Pride is your Ego, selfish love.

Myth & Science.

5 Myths about Science

This article is part of the 5 Myths series.

Myth #1: Science gives us more certain knowledge than philosophy or theology.

Consider these two claims: (1) Electrons exist. (2) It is wrong to torture babies for the fun of it. Which do we know with greater certainty? (2) is the correct answer. Why? The history of the electron has gone through various changes in what an electron is supposed to be. No one today believes that Thompsonian electrons (J. J. Thompson was the discoverer of electrons) exist because our views have changed so much. It is not unreasonable to believe that in fifty to one hundred years, scientific depictions of the electron will change so much that scientists will no longer believe that what we mean by an electron today exists. Regarding (2), someone may not know how they know it is true, but nevertheless, we all, in fact, know it is true. If someone denies that, he needs therapy, not an argument. Now it is not hard to believe that in fifty to one hundred years, most people will no longer believe (2). But it is hard to see what kind of rational considerations could be discovered that would render (2) an irrational belief. Thus, we have more certainty in (2) than in (1).

And the same is true for certain theological assertions such as that God exists. From natural theology, we know that the universe began to exist, that it could not have popped into existence out of nothing, and it had to come from something that was spaceless, timeless, immaterial, supernatural (it transcends the universe and is not limited by natural laws), and had the power of spontaneous action in order to create the beginning of time from a position of timelessness. Only a Person fits all that. The evidence we have for this is stronger than that for many claims of science, e.g., that all our genetic information is encoded in DNA.

Myth #2: It is never rational to go against the views of the overwhelming percentage of experts in an area of science.

Most Christians would accept treatment recommendations for cancer if 95% of oncologists embraced that treatment as the best. But 95% of biologists, paleontologists and scientists in related areas accept the general theory of evolution, but most Christians do not. Are Christian views regarding evolution rational and, if so, why? There are at least four criteria for when it is rational to go against the overwhelming percentage of experts in an area of science, e.g. those who accept evolution:

(1) Make sure there is not an alternative interpretation of the Bible that is interpretively reasonable and that resolves the tension.

(2) The presence of a band of highly trained, academically qualified scholars with a good track record for publishing in top journals or with highly regarded book publishers, and who are unified in rejecting the view held by even a vast majority of the relevant experts.

(3) There are good historical, sociological, or theological explanations for why the expert majority holds to the problematic view (for example, evolution) instead of their adherence to the problematic view being largely a rational commitment based on a lot of good arguments and strong evidence.

(4) Given that Christianity is a highly rational worldview with much evidential and argumentative support, any view that cuts against central components of a Christian worldview should be rejected precisely due to that fact.

The church must teach on this intelligently and with biblical fidelity.

Myth #3: The success of science shows that other fields like philosophy and theology do not provide us with knowledge of reality.

It is hard to see how advances in our knowledge of chemistry show there is no God. In my view, 95% of scientific discoveries have nothing to do with Christian teaching. Of the remaining 5%, I would guess about 3% are supportive of Christianity (e.g. the discovery that the universe had a beginning), and 2% undermine Christianity. Interestingly, most of the 2% are problems for the early chapters of Genesis, not for the existence of God, the resurrection of Jesus, or the truths of mere Christianity. The church must make this clear to people and also find ways to address the 2%.

Myth #4: The advances in neuroscience have shown that consciousness is merely physical states in the brain and that there is no need to postulate a spooky thing like a soul.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Neuroscientific methodology is at its best in discovering correlations, causal connections and functional dependencies between conscious and brain states. But it is inept at formulating, much less, answering questions about the nature of consciousness and its possessor themselves. To see this, consider the following:

(1) Empirically equivalent theories imply the same set of observational data and, thus, empirical data cannot be used to decide which is the best among the theories. Now, if one’s mirror neurons are damaged, one cannot feel empathy towards others. Three empirically equivalent theories are consistent with these findings: strict physicalism (the firing of mirror neurons is the same thing as a feeling of empathy), mere property dualism (the firing of mirror neurons cause the non-physical state of feeling empathy and both events occur in the brain), and substance dualism (the firing of mirror neurons cause the non-physical state of feeling empathy, the former event occurs in the brain and the latter in the soul). Philosophical arguments, not neuroscientific data, are the relevant factors in adjudicating among the theories.

(2) Neuroscientific methodology relies on first-person reports about what is going on inside of a patient because the scientist has access only to his brain and not his inner, private conscious life. The nature of consciousness and the self is discovered from the first-person, private point of view; the nature of the brain is discovered from the third-person, public point of view.

Scientism and Secularism

J. P. Moreland

This book exposes the inadequacy of scientism by demonstrating its self-defeating nature and 7 important facts it can never explain, arguing that together science and theology have true things to tell us about the world.

Myth #5: The church doesn’t need to teach parishioners about science; its job is to focus on the spiritual and moral lives of people.

Basically, a big part of church teaching and discipleship is the impartation of knowledge of and how to critique broad ideas influencing people in the culture away from Christianity. This involves worldview teaching, and the alleged findings of science are used by many cultural leaders to support scientism (roughly, the idea that science is either the only way or a vastly superior way to gain knowledge of reality; religion and ethics are matters of feeling and private opinion, not knowledge). And scientism is undermining the church. A Barna poll found that one of the six reasons people are leaving the church is its lack of interacting with the advances in science. The church must teach on this intelligently and with biblical fidelity.

J. P. Moreland (PhD, University of Southern California) is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Biola University. He is an author of, contributor to, or editor of over ninety books, including The Soul: How We Know It’s Real and Why It Matters.

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Sowing and Reaping.

7 Signs You’re Sowing to the Flesh—and What to Do About It

A Diagnosis of Our Sinful Nature

We all have our favorite parts of the Bible—at least I do. It’s no secret that I deeply admire the writings of the apostle Paul. I love how he blends deep theological truths with passion, cultural awareness, and personal conviction in a way that makes the words leap right off the page and grab you. Maybe you don’t gravitate to Paul’s letters like I do, but I’d still guess that you have a favorite part of Scripture.

Take Galatians 5, for example. Many of us are familiar with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal.5:22–23). In fact, I’d argue that when most people think of Galatians, that list is often the first thing that comes to mind. Here, Paul describes a blessed picture of what the Spirit produces in a surrendered life. But just a few verses earlier, Paul gives us a different kind of list—the works of the flesh.

I don’t think it was ever Paul’s intent that we rush past the works of the flesh just to get to the fruit of the Spirit. Yes, the fruit of the Spirit is worth studying and celebrating, but we’re meant to examine those traits in light of what they stand in contrast to. The truth is, for many of us, the works of the flesh feel far more familiar. That’s because our natural bent, even after salvation, is still marked by the pull of our sinful nature. Learning to walk by the Spirit means learning to deny the flesh. It requires intentional focus, training, and surrender.

To that end, we must recognize that Paul’s words here in Galatians 5 are not just descriptive. They are diagnostic in that he is helping us recognize the patterns of the flesh so that we will not continue to submit to and practice them. We are meant to name these sinful works, resist them, repent of them. Conversely, we do not develop the fruit of the Spirit through performance. The Spirit grows that fruit in us as we walk with him and stay alert to the pull of the flesh. And as we recognize and resist the works of the flesh, we simultaneously trust that the Spirit will form in us what we could never produce on our own.

Finding Freedom in Christ

Portia Collins

This accessible study by Bible teacher Portia Collins leads women in an 8-week exegetical journey through Galatians where they’ll uncover the liberating and transformative power of God’s grace.

So what does sowing to the flesh really look like in everyday life? Here are seven signs you’re sowing to the flesh and what to do about it.

Why Paul Wrote Galatians

Before we jump into Paul’s words in Galatians 5, we need to understand how we even got there.

The Galatians, who had once firmly held to the truth of the gospel, were now trying to add to it by keeping works of the law. In loving correction, Paul writes to them with the hope that they would turn from this distortion and return to the freedom they first received.

In this letter, Paul speaks with deep conviction to remind them—and us—that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Nothing more and nothing less. As he often does in his letters, Paul begins with strong theological teaching. He opens by telling his own story of conversion and defending the authenticity of his apostleship. Paul makes it plain that his calling came not from man but directly from Jesus Christ. He also recounts how his relationship with the other apostles, men he once stood in opposition to, was made possible only by the grace of God.

From there, Paul lays out a compelling and deeply layered case for justification by faith. He calls his audience’s attention to Abraham, the father of faith. He highlights the spiritual reality of being sons and heirs. And he draws from the story of Hagar and Sarah to illustrate the difference between living under the law and living under grace. He leaves no stone unturned in showing that righteousness has always come through faith, not works.

Paul then shifts from theology to application. After explaining what we believe, he moves on to what that belief looks like in practice. Galatians 5 is where Paul begins describing what life looks like for someone who has been set free in Christ. It is as if he is holding up a mirror and inviting us to examine which direction we are moving in. Are we walking according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?

In Galatians 5:16–21, Paul lays out a sobering contrast:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh . . . . Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.”

Notice that Paul is not giving us a checklist so we can grade ourselves; he is showing us what life looks like when the flesh is in control. These are not just big, shocking sins. Many of them produce subtle patterns that we often excuse or ignore. But Paul lists them plainly not to shame us but to warn us that these are not the marks of a Spirit-led life.

We All Need Reminders!

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7 Signs You’re Sowing to the Flesh

So what does it really look like to sow to the flesh? Paul’s list in Galatians 5:19–21reflects categories of behavior and desires that reveal when the flesh is leading instead of the Spirit. These signs are often elusive and socially acceptable, which makes them all the more dangerous. Below are seven categories that capture the heart of Paul’s warning.

1. Pleasure Becomes Your Master

“. . . sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality . . .”

This first group points to unchecked desires, especially sexual ones. Sowing to the flesh often begins when we give in to the belief that our feelings deserve fulfillment at all costs. It might not look like overt rebellion. It could be what you consume in private, the shows you binge, or the attention you seek online. We also give way to these sins when we indulge in sexual expression apart from God’s design, or pursue pleasure without boundaries. As blood-bought believers, we called to serve one Master: Jesus Christ.

2. Worship Is Misplaced

“. . . idolatry, sorcery . . .”

Worship doesn’t just occur in church on Sunday mornings, it happens every second of the day, 24/7, 365. True worship happens when we center our hope, identity, and comfort on the triune God. False worship happens when we do this with someone or something other than God. That’s idolatry. Whether its approval, control, productivity, or even family, we all face temptations to elevate people and things to a place that only God should hold.

In the biblical context, sorcery refers to seeking spiritual power or insight outside of the Spirit of God. In today’s culture, it might look like trusting in crystals, sage, horoscopes, tarot cards, manifestation practices, or anything else that promises spiritual results apart from Christ. Being led by the flesh will always result in false worship because it directs our devotion away from the God who made us and toward things that cannot ultimately satisfy.

3. Conflict Is Your Pattern

“. . . enmity, strife, jealousy . . .”

Enmity, strife, and jealousy reveal a heart at odds with others. Whether it’s ongoing tension in your relationships, silent resentment, or constant comparison, these patterns are rooted in pride and insecurity. These sins can also be hidden in sarcasm, coldness, or passive aggression, but underneath these behaviors is a life sowing to the flesh, not the Spirit.

Repentance isn’t a one-time event. It is a rhythm of the Christian life.

4. You Can’t Control Your Emotions

“. . . fits of anger . . .”

Let me be clear: it is not a sin to feel anger. Even Jesus experienced this emotion. But when your anger becomes explosive, chronic, manipulative, or expressed abusively (whether physically or emotionally), it is no longer righteous; it is flesh. Sowing to the flesh shows up when we allow our emotions to dominate our actions. It’s a lack of self-control. Whether it’s shouting, bitterness, or complaining, unrestrained anger leads us far from the Spirit.

5. Competitiveness Is Your Posture

“. . . rivalries, dissensions, divisions . . .”

Like anger, competition isn’t inherently sinful. In fact, Scripture honors athletic discipline and good sportsmanship (1 Cor. 9:24–27). But when a desire to win becomes a desire to dominate, or when we measure our worth by being better than someone else, we’ve crossed into flesh territory. Ungodly competitiveness is born from rivalries, dissensions, and divisions. And yet God created us for community and mutual upbuilding (Rom. 12:4–5). A flesh-led heart sees others as threats rather than as fellow image-bearers. When we secretly want to outshine others, divide people into camps, or stir up disunity, we are sowing to the flesh.

6. You Refuse to Celebrate Others

“. . . envy . . .”

Envy is more than wanting what someone else has; it’s resenting them for having it. This kind of sin often hides beneath false humility or pious language, but it exposes a heart that doubts God’s goodness and his ability to give each of his children good things. When we envy, we aren’t just dissatisfied with our own life, we’re questioning why God would give someone else what we think we deserve.

7. Escapism Is a Way of Life

“. . . drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.”

This final group points to escapism which is the practice of using substances, experiences, or excess to numb ourselves. While “orgies” here refers to wild, indulgent partying, the broader point is clear. A flesh-led life seeks escape, distraction, and overindulgence rather than rest in God. This might show up through overuse of alcohol, food, sex, scrolling, shopping, gaming, or anything else we turn to when life feels too heavy.

Recognize, Resist, Repent, Rest

If you’ve read through this list and felt a twinge of conviction or even discomfort, you’re not alone. Paul didn’t write these words to crush us; he wrote them to wake us up, to help us recognize where we’re drifting and to point us back to the freedom we’ve been given in Christ.

The call here isn’t to clean ourselves up or try harder to be better Christians. The invitation is to walk by the Spirit. That begins with honestly recognizing where the works of the flesh are showing up in our lives. Not excusing them. Not dressing them up in religious language. Just naming them for what they are.

Then, by God’s grace, we resist. Not in our own strength, but in his. We choose to turn away from patterns that feed the flesh and instead pursue the things that stir our affections for Christ. We may not get it right every time, but by the Spirit, we are no longer enslaved to sin.

We repent. Not just once, but continually. Repentance isn’t a one-time event. It is a rhythm of the Christian life. It is how we keep short accounts with God and with others. And it is always met with mercy.

And finally, we rest. We rest in the truth that we do not produce the fruit of the Spirit through performance. The Spirit does the work in us as we stay near to Jesus. The more we walk with him, the more we begin to look like him.

This is the essence of a Spirit-led life. Not perfection. Not striving. Just ongoing surrender. And from that surrender comes real fruit that lasts.

Portia Collins is the author of Finding Freedom in Christ: An 8-Week Study of Galatians.

Portia Collins is a Bible teacher and the founder of She Shall Be Called, a nonprofit women’s ministry focused on Bible literacy. She also serves as the partner development specialist at Revive Our Hearts, where she connects with monthly donors to advance the ministry’s mission. Portia and her husband, Mikhail, have a daughter and currently live in the Mississippi Delta.