Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." continues the theme of last week's query, "do you really believe that what you believe is really real?"
Definitions:
Philosophy - "The love of wisdom which sends one on a scientific quest to discover ultimate reality (truth)" (R.C. Sproul); "[with the aim to]...enlarge our understanding of God. True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle." (1828 edition Webster's Dictionary)
Ethics - Morals were defined by social norms. Ethics were defined as how things ought to be. The two words are now considered synonymous as statistical ethics which our culture defines through normalcy and survey data. In other words, "good" is determined by what is, rather than right and wrong being defined by laws expressing & applying the nature of God to life.
Dr. Tackett's opening question: "Have you been taken captive?"
2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."NIV
Colossians 2:8 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." NIV
We heard worldview 101 from Carl Sagan and William Provine, outspoken adherents of "cosmic cube" thinking and relativistic ethics. How very, very SAD.
1981's Humanist of the year, Sagan's assumptive language describing his "cosmic cube": "The cosmos is all there is, or ever was, or will be; we are made of star stuff" presents the view that there is no God in such a way that, without discernment, many are deluded. This philosophy places all that is, was and will be into a box, alone, without God, rejecting the Biblical presuppositions that God IS and has revealed Himself to us through His creation, His Word and interacts with us Himself.
The examples were given of philosophers Aristotle, Plato & DiVinci who failed in their quests for Truth by staying inside the box of their own design (no God) which lead to depression, despair, despondency and foolishness.
Postmodernism proclaims that there is no absolute truth (My kids say: Isn't that statement an "absolute"???) but that each person must make their own truth; that opposites can be "truth". This leaves no foundation for ethical standards, no meaning in life, no way to determine what is reality = chaos.
Our worldview (what we really believe is true, our personal philosophy/ethics) drives how we think, act, feel. If we buy into the lies of the world, we conform to the world in our mindset, actions, emotions. We lock ourselves in the box.
PTL there is a Solution!
Romans 12:2
2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." NIV
2 Timothy 2:15
15 "[Study] to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." NIV
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." NIV
Don't be deceived & held captive by the hopeless lies of this world. Come to your senses and get out of the box!
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