Maybe you were like me as a child. I was endlessly curious about God’s creation. I devoured books about plants, animals, rocks, organs, and galaxies. I thought microscopes and telescopes were magical. I built models of kidneys and molecules out of homemade dough, and I dissected creatures that met untimely ends—all because I wanted to understand the world more deeply.

That sense of curiosity often leads people toward the sciences. We want to know how things work. But curiosity alone doesn’t answer an important question: with so many possible topics to study, how do I decide what is worth my attention as a Christ follower?

Should we choose research topics that advance our careers most quickly? That attract the most grant funding? That promise the biggest paycheck? I once had professors discourage me from studying religious thought because they believed it wouldn’t lead to professional success. But I felt convicted that how people think about God was both under-studied and vitally important. My Christian faith pushed me toward topics that reflected Kingdom priorities, not just professional ones.

Faith and the Motivation for Study

I don’t mean to suggest that Christians must sift through the endless possibilities of research and find only a narrow set of “worthy” topics. In fact, the range of legitimate, faith-inspired inquiry is vast. Almost any area of science can be pursued with God-honoring motives.

What matters most is not creating piles of “worthy” and “unworthy” topics, but being able to articulate why we are drawn to certain questions. Asking, How does this work connect with my faith? helps us clarify our motivation. Clarity strengthens conviction, and conviction fuels perseverance. Scientific education and professional work can be challenging, but when I believe my research participates in God’s Kingdom, I am more likely to do it “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

So how can faith guide topic selection? I find it helpful to frame the question around three great biblical themes:

• The Greatest Commandments: loving God and loving neighbor.
• The Great Commission: witnessing to the good news of Jesus.
• The call to Good Stewardship: tending creation under God’s authority.

Inspired by the Greatest Commandments

When asked which commandment was greatest, Jesus replied:

“The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29–31, RSV)

This, then, is a first filter for choosing topics: does pursuing this line of study help me love God or love others better?

• Loving others through science: Psychologist Everett Worthington’s research on forgiveness, Jennifer Ripley’s work on marriage counseling, and Robert Emmons’ studies on gratitude have all given people tools to improve relationships. But love of neighbor also inspires agricultural research to fight hunger, ecological research to preserve livelihoods, or medical research to combat disease. Even studying “negative” topics, such as toxins or genetic vulnerabilities to aggression, can be motivated by love when the goal is to reduce harm and support human flourishing.
• Loving God through science: Careful study of stars, ecosystems, or cell structures can draw us into deeper awe and adoration for the Creator. Psalm 19:1 reminds us, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” But this requires humility. Do I treat discovery as a chance to glorify God, or do I become impressed by my own cleverness? Even finding a new species of salamander can either inflate pride or spark gratitude to the God who made it.
• Loving colleagues through science: Sometimes the topic itself matters less than the community it places us in. Joining a research team in archaeology, fungi, or physics might be God’s way of positioning us to show love and care to fellow scientists.

Consistent with the Great Commission

Jesus’ final words to his disciples included a charge:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20, RSV)

We usually think of missionaries when we hear “Great Commission.” But scientists, too, can embody this call. Our work can open doors for witness, directly or indirectly.

• Direct contributions: Some areas of science—particularly in the human sciences—may directly help us understand belief, behavior, or culture in ways that aid ministry. For example, studies in trauma-informed children’s ministry (like those by psychologist Erin Smith) can help churches remove barriers for kids to experience Christ’s love.
• Practical service as witness: Many Christian organizations—World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, World Relief—combine practical service with gospel witness. Science contributes here as well: clean water technologies, agricultural development, and medical breakthroughs embody Christ’s compassion and often prepare people to receive the message of God’s love.
• Presence as a witness: Even when research doesn’t obviously spread the Gospel, simply working as a faithful, respected scientist can create opportunities for witness. In my graduate lab, I didn’t push conversations about Jesus, but my colleagues knew I was a Christian. Over time, several initiated faith conversations with me. Doing excellent work and showing genuine care earned me credibility to be a witness.

Contributing to Good Stewardship

From the beginning, God tasked humanity with tending His creation:

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15, NIV)

Being created in God’s image means representing His authority in the world—not exploiting creation but stewarding it for His glory. This stewardship applies to both the non-human and human aspects of creation.

• Stewarding the non-human world: Ecology, climate science, toxicology, and biology all help us care for creation. But knowledge can be used for profit-driven exploitation just as easily as for long-term flourishing. Christians should consciously bring their values into these spaces, asking how research can align with God’s purposes.
• Stewarding human culture and society: Stewardship also extends to cultural institutions—arts, economics, governance, community life. Research in psychology, economics, or sociology can contribute to just systems and nurturing communities. Conversely, Christians should ask whether some research topics carry undue risks—physical, emotional, or spiritual—for themselves or others. Not all that can be studied should be studied.
• Stewarding oneself: Finally, topic choice should align with our own growth as disciples. Does this research path fit my gifts and passions? Will it strengthen my character or compromise it? Sometimes the very challenges of research help shape us into the people God wants us to be.

A Process of Discernment

Choosing research topics is rarely simple. Early in a career, we may not have much choice—sometimes a supervisor hands us a project, as when I studied lithium toxicity in bipolar patients. Even then, we may later recognize how the work served God’s purposes, perhaps by contributing to patient care.

Over time, though, as we gain more freedom, we should be able to articulate how our faith motivates our topics of study. That doesn’t mean every project must carry obvious “Christian” themes. Sometimes God simply uses our interests and curiosity to guide us into areas we couldn’t have imagined.

The overarching question remains: How does my Christian faith inspire my topics of study? Sub-questions about love, mission, and stewardship can help us discern. And when we see our work as part of God’s Kingdom, we find greater conviction, resilience, and joy.

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About This Series

This blog is part of a five-part series distilled from Justin Barrett’s *How Can Your Faith Fuel Scientific Discovery? Questions and Reflections for Becoming an Integrated Scientist* (Blueprint 1543 Media, 2025). Each post explores one of five central questions designed to help present and future science professionals think integratively about their work. The goal is to encourage Christians in the sciences to see their research not as separate from faith, but as a vocation inspired, shaped, and sustained by it.