Saturday, August 28, 2010
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
HOLLOW AND DECEPTIVE PHILOSOPHY
In some of his letters Paul is very specific about correcting a particular false teaching. Here in Colossians he's more general. "Watch out!" he says, "The world will tell you it's wiser than God." This warning still fits our experience today.
The universities of the world teach our youth that the Bible is religion, but science is reality. Even some people who claim to follow Christ say that the Bible is perfect when it comes to spiritual ideas and teaching, but flawed when it comes to things like history, geology and science. As if the Creator of the universe gets it all right when it comes to spiritual knowledge, but when it comes to visible things, mankind has to educate Him.
Modern man always thinks he knows better. He presents his "wisdom" as unassailable fact in every age. Whether its bleeding people to cure them, or insisting the world is flat, or telling everyone that he can describe the origin of the universe through logical extrapolation.
Right now you can go to your favorite book store and get a copy of "A Short History of Time" by Stephen Hawking, or "The Universe in a Nutshell" by the same author. No doubt it's interesting reading. Probably full of plausible explanations concerning the universe we live in. But, in a hundred years or so these ideas will seem outdated. Fine sounding arguments to be sure, but arguments from a former age when man was not yet as educated as he is now.
And really, doesn't the red flag of warning go up in your mind when a person who's only lived a few decades wants to tell you how everything works?
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
