Four ways to serve Christ in science

In the book of Exodus (31-37) we read of the detailed construction of the Tent of Meeting - a portable temple.

This temple required the deployment of gifts of early materials science, engineering and artistry, and by His Spirit, God gave notable gifts to artisans Bezalel and Aholiab. This narrative is “the first explicit treatment of the doctrine of vocation in the Bible" (Gene Veith: God at Work).

Most Christians are familiar with the lists of spiritual gifts and graces in the New Testament. But what is the difference between a gift and a grace? Arguably, spiritual ‘graces’ are qualities that every Christian is summoned to exhibit, such as faith, hope, love, kindness, gentleness - and many others. In contrast, ‘spiritual gifts’ are endowments that differ in their distribution within a Christian community. Yet, such gifts can and should be exercised together in harmony, like musicians with different instruments in an orchestra.