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INSUFFICIENY OF
MAN'S PHILOSOPHY (Col 2:8) 07/30/17 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert The Thinker (French: Le Penseur) is a bronze sculpture by Auguste
Rodin, usually placed on a stone pedestal. The work shows a nude male
figure of over life-size sitting on a rock with his chin resting on one hand
as though deep in thought and is often used as an image to represent philosophy. A. Everything
we learn economics, philosophy, biology, mathematics has to be understood in
light of the overarching reality of the character of God. That is why, in the
Middle Ages, theology was called the queen of the sciences and philosophy her
handmaiden. Today the queen has been deposed from her throne and, in many
cases, driven into exile, and a supplanter now reigns. We have replaced
theology with religion? R.C. Sproul, Everyone's a Theologian THE HANDMAIDEN HAS BECOME QUEEN B. Non-Christian Philosophy is Christianity’s
most formidable adversary - John Frame C. WHY STUDY PHILOSOPHY? Frame 1. To
learn how to think with more clarity, cogency, and profundity. (study of Logic) 2. To understand better the intellectual
background of Christian thought. a. Other
disciplines also useful: history, the arts, science, etc. b. But philosophers have been most
influential in the formulation of worldviews. 3. To
become acquainted with the most formidable adversaries of Christianity:
non-Christian thought in its most cogent form. I. DO NOT BE CARRIED AWAY BY
MAN’S PHILOSOPHY (Col 2:8) A. Context 1. From Col
2:8 to verse 23, Paul gave the heart of his polemic argument. This section
was his description of the problems with the teaching of the false teachers.
It could be outlined as follows: a. Polemic
Against False Philosophy (Col 2:8) b. Polemic Against Insufficiency in Christ
(Col 2:9-15) c. Polemic Against Legalism (Col 2:16-17) d. Polemic Against Mysticism (Col 2:18-19) e. Polemic Against Asceticism (Col 2:20-23) 2. Paul
began with the imperative, “See to it” (blepete - “You must keep on
seeing to it that…”), which prompts the believer to be continuously
vigilant against false teaching. The moment believers cease to be concerned
about false teaching they begin slipping into error. 3. The Colossians were to be vigilant that no
one takes [them] captive. “Captive” is the Greek word sulagōgeō
and means literally to carry off as booty [or spoil] (Fri). Figuratively
it refers to victimizing or brainwashing someone with religious error or
false teaching, take control of, lead astray, prey on someone spiritually (Fri).
Again, the present tense emphasizes the continuous pressure of false teaching
which is to be equally matched with continuous vigilance and resistance. B. Philosophy 1. The
false teachers captured undiscerning people through philosophy.
“Philosophy” (phileō - “love of” and sophia “wisdom”)
literally means the “love of wisdom.” That sounds wonderful and something
that we all should pursue. But the bottom line is whose wisdom should we love
and pursue? The answer of course must be God’s wisdom. 2. Most commentaries acknowledge that Paul
was not speaking of Philosophy in general, but specifically of the false
teaching that was encroaching upon Colossae. In fact, Josephus characterized
any particular teaching of his day as a philosophy, to which he also included
the “Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes”
(Ant 18:11). a. The
apostle does not mean to condemn all arts and sciences, as useless and
hurtful, such as natural philosophy in its various branches, ethics, logic,
rhetoric, c. when kept within due bounds, and in their proper place and
sphere for with instances of these the Scriptures themselves abound; but he
means that philosophy, or science, which is falsely so called, the false
notions of philosophers [i.e. false knowledge that comes from false
teachers]; Gill 3. The
basic study of Philosophy can be productive when you pursue the study of
Logic, correct thinking, well-reasoned arguments, and a Christian worldview. a. I define
philosophy as "the disciplined attempt to articulate and defend a worldview."
A worldview is a general conception of the universe. (John Frame, Philosophy and the Bible) b. As a Christian, I am committed to a worldview
that comes from the Bible: God the creator, the world as his
creation, man made in his image, sin and its consequences as our predicament,
Christ's atonement as our salvation, his return the consummation of all
things. (John Frame, Philosophy and
the Bible) 4. Philosophy
or Worldviews can be helpful in trying to ascertain the movement of men’s
thoughts throughout history for better or worse. They can also be helpful in
trying to understand our own worldview, Christian Theism, and the fallacies
in all other worldviews. a. Christian philosophy: is an attempt to
answer questions [on worldview] humbly before God and obediently to his
revelation. (Frame) b. Non‑Christian
philosophy: is an attempt to answer questions [on worldview] autonomously
[apart from any kind divine revelation], hindering [suppressing, Rom 1:18]
the truth in unrighteousness. (Frame) 5. Negative
Influence of Philosophy on Christianity - John Frame a. [DRH] In the 2nd and
3rd Century, Gnosticism came into its zenith and produced: 1) Valentinian
Gnosticism, an attempt to make Christ have a greater role in Gnosticism, inviting
Christians to a deeper understanding (gnosis) of the Christian scriptures,
sacraments, and doctrines. a) This would include
influence on the Catholic Church i) Worship of Maria
compared with the worship of Sophia ii) Transubstantiation of
Communion iii) Dessert Fathers who
drew from all sources and religions 2) Doceticism was the
belief that the Gnostic Christ only “seemed” (dokeō) to have a
material body. 3) Manichaeism (founded
by Mani), a dualistic religion that offered salvation through special
knowledge (gnosis) of spiritual truth. 4) Marcionites (Marcion)
was a variant of Gnosticism that rejected the Old Testament and practiced
stern asceticism. a. In the 4th century,
Origenism, a clever synthesis of Christianity and Greek philosophy, had captured
the Christian intellectual establishment, producing confusion over the
person of Christ. b. In the 16th century,
the "medieval synthesis," a clever synthesis of Christianity,
Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism developed by Thomas Aquinas and others, had
captured the Christian intellectual establishment, producing confusion
about justification. c. In the 19th and 20th
centuries, a series of syntheses between Christianity and Kantian philosophy
(developed by man, led by Schleiermacher and Barth), have captured the
Christian intellectual establishment 6. When
philosophy is viewed as one’s perspective of life or a worldview, only God’s
wisdom is correct (Isa 55:8-9). a. God’s
wisdom is inscrutable (Rom 11:33). b. God will ultimately destroy the world’s
wisdom (1Co 1:19). c. God will prove the world’s wisdom as
foolish (1Co 1:20). d. Man’s wisdom rejects the knowledge of God
(1Co 1:21) e. Christ is the believer’s wisdom (1Co
1:24-25; Col 2:3) f. The Spirit imparts Christ’s wisdom (1Co
2:12-16) II. DESCRIPTION OF MAN’S
PHILOSOPHY A. It is Empty Deceit 1. All
false teaching is empty. It is empty (kenos - empty. ineffective)
because it is ineffective in fulfilling anything promised whether true of
imagined. Their words may sound persuasive but they are empty (Col 2:4; Eph
5:6). a. The
Six Healing Sounds - Ancient Taoist masters discovered a particular
frequency and identified six sounds to keep you healthy. Elk Bugle, Deer
grunt, Antler rattle, Turkey Gobble, Turkey Yelp, Coyote Serenade. b. I shouldn’t make fun because there is
also is a book called, “Soul Healing with Our Animal Companion.” c. Beside Healing Sounds there are: Healing
Stones, Healing Gemstones, Healing Herbs, Healing Light, Healing Springs,
Healing Intelligence, Healing Cuisine, Healing Color, Healing Drum (African
Wisdom Teachings), Healing Aroma (Aromatherapy), Coyote Healing, Shamanic
Healing, Ecstatic Healing, Quantum DNA Healing, if those things don’t work
there is always the Traditional Magic Spells for Protection and Healing 2. Furthermore,
they are deceitful. This comes with the implication that in order to
be deceitful one needs to know they are not telling the truth. The Greek word
apatês means trickery, deceitfulness, deception (Fri). Peter
described such false teachers in 2Pe 2:13. B. It is the Tradition of Men
1. Jesus
spoke of the ingrained practices of the traditions of men (Pharisees). a. Observances
were passed down through the Pharisaical teaching (Mar 7:3-4). b. The Pharisees would question others for
not following their traditions (Mar 7:5). c. The Pharisees would invalidate the Word
of God for their traditions (Mar 7:8, 13). 2. Though
it may seem disconnected, Gnostic (mystic and esoteric) practices are full of
tradition. In fact, many who involve themselves in such things as magical
arts, occult, and mysticism, do so because it has been passed down through
tradition. Someone passed down the secrets to a family member or trusted
individual before the secrets became extinct. 3. The traditions of men are the natural
religious customs whereby the practitioners believe they are appeasing a god.
The elementary principles of the world are the natural religious inclinations
behind man’s religious customs, which include good works, idolatry,
mysticism, and even the occult (Gal 5:20). C. It is the Principles of
the World 1. The word
for elementary principles is the Greek word stoicheion. Literally,
stoichieon means the first upright post. 2. Figuratively, it would be the basics or
the fundamental elements. a. In terms
of any field of knowledge, it is the rudimentary elements, or ABC’s
(Fri) (cf. 2Pe 3:10, 12). b. In terms of Christianity, it is the
elementary doctrines (Heb 5:12). c. In terms of the world, it is the
elementary inclinations of natural man. 1) They are
man’s natural inclinations for human religion (Gal 4:3). 2) Man’s natural inclinations for human
religion are weak, worthless, and enslave them (Gal 4:9). 3) Man’s natural inclinations for human
religion are self-righteous or ascetic acts to attain salvation (Col
2:20-21). 4) Man’s natural inclinations for human
religion revolve around the traditions and fleshly impulses of men taught by
false teachers (Col 2:8). III. DISTINCTION OF TRUE
PHILOSPHY A. Man’s philosophy is not
according to Christ. The false teaching plaguing Colossae was a
philosophy based on man’s natural religious inclinations and customs, but not
on Christ. B. “True philosophy” (or epignōsis,
true knowledge) finds its beginning, source, substance, and end in the
person and work of Christ (Col 2:3). “True philosophy” is the love of
Christ’s wisdom” (Col 2:3). C. True Philosophy is based on Christ as the
Truth (Joh 14:6; Joh 17:17), God (Col 1:15; Col 2:9), Creator (Col 1:16),
Knowledge (Col 2:3), Redeemer (Col 1:14), Model (Col 2:6), Life (Col 3:1-4),
and the Future (Col 1:5). True Philosophy is the Christian worldview based on
the Scriptures. D. Christ is the yardstick by which to
measure philosophy and all phases of human knowledge. The Gnostics were
measuring Christ by their philosophy as many men are doing today. They have
it backwards. Christ is the measure for all human knowledge since he is the
Creator and the Sustainer of the universe. RWP IV. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. What is your Worldview? 1. How do
we answer questions on reality, humanity, death, knowledge, morality, and
history? Okay, how do we view science? Is science the end all for truth? Or
what about Ethics, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Politics, and
Economics. 2. Christians will claim the Scriptures as
their basis for belief, many only mean the basis for spiritual things, but
everything else is determined by the modern sciences. 3. Sadly, through most of the history of
western civilization, philosophy has been governed by non-Christian
assumptions. The dominance of these presuppositions was interrupted during
the Medieval period, and there have been Christian philosophers since the beginning
of the church. But from around 600 BC to 400 AD, and from around 1650 to the
present, the dominant influences in philosophy have been non-Christian.
(John Frame, Philosophy and the
Bible)
4. Now since the business of philosophy is
to think clearly, cogently, and profoundly about the world, the hardest
challenges to Christian thought have come from the discipline of philosophy.
So when Christians study philosophy, they become acquainted with the
most formidable adversaries of the Gospel: non-Christian thought in
its most cogent form. (John Frame, Philosophy and the Bible) 5. In the apologists' writings
there is little warning about the "wisdom of the world" or the
spiritual warfare of Col. 2:8. Rather, the apologists' approach is to seek
common ground with philosophy, to wear the philosophers' mantle, to seek
intellectual respectability as defined by the philosophical community. . (John
Frame, Philosophy and the Bible) B. What is the basis for your
religious views? 1. Many
would say we do not have the truth, but we are coming to the truth.
Nevertheless, Jesus said I am the Way the Truth and Life, no man comes to the
Father but through men, [and only Me, that is, not Christ and good works]. 2. Many within the church today would say
there is a little bit of truth in all religions. Are they saying that there
is a little bit of Jesus in all religions? Do you mean the Jesus of the
Scriptures? The pre-eminent One, the divine One, THE ONE OUTLINED IN
Colossians 3. philosophy may be useful as a handmaid it
is not to be a mistress in theological things; it may subserve, but not
govern; it is not to be made use of as a judge, or rule in such matters; Gill. C. What is your view of the
Scriptures? 1. This is
what it all comes down to. The Scriptures are being attacked on every front.
By the front of Expository teaching has long been under attack and all but
been defeated as archaic, irrelevant, and unscientific. 2. There were very few times in the history
of mankind when the people of God were completely dependent upon the Word of
God for everything they believed, thought, and did. Unfortunately, we are not
living in one of those few rare times. 3. Although the scholastic standard has
changed in our world, a Christian’s belief in biblical inerrancy supports theology as
“queen.” The Bible warns us to avoid “the opposing ideas of what is falsely
called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20). Rather, we should strive to
“correctly handle the word of truth” (2
Timothy 2:15). Theology truly is the starting place for learning.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs
1:7). (Got Questions). |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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