We can say that we believe God's Word, but where do we turn when we need guidance or have questions? That is the proof of our beliefs.
1. Many worldly philosophies have infiltrated the Church.
1. Many worldly philosophies have infiltrated the Church.
1 Corinthians 1:20: "Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"
Please note: Many knowledgeable people start with the facts, but they become fools when they interpret those facts. For some of the examples of worldly wisdom mistreating, misinterpreting, and misapplying the facts, see: God's Creation Collection and Half-Truths Many Christians Believe.
2. We need to understand that popular philosophies usually appeal to our fallen human nature. They are "fine-sounding."
What advice does Paul offer in the passage below?
Colossians 2:2-4,8: "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 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."
3. How can we avoid fine-sounding philosophies that have infiltrated the church?
Acts 17:11: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Acts 17:11: "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
copyright 2013, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2021.
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