Thinking Christian

Col. 2:8 (ESV)  See to it that no one takes you captive by
philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the
elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Having been trained in philosophy, especially logic, this verse always makes
the hair on the back of my neck stand up a bit.  Of course, Paul here is
not addressing Christian philosophy but philosophy that centers on the
traditions of men and the elemental spirits of the world. Paul himself argued
with the philosophers of Athens and won some to Christ. He did that using
Christian philosophy.

“Christian philosophy?” you ask?  Certainly! God even asks us to reason
together: In Isa 1:18, He begins with “Come let us reason together, says
the Lord.

When I was in school, I was often asked who my favorite philosopher was.  My responsewas always “Jesus of Nazareth.”  What sort of a philosopher is
Jesus?  He is the greatest Philosopher ever to walk the earth. In fact one
of His names actually points to philosophy.

John 1:1 (ESV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.

Of course we know the “Word” is Jesus Himself.  John 1:14 tells us the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Some of us even know the Greek word
for “Word” here is logos?  But did we know we get our word
“logic” from logos.  In Greek, it means even more than that.  It
means an intelligent discussion, even a philosophical debate, it means reason.
Jesus came here for a lot of purposes. One of those was to reveal God to us in
Person and that often through reason.

Jesus constantly used logic in His ministry.  “What would happen if you
built your house on the sand?  Blessed are the poor in spirit for they
shall see God.”

God didn’t just use logic in the New Testament either:

Ex 19:5 (SV)  Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and
keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for
all the earth is mine;

God gives a condition, a consequence, and a supporting premise: inductive
logic.  That’s philosophy.

Jesus told stories philosophers call thought experiments, stories that
prompt thought and a conclusion.  He held debates with the
Pharisees.  John chapter 8 is mostly a long debate about who Jesus is.

The early church followed in this example.  When the persecutions
began, church leaders wrote public letters arguing philosophy for the benefits of Christian citizens to the empire.

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as
holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a
reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

In Christian philosophy, there is even a discipline called
“apologetics.”  The verse above uses the word “defense.” That is the word apologia from which we get our word “apologetics.”  This is an area where
Christians enter into logical civil discussions, arguments, reasoning, giving a
good defense for the truth of Christ.  There are clear evidences for the
truth of the Bible.  There is powerful evidence the Bible is not only true
and reliable but also inspired by the God of the universe, and Christian
apologists attempt to show this evidence to a lost world.

Jesus was not above giving evidence:

Luke 24:38,39 (ESV)  And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Why is this important?

Thinking is not a bad thing as a Christian.  In fact, we’re told to think continually. 

When we start listening to traditions that draw us away from the truth,
we need to watch our step.  The way this often works is some
simple statement like “the church created the Bible, so the Church alone can
tell you what it says.  We are the church, so we’ll tell you what it says.” That’s a lie.

 The Bible stands alone as our source of truth.  God has given it to us to understand.  Sure there are pastors and teachers who help us, but what they teach should always be examined according to God’s Word.  They should tell you that themselves.

Philosophy like so many other things, can be used to serve man or to serve
God.  We need to be careful.  The purest philosophy is to love the
Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your
neighbor as yourself.  Anything we hear that does not align with that
should be ignored or corrected.  God has revealed Himself to us in His
Word.  There is no need to look elsewhere.