on November 03, 2020

Love those you disagree with, stand up for truth, and bring the hope of Christ

BioLogos is non-partisan—we know that both parties include people of deep faith and that no one political platform can achieve all Christ calls us to. Our first loyalty is to Christ.

When Francis Collins accepted the 2020 Templeton Prize in September, I was blown away by his speech.

The award recognized his outstanding contributions at the intersection of science and faith. His speech addressed science and faith within the larger cultural trends of 2020. Francis is impressively non-partisan—he was appointed by Barack Obama and reappointed by Donald Trump, the only appointee to serve both administrations.

BioLogos is also non-partisan—we know that both parties include people of deep faith and that no one political platform can achieve all Christ calls us to. Our first loyalty is to Christ.

In that speech, Francis Collins gave a three-point call to action that I hope all of us can hear and live out.

Stand up for truth and reason. With social media filled with conspiracy theories and lies and regular media laced with distortions, more than ever God’s people need to be discerning and stand up for truth. BioLogos is committed to speaking the truth about scientific findings (see our Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times) and debunking conspiracies about science.
Address the spiritual void in this country. Our world is filled with fear, anxiety, and selfishness; we all desperately need to hear of our loving and powerful God. We need the saving grace of Jesus Christ. At BioLogos, our commitment to biblical faith is what brings us hope, not science. God is the ultimate source of peace in the midst of turmoil. The Holy Spirit gives Christians the hope and compassion to look to the needs of others not just ourselves, even when the going gets tough. As Francis suggests, reread the beatitudes and seek to live out the Kingdom of God.
Love those you disagree with. We need to love people with wrong ideas. BioLogos strives for humble dialogue on challenging science questions. We’ve learned that rather than trying to fix people, we must see others as people. Besides, shouting science arguments just doesn’t work; changed hearts and minds only happen in relationships of trust. Our foremost calling is to love others – pray for them, genuinely desire their welfare, and patiently hear them out.

If you haven’t already, watch or read Francis Collins’ speech and share it with everyone in your circles. Then look for ways this week that you can love those you disagree with, stand up for truth, and share the hope of Christ.

About the author

Deborah Haarsma

Deborah Haarsma is President of BioLogos. She is an astrophysicist and frequent speaker on modern science and Christian faith at research universities, churches, and public venues like the National Press Club. Her work appears in several recent books, including Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Design and Christ and the Created Order. She wrote the book Origins with her husband and fellow physicist, Loren Haarsma, presenting the agreements and disagreements among Christians regarding the history of life and the universe. She edited the anthology Delight in Creation: Scientists Share Their Work with the Church with Rev. Scott Hoezee. Previously, Haarsma served as professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Calvin University. She is an experienced research scientist, with several publications in the Astrophysical Journal and the Astronomical Journal on extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. She has studied large galaxies, galaxy clusters, the curvature of space, and the expansion of the universe using telescopes around the world and in orbit. Haarsma completed her doctoral work in astrophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her undergraduate work in physics and music at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She and Loren enjoy science fiction and classical music, and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.