“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 NIV)
In our current culture, we have seen a huge shift away from biblical values – a shift which we are witnessing as the laws of the land rapidly change in Canada and the USA, as determined by the courts making decisions based on relativism offering more choices to groups who demand change. Often these changes begin in the USA and are soon seen in Canada.
The definition of a Relativist: Someone who holds that nothing is simply good, but only good for someone or from a distinct point of view, holds a relativist view of goodness. Concise Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy
In the early days of the church after Christ was resurrected, Peter declared to the spiritual leaders “We must obey God rather than men” despite strict orders from the Jewish Council. They said, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (vs. 39)
I began reading the late Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer in the late 70s and found his Christian philosophy encouraging. History is repeating itself as Francis A. Schaeffer contended. We are moving deeper into biblical lawlessness. Philosophy has separated the influence of divine revelation, as found in the Bible, from man-made relativism. Schaeffer used Raphael’s painting of “The School of Athens” (c. 1510), a copy of which hangs in my home, to illustrate the separation.
Symbolically the painting depicts two viewpoints, one looking upward toward God, the other viewing the lower academic sources as guidance developed by man. In Europe, this gravitation toward one or the other direction took divergent paths – the Reformation (God) and the Renaissance (man). Schaeffer traced moral relativism back to the Roman Empire. Pilate caved into the Jewish leaders when they accused Pilate of not being a friend of Caesar. Of the Christians Schaeffer wrote:
They worshiped Jesus as God, and they worshiped the infinite-personal God only. The Caesars would not tolerate this worshiping of the one God only. It was counted as treason. Thus, their worship became a threat to the unity of the state during the third century and during the reign of Diocletian (284– 305), when people of the higher classes began to become Christians in larger numbers. 1
We see this occurring in society now when Christian views are advocated, if they either are opposing or disagreeing with the choices of any relative practice of a group condoned by the courts and widely popular with the masses.
As Christians, we need to be cautious not to be seduced into the world’s viewpoint which is a distinctly opposite philosophy of life. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition” (Colossians 2:8) Behind the worldview lies a philosophy contrary to the laws of God and Jesus Christ.
The Loss of Christian Principles
Christian principles are based on laws which are based on the love of God. We have seen many of them ruined, as the courts have now taken away the collective inalienable right to the freedoms the people have had. The court’s rulings bypass any legislative basis of wider representation of the people. In the courts and in North America, the once cherished principles are evidently lost perhaps forever in many areas, replaced by these:
- Prayerlessness in the public schools
- Abortion
- Gay marriage
- Assisted suicide
The above stated new rights are based on the deceptive principles of the world and are not biblical. Isn’t it hypocritical that the US courts disallow prayer in the school when the founding fathers’ reverent practice of opening Congress with prayer is still carried on with a presiding Christian minister?
Here is a quote from an academic address to American students. You will see that religion is viewed as unacademic, despite the fact that the many great universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in England began as Christian schools with a theological Christian focus.
This is an American public school, and American public schools were created to make better Americans. If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity, race and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America, one of its three central values — E pluribus unum, “from many, one.” And this school will be guided by America ‘s values. This includes all after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a society divided by political correctness. 2
Apostle Paul noted regarding those not led by the Spirit of God: “When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world” (Galatians 4:3) Peter warned that that this conflict will continue: “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute” (2 Peter 2:2) Peter warns of the impending judgement of God based on rampant lawlessness:
“…if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. (2 Peter 2:6-10 NIV)
In Sodom before this judgement, sexual immorality abounded. “Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion”. (Jude 1:7) The lawless townsmen thought they could knock down Lots’ door to bring his guests out to gang rape (sodomize) them in the town square. Does this sound like something you might hear in the news today? The judgment began right there. The angels confronted them. They were all blinded, and the angels led Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah before the rain of fire that destroyed the towns. Jesus warned us that just before His second advent the state of man’s lawlessness will be similar:
“Just as it happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17: 29-29)
Schaeffer contended that Christians are to blame for not speaking up when the issues were developing. This may or may not be true in part. What is true today, is that all Christians need to be aware of relative humanism as the most profound catalyst in a society moving man to the Final Judgement, which will occur at the second advent of Jesus Christ in power and great glory.
We are witnessing more animosity from the relativists. Jesus warned of this: “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.” (John 15:19-21 NLT) The apostle Paul’s warning makes sense today: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy…”
1 Schaeffer, Francis A. How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture (Crossway)
2 A Speech every American High School Principal should give. (Dennis Prager)