Science is better when studied through the lens of theology.

For more than 40 years, doctors and dieticians have recommended that Americans avoid saturated fat, including dairy fat, citing the role that high cholesterol might play in causing heart attacks and strokes. Low fat milk and extra virgin olive oil replaced whole milk and butter in the diet of those most health conscious. Recent medical evidence, however, indicates that avoiding dairy fat may actually be more harmful than helpful.

A September 2024 article in Barrons Magazine discussed studies from 2016 and 2018 that indicated that consuming dairy products, especially fermented fats like yogurt and cheese, may reduce the risk of childhood obesity, heart attack and stroke, contribute to better digestive health, and lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes. As a result, Tufts University Cardiologist Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian says “Many scientists who study dairy fat and dairy foods have come to the realization that dairy fat isn’t harmful in any way and may even be healthy.”

Thoughtful Bible students already knew that. In Genesis 1:26 (NIV), the Bible records that “And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground–everything that has the breath of life in it–I [God] give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” In Genesis 9:3, God added animal foods into man’s diet: “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” God put milk and eggs and meat in man’s diet. Does God give bad gifts?

From 2000-2008, the American Academy of Pediatricians advised parents of young children to avoid giving their children peanuts or peanut products, fearing the allergic reactions that could lead to illness or even death. As a result, the number of peanut allergies reported in children nearly tripled, according to a Mayo Clinic study. More recent investigation has shown that introducing infants to peanuts and peanut products at about 4 months of age reduces the risk of developing a peanut allergy by about 81%. This means that the pediatricians’ advice actually made peanut allergies worse, and that they should have recommended (and now do) that peanut consumption begin much earlier in life.

Let’s think. Where do peanuts come from or, more precisely, who created peanuts?

Now before we go any farther, let’s acknowledge that the Bible does warn us away from some foods, and modern science has demonstrated the sound reasoning behind those prohibitions. Shellfish, pork, and rabbit can be deadly when not properly cooked. Insects and carrion can carry diseases that may be very hazardous to humans. God prohibited certain foods for good reasons. Human bioengineering may even have rendered some healthy foods less safe.

But the foods God gave, consumed in reasonable quantities, should be safe for most of us. Expensive studies or a tripling of allergy sufferers shouldn’t be necessary to teach mankind what common sense should already have told us – that God gives us good gifts. A thoughtful study of Scripture would have prevented some of the mistakes of modern science.

Science and Scripture should be complimentary, a fact understood by many of the great scientists in history. Sir Isaac Newton, who taught us about gravity and gave us our laws of motion and is credited with the invention of Calculus, spent more time studying the Bible than studying math and physics. Earnest Walton, who won a Nobel Prize in Physics after splitting the atom, said that science was a way of knowing more about God. Robert Boyle, who gave humanity our first understanding of the characteristics of gases, said that a deeper understanding of science was a higher glorification of God. Michael Faraday, who helped mankind find the practical uses of electricity, was a devout Elder in his Sandemanian Church.

So let’s let our understanding of Scripture inform our understanding of science. A thoughtful application of biblical knowledge would have prevented humanity’s recent misjudgments about meat, milk, eggs, apples, chocolate and potatoes that questioned their role in the human diet. Each of these foods can actually be both tasty and very healthy when consumed in reasonable quantities and in balance with other foods.

Science has much to teach, but science should always be filtered through the truth of Scripture. God gives us good stuff!

Mark Wilmoth is with Pinehurst Christian Church in Marietta and can be reached at Minister@PinehurstChristianChurch.org