Honorably Standing while Surrounded by
Deceptive Philosophy
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© March 26, 2017
In the beginning, there is God:
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• a Glorious God,
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• a Loving God,
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• a Dynamically Creative and Creating God,
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• a Faithful God,
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• a Holy God,
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• a Just God,
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• a Humble God (evidenced by Christ’s birth and Sacrifice)
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• a Redeeming God,
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• a Patient God,
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• an Awesomely Powerful God,
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• and, The Only True and Living God.
From the beginning of depravity there has been the outcry of the “me” generation and the desire to deceptively smudge out God:
· discredit Him,
· deny Him,
· dethrone Him (putting ourselves in His place), and
· destroy Him.
When men and women choose to disbelieve God as our Creator and the One to whom we are accountable, humankind is driven to find alternative logic to explain why we exist – we call this “human philosophy”: thinking and reasoning to explain our existence and meaning, without the need for God.
· Who am I?
· What brought my world into existence?
· Why do I exist – now?
· Why do I have reason and consciousness and a deep need for value and purpose?
These philosophic musings – to separate ourselves from accountability to the True and Living God, have become valid questions and contemplations in every fallen generation since the dawn of time.
The Apostle Paul addresses deceptive philosophy in Colossians:
Colossians 2:4, 8
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
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.
Romans 16:17–18
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
How do we meaningfully and honorably stand against deceptive philosophy?
When we observe creation around us with its incredible life, diversity and replication, without the necessity to devoid God from the universe, we have all the evidence a rational soul needs to clearly see its Creator.
We can stand effectively when we understand we are standing on a firm foundation.
Who am I? God Made Me!
· There is extreme complexity and diversity in all life which exists on earth.
· We have been incredibly created!
o Cellular, Molecular, Genetic and DNA
“The DNA inside each of your cells is longer than you are, but packs down into a space smaller than you can see.”
· “…(There are) 3 billion base pairs in each cell to fit (or “coil”) into a space just 6 microns across. If you stretched the DNA in one cell all the way out, it would be about 2m long (6’ 7”) and all the DNA in all your cells put together would be about twice the diameter of the Solar System.”[1]
o Bodies, Bones, Brawn, Breathing, Blood and Brains…
In addition:
Nervous System, Spinal Cord…
Eyes,
Reproductive System,
Internal Waste Management Systems,
etc., etc.
· Our “Being” – the mystery of life and consciousness
o Consciousness
Thinking,
Rationality,
Planning,
Building,
Perception,
Intuition,
Expressiveness,
Personality,
Creativity,
Aptitude,
Authority,
Communication and
Problem Solving, etc., etc.;
o Individuality – the uniqueness of each snowflake, each fingerprint, each voice, eye pattern, genetic code/DNA, etc.
God made each of us special!
· Design – The design inherent in every created life, is best suited for each life: human, animal, insect, aquatic and/or aerodynamic…
· The Universe – The existence of the vast and profound universe, visible and invisible is beyond comprehension!
· Natural Laws – The continuity of the stability structured on natural laws
One example: The Periodic table
· Ethics – The universal consistency of human, moral, and ethical codes
Men and women can choose to plunge down a dark, polluted, carnal path further away from God. God then gives them over to a further corrupted mind and depraved conscience (Titus 1:15-16; 2 Tim. 3:6-9; Rom. 1:28).
Why Do People Believe in Themselves rather than God?
· Two Issues that Detract from Belief in the Reality and Mercy of God
John 3:19–21 – Darkness
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
Hebrews 12:14–17 – Bitterness
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
· Depravity’s Philosophical Delusion
o Sin, the cause of depravity (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12; Gal. 6:7-8)
o Death, the outcome of depravity (Rom. 6:23; 8:13; James 1:15)
o Salvation, the antidote to depravity, sin and death (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10)
Spiritual Life
Perception: How Does God Allow us to Perceive Him?
· Profound Creation
Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
· Process of Guilt: The experience of guilt that reminds us of our sin before God, prompts us to have a restored relationship with God.
Hebrews 9:14
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Titus 2:14
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
· Pursuit of God by Grace through Faith: The Scripture gives us an invitation to humbly and in repentance “come near to God and He will come near to us.” Come to God. “Call upon the Name of the Lord to be Saved!” (Rom. 10:13)
James 4:6–10
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
John 3:16, 36
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
o Personal Relationship: Those who are “born again” into God’s Family have confirmation from God’s Holy Spirit, of their relationship.
John 3:3 “You must be born again.” (see also Titus 3:5-6)
Romans 8:16
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
2 Corinthians 1:21–22
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
How do we Honorably Stand while Surrounded by Deceptive Philosophy?
The psalmist Asaph, shares his personal struggle of how to understand and stand for truth when surrounded by the world’s deception.
Understanding the Final Outcome
Psalm 73:1–20
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
Who am I? God Made Me!
Honorably Standing while Surrounded by Deceptive Philosophy
· We have been incredibly created!
There is extreme complexity and diversity in all life which exists on earth.
o Cellular Levels – Molecular, Genetic/DNA
o Our Bodies, Bones, Brawn, Breathing, Blood and Brains…
o Our “Being” – the mystery of life and consciousness
o Individuality
o Design
o The Universe
o Natural Laws
o Ethics
· Why Do People Believe in Themselves rather than God?
o Two Issues that Detract from Belief in the Reality and Mercy of God
Darkness and Bitterness
o Depravity’s Delusion
Sin (cause),
Death (outcome) and
Salvation (antidote)
· Perception of God:
How Does God Allow Us to Perceive Him?
o Profound Creation
o Process of Guilt
o Pursuit of God – by Grace through Faith
o Personal Relationship
· Understanding the Final Outcome! Psalm 73
Ps. 73:
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy.”
Colossians 2:4, 8
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
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.
[1] http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/how-long-your-dna