While science and faith have often been pitted against each other, the September Evangelical Leaders Survey finds that most evangelical leaders are comfortable with the compatibility between their faith and scientific findings.

Evangelical leaders were asked to what extent they agree with the following statement, “Sometimes I have to choose between the teachings of my evangelical faith and scientific findings.” Seventy percent disagreed with the statement, with 30 percent strongly disagreeing.

“Evangelicals are committed to the authority of the Bible but also are grateful for and respectful of science,” said Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. “They recognize that there can not be ultimate disagreement between nature and Scripture.”

Margaret Feinberg, a popular Christian author and speaker, said, “Science and faith inform each other in the most beautiful way. Science illuminates the wonder of God.”

Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, continued, “The Creator is known through that which has been made (Romans 1:20). If there seems to be disagreement, we have either misinterpreted Scripture or science has not yet caught up to it.”

Likewise, Joseph Tkach, President of Grace Communion International, said, “Proper and accurate interpretation has science and theology fitting like a hand in a glove.”

Of those who said that they have to choose between scientific findings and their evangelical faith, some noted that scientific conclusions are sometimes revised in light of new discoveries.

“I will always side with what Scripture says over any scientific ‘finding.’ Other times scientific discoveries confirm what the Bible has been saying all along,” said Bill Lenz, Senior Pastor of Christ the Rock Church, in Menasha, Wisconsin.

Anderson said, “Evangelicals have not always had the best relationship with science. But today’s evangelical leaders don’t think there should be such a division. Science is about studying the world God put us in. We should be the best scientists.”

The Evangelical Leaders Survey is a monthly poll of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals. They include the CEOs of denominations and representatives of a broad array of evangelical organizations including missions, universities, publishers and churches.