ourselves. The formless and empty darkness of verse 2 is intentionally filled.
So what is the nature of the universe (creation)? Is it at heart one of chaos or one of order? That is easy to answer if you’re a Christian, but not so easy to justify if you’re not. Though not about creation per se, Paul still says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Cor. 14:33)
But the most wonderful thing about creation is that it is sustained by God in love. Creation—this universe—is not just “a fact.” It is endowed with the love of God, something greater and deeper and more meaningful than mere matter and energy. There is beauty, truth, and goodness in life (metaphysics). How can this be? Simple. Because God—He is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. His creation reflects Him. People aren’t merely made “to be”; they are made by a loving God to love God and love one another. On top of that, they are to love creation out of love for God.
The fall of humanity is so disastrous because of the break in this love. Nevertheless, the love of God pervades all creation, as Jesus reminded his disciples when he told them, “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matt. 6:25–26)
So in a nutshell. The universe is something rather than there been nothing, or it been eternally. It’s ordered and so measurable. And its not merely matter and energy – truth, beauty and goodness are part of it. All founded on God – Who he is, and what he’s done.
Bigvai and Shiphrah 