Modern World Philosophy

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2:6-9 = "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after he rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
    2. WE ALL ARE PHILOSOPHERS:
      1. That is, all mankind is searching for truth and the meaning of life.
      2. Philosophy:
        1. The Greeks idea of philosophy was a "love of wisdom, any branch of  knowledge.
        2. WEBSTER COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY: "The body of principles underlying a given branch of learning, or major discipline, a religious system, a human activity, or the like; as philosophy of history, Christianity, or of business."
      3. There is a vast difference between the philosophy of the world and that of God.
        1. World philosophy is base and sinful.

          2. Acts 17:18-21 = "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of  the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)"

          Colossians 2:8 = "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."

        2. Paul had said in Colossians 2:8, that the philosophy and vain deceit from the traditions of men was worldly and "not after Christ".

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. A CERTAIN BEER ADVERTISEMENT POPULAR SOME YEARS AGO EXPRESSED WELL THE MODERN PHILOSOPHY "YOU ONLY GO AROUND ONCE". [Schlitz]
      1. World philosophy has been widely disseminated through television.
        1. It has been calculated that an adult spends over nine [9] years of his life watching television.
        2. The power and influence of Television is stronger in most homes than the influence of Christ.
      2. What does this philosophy mean "You only go around once".
        1. Hedonism: (Ethics) The doctrine that pleasure is the sole or chief good in life and that moral duty is fulfilled in the gratification of pleasure-seeking instincts and dispositions".
        2. Epicurean philosophy was "that pleasue is the end of all morality and that genuine pleasure, is derived from a life of prudence, honor, and justice." 
          Note:           This philosophy was later perverted to say = "eat, drink and be merry".
        3. Basically, there is no life hereafter, so live while you are here.
      3. This is false and sinful:
        1. Such pleasures are sinful.

          2. Hebrews 11:25 = "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

          1 Timothy 5:6 = "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."

          2 Timothy 3:1-5 = "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

        2. This earthly (worldly or devilish) wisdom. James 3:15 = "This wisdom
          descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.          "
        3. This earthly wisdom denies:
          1. The nature of man: His spiritual nature and his seeking noble objectives.
          2. The judgment meeting with the Lord and preparing for it. 
            Revelation 21:1-5             = "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself  shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
            for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.            "
    2. YET OTHERS HAVE PHRASED WORLD PHILOSOPHY AS "DOING YOUR OWN THING".
      1. Freedom and independence calls for a person to "do their own thing".
        1. Authorities, parents, teachers, preachers, etc., have no right to speak against "you doing your thing".
        2. This is a complete misinterpretation of: Matthew 7:1 = "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
      2. Some that are doing their thing are:
        1. Those addicted to Drugs and alcohol in the permissive society of today.
        2. Those that engage in illicit sex, whether if be pre-marital, adultery, or homosexuality.
      3. When "doing your thing" is against God’s will, it is sinful. I John 3:4 = "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
        1. Most people in the world are going along with this worldly thinking.
        2. The righteous and godly take their stand with God.
        3. You don’t have the right to do "your thing" and expect it to be all right.
    3. WHAT WILL WE HAVE WHEN THE MODERN PHILOSOPHY PREVAILS?
      1. Goals of extreme advocates:
        1. We have already seen the first rising tide of this in the growing number of things that have been advocated by Abbie hoffman: "Revolution For The Hell Of It"
          1. Murder your parents.
          2. Defile their churches.
          3. Burn down their schools, and Etc.
        2. Eldridge Cleaver, "Soul On Ice": Advocates raw unthinking hatred that brings murder, bloodshed and destruction of the advocates of good.
        3. Those of the nature of the Hoffmans’s, Cleaver’s, Rubin’s. Etc. Appeal to 
          zealous undisciplined drug and alcohol soaked followers who are morally insane and especially violent to anything that is remotely concerned with God.
      2. Fruit of ungodly philosophy:
        1. Base animalism among men and women. Romans 1:28-32 = "And even as 
          they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.          "
        2. Complete state of warfare.
        3. Anarchy at its highest possible degree.
        4. Women liberated to become "dogs" as in ancient days.
        5. A society of chaos, fear, suicide and bloodshed as was manifest during the French Revolution.
        6. Slavery to world powers and Satan.
    4. "I AM THE WAY": John 14:6 = "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
      1. Christ binds His way on man for man’s own good.
      2. The contrast between good and evil. John 10:10 = "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
        1. There is life to dead souls. Ephesians 2:1-5 = "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of  the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us ogether with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
        2. We are complete in Christ. Colossians 2:9-10 = "For in him dwelleth all  the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
        3. Peace and joy come through Christ. Philippians 4:7 = "And the peace of  God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
      3. The gospel of Christ is a philosophy upon which every relationship of life can be 
        safely sustained; With fellow creatures of God’s creation; With the world; and With God.

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. THE WORLD WITH ITS PHILOSOPHY WILL BE JUDGED BY CHRIST:
      1. Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 = "Let no man 
        deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.        "
      2. Everyone of us will give an accounting to the Lord. Romans 14:11-12 = "For it is
        written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.        "
      3. Before the Lord every knee will one day bow. Philippians 2:10 = "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"
      4. The Word of God will judge every man. John 12:48-50 = "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."
    2. WE ARE TOLD NOT TO LOVE THIS WORLD:
      1. The world will come to an end and pass away.

        2. I John 2:15-17 = "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

        2 Peter 3:10-18 = "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

      2. The only true rest for our souls is in Christ. Matthew 11:28-30 = "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

 

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