God's role in the world

“Our scientific worldview has gradually worked God out of the practical ways in which we think about our world. When science can offer explanation for so much of what we see and experience, it is easy for our awareness of God's role to drift to the periphery. It is not that we believe any less that he is active, it is just that we are not as conscious of his role. The result is a practical (if not philosophical) deism in which God is removed from the arena of operations.

“In contrast, when God's work is fully integrated with our scientific worldview and science is seen to give definition to what God is doing and how he is doing it, we regain a more biblical perspective of the work—a perspective that is theologically healthier.”—The Lost World of Genesis One, page 143

<idle musing>
I am convinced that most christians are practicing atheists; they don't believe that God can do anything in their daily lives. Walton pinpoints one of the reasons here; science explains it, so we don't need a god. Blasphemy! God's role in creation is intimate and moment-by-moment; as Paul says in Acts, “In him we live and move and have our being.” And, as it says in Hebrews, “He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power” (Heb rews1:3 RSV), just to name two references in scripture. God is not part of creation, but he is intimately involved in it—and in our lives.
</idle musing>