Yes, and all who
desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus
will suffer
persecution. But evil
men and
imposters will grow
worse and worse,
deceiving and being
deceived.
But you must continue
in the things
which you have
learned and been
assured of, knowing
from whom
you have learned
them, and that
from childhood you
have known the
Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make
you wise for
salvation through faith
which is in Christ
Jesus.
2Timothy 3:12–15
While
addressing this subject as to how former philosophers have influenced society
and the Church it became noticeable that many do not want to inquire of such
things, this by lack of comment or inquiry. There is much verbal and written
objections in regards to politics, moral issues; i.e., abortion, homosexuality,
women in the pulpit, the Sabbath keeping, etc., with little or no action to
address these issues. Talk, or words written on social medias are good but they
are often taking the place of real action; a faith without works. Every period
of history has had it problems. Those problems still exist today although
wrapped in new wrapping as to disguise them from the past. Every era has had I
peculiar dangers inasmuch as can be seen by the writings of men from those
times. Read the City of God by Augustine and it is clear that the world
was in turmoil making cause for Christians to have need to address those
problems. All times required men to have understanding of the times and address
them with boldness; no matter the cost and many did pay with their very lives. Looking
back into the history of the Israelites we find that when king Saul died and
David the shepherd became king there were those who did not accept David as
king, they did not understand the times but God raised up men who did
understand the times: “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the
times, to know what Israel ought to do,….” (1Chronicles 12:32a). Jesus made
this clear that even those, the Pharisees, those who were in charge of the
righteousness of Israel to overseer and protect the faith, did not know the
times: “and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they
will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time
of our visitation” (Luke 19:44). It was these religious men who were to
know of the times and instruct the people of the times as they looked for the
coming of the Messiah, but they were so caught up in their religiosity, and
even in some of the philosophies of the day, as did Philo who brought
Neoplatonism into his writing of the Old Testament. It required then, and it
requires now men of understanding, men who will become studious and come to
know the Scriptures and to be able to thwart the evil men, men within the
Church who are misleading many people into thinking that they are worshipping
God and are following Scripture when in truth the are far from Scripture, they
are ignorant of Scripture and they are ignorant of the times. This why a study
as to how ancient philosophers have and are influencing society and especially
the Church is important. There is a need, a great need, for men to be bold, unflinching in
their maintenance of the truth, the entire truth, not some watered down truth,
they need to hold to the authority of the Bible.
Our present
age has such an abounding unbelief. We can see this in TV shows, in movies, in
magazines, newspapers, in lectures, especially lectures at universities, even
in lower schools. Christianity is being taught as being a myth if it is taught
at all, for many they do not even inquire as to what is Christianity.
Christianity has been replaced by such as the sciences, geology, anthropology,
and reason is the way for truth. People are being told that they should not
believe in a supernatural religion, that there is no possibility for miracles,
that the Bible is not inspired. All one has to do is to watch TV and they will
see, that is if they are already not blinded by the ideologies, philosophies,
and false theologies, such as entitled: The New Norm, or The Big Band Theory,
or The Modern Family, and it is plain that these shows are teaching
unscriptural things. This war upon Christianity is done with such cleverness,
having the appearance of candor or liberality, that they teach and show the
real world that involves the whole of human nature and that we are to become
compliant with this nature. Even Christians are carried away with these
teachings, even if only partially they have succumbed to watching them, paying
for them by watching them, going to movies where the actors are hedonistic, not
just on the screen but in their everyday life. Where did these teaching, this
hedonistic attitude, these problems arise? From the teaching of philosophers
such as Plato, and the Neoplatonist that attempted to syncretize Plato with
Christianity, and from this came several branches of religious thought which can
be found in many so–called “Christian” Churches. Are you involved in such a
Church? How do you know if you do not take the time to examine what they teach
with Scripture? Have you come to believe in the Scriptures being inspired in
their totality? Or, do you just believe that the Bible is just another good
book, with good morals, etc. Do you know the times? Not as some Churches teach
about the “End Times” as if they had the truth of when the “End Times” would
occur and is their main doctrinal teaching and preaching, rather do you know
from Scripture how you are to act and operate in a world that is so influenced
by men who do not hold Jesus Christ in high esteem, let alone as Savior. Or
have you acquiesced and say: “I just don’t have the capacity to understand.” “I
am too busy, too tired, too involved in other activities.” Are you just a
“Sunday Christian?” Do you take time in study, prayer, leading your families in
Bible study (It is a command of God for fathers, and if fathers are absent for
mothers to teach their children)?
Take note!
Be lazy, apathetic! Be a “nominal” Christian! For God knows and God has told us
that we will have this war against us for we hold the truth and Satan hates
those who hold God’s truth; we will give an account as to what we did with the
truth that was given to us. Jesus said: “I tell you that He will avenge them
speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on
earth? (Luke 18:8). Yes there is skepticism all around, there is unbelief
all around, there are those who shear the sheep for profit for themselves, evil
men, seducers; but we need not be afraid for God has promises of “Avenge” those
evil ones. Let us apply the words of Jesus Christ: “So likewise you, when
you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are
unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’”(Luke 17:10). As
I attempt to show how these wise philosophers of the past have done an unwise
thing by bringing into the world a belief that is not of God, rather it is of
the Devil. To know then will aid us in our understanding of the times. Once the
problem is understood, the solution is at hand. We can change from the inside
out starting with ourselves and then this will spread to others and then a
revival to return to our first love will occur: it starts with each and
everyone of us. Will you join in this solution?
Therefore, since all these things
will be
dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you
to be in
holy conduct
and godliness…
2Peter 3:11
Begin Now! Be Intentional!
Richard L. Crumb
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