Phil Bishop
Kinesiology,
University of Alabama
Early in my career, Rae Mellichamp, at the time a colleague at Alabama, challenged me and other Christian faculty to be on the look-out for where we could integrate our academic expertise with spiritual faith.
I thought about his words two years ago when I was in Afghanistan, many miles away from home in geography and culture. It was Sunday morning and I was with sisters and brothers in Christ from around the world. We gathered with the common purpose of corporate worship, and someone asked me to lead the Communion part of the service. I typically decline these requests, but not this time. I saw that my profession as a human physiologist intersected my confession as a follower of Christ.
Tying In My Academic Knowledge
That morning I spoke about the blood of Christ. I spoke about blood — that marvelous fluid suspension that I consider the most wondrous in nature. I told how God had skillfully created blood and its primary constituent, hemoglobin. I tied my academic knowledge of blood to the blood of the Eucharist. Later several worshippers commented on the impact it had made on their partaking in the Lord’s Supper.
A few years ago Bill Weems, a friend here at Alabama and director of the Alabama Safe State program, asked me a professional physiology question. That led to some research which in turn led to the development of a new hypothesis for the cause of death by crucifixion. I presented that research at a national faculty conference that Faculty Commons sponsored, and a grad student and I published that profession-confession intersection as a professional paper. When I make it a priority, I hope to have the opportunity to use that information to minister to the Church.
This is one of God’s greatest blessings for me, when my academic study connects with my faith in Christ. That initial challenge from Rae more than 20 years ago led me to put together a 35mm slide show (PowerPoint wasn’t invented until 1987) called “Evidence of God in Human Physiology.” I have been able to give that talk in a variety of venues and countries.
Doubts About Their Doubts
This last talk accomplishes several things. I have given it to my own graduate students. They see the connection of science and faith most readily when it is demonstrated. For Christians it shows that science and Christianity are compatible and that science can inform and strengthen our faith. For some unbelievers, it creates doubts about their doubts, as Flannery O’Connor said.
What’s the payoff? First, among academics, I get more of a hearing on my topic of academic expertise than on any other topic. When I recognize the intersection of my profession and my confession, I am able to give an apologetic for God, and less directly for Christianity. We serve God when we strengthen our fellow Christians. We serve God when we move a lost student a little closer to acknowledgement of God. These intersections also reinforce my own faith. In the one academic area I know best I can give a reason for the hope that is within me.
As Dallas Willard in his paper Jesus the Logician reminds us, Christ is the ultimate authority on all academic issues. Christ knows more about human physiology than I will ever know. What a thrill when God whispers in my ear and I have the honor of literally “Thinking God’s thoughts after him” (Keppler).
This intersection of academics and Christianity serves both areas. The church benefits from our academic expertise, and our academic expertise increases in a new direction. Does Mathematics intersect with Christianity? Does Ethics? Does English? They do. It’s up to you to tell us how. If you don’t, no one will.
© 2008 Phillip A. Bishop