Enlightened By Darkness

Many Christians get confused when they see their beloved faith being distorted by people claiming to be Christians promoting or endorsing falsities.

Just because someone appeals to the Bible or refers to Jesus or a Biblical passage or personage does not mean they are talking about Biblical Christianity. Much of the time, deviations, even in our day, are manifestations of an ancient heresy known as “Gnostism,” which imposes a preconceived philosophy upon the Bible through which it must be interpreted. Those “in the know” hold the keys to help initiates become enlightened as to the “true” meaning of Scripture. It happens all the time in many modern seminaries, and not a few mainline and other popular churches.

In our day, we see manifestations of ancient forms of Gnosticism such as in Freemasonry. New adaptations of Gnosticism are now seen in “woke” Christianity, liberal theology, the call for churches to embrace and endorse immoral sexuality as holy, teaching that God has changed His mind concerning behavior that the Bible clearly says is sin, accusations of patriarchal oppression when pastors authoritatively preach what the Bible clearly says, or suggestions that the Bible must adapt to the times because past evil pastors distorted the Bible to justify corporate sin. 

The only defense against Gnosticism, in whatever form it takes, is to take the Bible at its own word, that it is the infallible and inerrant self-attesting revelation of the one and only self-existing Trinitarian God who clearly communicated His will through the written word. 

The only final authority is the Bible itself and is not found in a person, movement, philosophy, or behavior. This is the essence of Reformed theology, which is founded upon the Bible’s self-testimony: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!” Psalm 119:105, KJV