This was written by Karl Hirsch who is the Dean of Students at Charis Bible College in San Jose. It was submitted by Kathryn Hansen...our devotional writer for Thursdays.
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I've been meditating the on cautionary message found in
Colossians 2:8-10
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Many of the ‘outsiders’ to Christianity have a worldview of Christians as being ‘brain-dead’, ‘mind numb’, ‘religious preacher controlled robots’. These self-professed intellectuals believe that they have attained sufficient mental ascendancy on their own human power to not need anything or anyone else. This so-called ‘Progressive’ philosophy is believed by them to be the NEW and IMPROVED order for society, when it is in reality older than Moses. They think they are ‘free’ but in reality they are ‘bound’ by the deceit and lies foisted upon them by the world (secular education, main-stream-media, etc.), the flesh (selfish desires) and the devil (spiritual forces leading them in destructive tendencies).
Because these ‘outsiders’ do not have a relationship with the author of the Bible (Father God/Holy Spirit/Jesus), they do not understand how to embrace the truth of His love for them. Take for example the wisdom found in
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
A ‘Progressive’ would immediately pounce on a Christian, make the accusation that God wanted them to completely abandon reason and blindly follow an invisible (non-existent to them) being. But we know that God created us a with a brain to be put to use – not leave on our bed pillow. The wisdom from God, as written by Solomon, is to not “LEAN ON” (put our total trust in) our own reasoning. Many other scriptures get miss-interpreted by these intellectuals as describing a hateful sovereign. But we know by the revelation from the Holy Spirit that the truth is GOD IS GOOD!
One of the biggest ways the Holy Spirit wooed me to a belief and confession in Christ was because I pondered the question, “Who is telling the truth and what is the real truth?” The problem I have with ‘Progressives’, main-stream media, religious con artists, and even some close friends with good intentions is that they all can describe what they think is the correct view of life. But how can one human claim they have “THE ONE TRUTH”. So, I made the choice to believe and adhere to one source of truth – the “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” (Bible). And I know some would argue that there are many man-made interpretations of the scriptures. But I have confidence that the inward working of the Holy Spirit who I invited into my life is able to lead and guide me into all truth. As he will do for you also. Our part as Christians is to follow the guidance of Romans 12:1-2 to keep our brains cleansed (renewed).
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
I leave you with a word of encouragement to not shrink back from these so called ‘Progressives’. Continue to be bold with your belief in the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus. We should never be offended in any way by their disdain for our beliefs – rather, we should rejoice.
As it says in
Luke 6:22
Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
Blessings
Karl Hirsch
Dean of Students,
Charis Bible College of San Jose, CA
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