The Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson

The Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson

A group of the best scientists from all over the world were commissioned to build the most intelligent computer ever built. After several years of hard work, the computer was finally finished. Eagerly, all of the scientists gathered together to ask the computer its first question. They said to it: “Is there a God?”

The computer hummed and whirred for several minutes. Finally, in a booming voice, the computer said, “There is now!”

Many people believe that there is a conflict between science and religion. There are religious people who feel they cannot take science seriously, at least at some level, if they are to be true to their beliefs; and there are scientists and scientifically minded people who believe that science does not leave any room for God. I suspect that most, if not everyone, here today knows someone who claims not to be a Christian because he or she is too scientifically minded. Science, such people claim, does not allow for such things as water being changed into wine, or someone walking on water, or someone rising from the dead. I consider myself to be a fairly scientifically-minded person, and I’m also fairly religious, so I obviously don’t see that there is a conflict between the two.

I’ve just read a new book titled, Counting to God: A Personal Journey Through Science to Belief, by Douglas Ell. Ell graduated early from MIT, where he double majored in math and physics. He then obtained a Masters in Theoretical Mathematics from the University of Maryland. After graduating from law school, magna cum laude, he became a prominent attorney.
The interesting thing is that Douglas Ell was an atheist. Through his work in mathematics and science he was lead to the conclusion that “modern science strongly supports belief in God.… Contrary to what you may have read, and contrary to what you may believe, modern science strongly supports belief in the God of the Bible.” His book is about all of the things in science that have led him to this understanding. By the way, we hope to bring Douglas Ell to Redeemer sometime next spring.

In his book, he mentioned something that reminds me of what we are celebrating today. He tells about two physicists, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, who worked for Bell laboratories in New Jersey in 1965, who “were trying to measure radiation from our galaxy, the Milky Way.” In their experiment, they ran across some radiation that they did not expect. It was a particularly strange “noise,” and it was coming from everywhere. “It was not coming from any source on earth, and it was not coming from the Milky Way or any other particular stellar object or area. It did not vary as Earth rotated or as the seasons passed.”

Ell says that “Penzias and Wilson accidentally discovered the scientific equivalent of the Holy Grail—verifiable proof that our universe began in a single moment.” That’s one of the proofs from science for the existence of God, according to Ell and many others. If the universe had a beginning, some One must have been the cause.

That omnipresent primordial noise that Ell talks about reminds me of the omnipresence of God. God is present in all of his creation. God is in all things and above all things. Thus, if you know anything about creation, you know something about God; whether we’re speaking of science or medicine or mathematics or art or literature, you know something about God.

Our Christian Faith says this God can be known personally, that he wants to have a relationship with us. He has actually revealed himself to various people from earliest times, but his greatest revelation was when he entered his creation in the most tangible way by becoming a human being in Jesus of Nazareth. He walked among us, taught us about God and our place in his creation, suffered, died on a cross, and on the third day was raised from the dead. He has returned to the Father so that he can be with his people in all places and all times.

What happened on Pentecost was the bestowal of the Spirit of the Father and the Son to all who believe and are baptized. Penzias and Wilson discovered that primordial noise with a huge, super sensitive antenna. The Holy Spirit could be likened to a super sensitive antenna to put us in relationship with God. He puts us on the right wave length to communicate with God and God with us, to comfort us when sorrowful, to give us strength in leading godly lives, and to guide us in daily life.

That is the miracle of Pentecost. God has given himself to us through his Spirit who dwells in us, given to us at our baptism.

The great physicist Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” We Christians know, or at least should know, that everything is a miracle. As science learns more and more about this universe, many scientists are coming to the same conclusion, though from a different perspective.

Today we celebrate one of the greatest miracles of all, the gift of the Holy Spirit. We don’t need proofs from science to know of the Holy Spirit, for he is in us and works through us. I know of his presence by the love you show one another. I know of his presence through the joy of our people. I know of his presence through witnessing in your lives a peace that goes beyond understanding. I know of his presence through the patience with which I see you endure adversity. In other words, I know of the presence of the Holy Spirit because of his fruits in your lives over and over again.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your SPIRIT and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Sermon preached by The Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota, Florida

Pentecost Sunday
24 May 2015

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