Beware Of False Philosophy Of This World

Beware lest any man spoil you through 

philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition 

of men, after the rudiments of the world, 

and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:8

     Authentic Christian Faith is one whereby a person who says that they have faith must manifest that which has been given to us and this by those inspired men who wrote letters to Churches undergoing much strife, both within and without. We have these writings and we have, even though often cloaked, those same heresies affecting the Church and undermining Authentic Christian Faith.

      Who are you following: Jesus or a man or a woman? Are you following Scripture that even Clement of Rome who was a fellow with the apostles said were inspired or some man-made doctrine, a doctrine that you have not taken time to prove (1Thessalonians 5:21) are the truth? Read what Clement of Rome wrote: "Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; (Literally, “To such examples it is right that we should cleave.”) since it is written, “Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy.” (Not found in Scripture.) And again, in another place, [the Scripture] saith, “With a harmless man thou shalt prove (Literally, “be.”) thyself harmless, and with an elect man thou shalt be elect, and with a perverse man thou shalt show (Or, “thou wilt overthrow.”) thyself perverse.” (Ps. xviii. 25, 26.) Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars  Or, “war.” (Comp. Jas. iv. 1.) among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ?   (Comp. Eph. iv. 4–6.) Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that “we are members one of another?” (Rom. xii. 5.) Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how (This clause is wanting in the text.) He said, “Woe to that man [by whom (This clause is wanting in the text.) offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be  hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones.” (Comp. Matt. xviii. 6, Matt. xxvi. 24; Mark ix. 42; Luke xvii. 2.) Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continueth." 

      The early Church was under such a time when men were promoting a philosophy, a theology, or ideology that was not Scriptural although they promoted it as godly. There was a major attempt to pervert the Church. Today we have much the same attempt by those who follow a man without examining their teachings who are leading people into a supposed truth but is really only heresy.

     "Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached? (Literally, “in the beginning of the Gospel.”) [Comp. Phil. iv. 15.] Truly, under the inspiration (Or, “spiritually.”) of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, (1 Cor. iii. 13,) etc. because even then parties (Or, “inclinations for one above another.”) had been formed among you. But that inclination for one above another entailed less guilt upon you, inasmuch as your partialities were then shown towards apostles, already of high reputation, and towards a man whom they had approved. But now reflect who those are that have perverted you, and lessened the renown of your far-famed brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, highly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian profession, (Literally, “of conduct in Christ.”) that such a thing should be heard of as that the most stedfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on account of one or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumour has reached not only us, but those also who are unconnected (Or, “aliens from us,” i.e., the Gentiles.) with us; so that, through your infatuation, the name of the Lord is blasphemed, while danger is also brought upon yourselves."

     In the next blogs I will outline the various heresies that were being promoted in the early Church that have found their way into many Churches today.

And God saw that the wickedness

    of man was great in the earth,

and that every imagination of the 

    thoughts of his heart was only

evil continually. And it repented

    the LORD that He had made

man on the earth, and it grieved

    Him at His heart.

               Genesis 6:5-6

God's patience is not His permission

Richard L. Crumb