Hollow & Deceptive Philosophy
Recommended Reading: Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3 | Colossians 2
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." -Colossians 2:8
Humanism is defined as “an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.”
Humanism is dangerous. It’s a “hollow and deceptive philosophy”. It fills us full of the lie that says we're good enough apart from God. In fact, even though humanists do not believe in the supernatural, many say that if God were real, humanity would still be the morally and ethically superior beings. In humanism, humanity is the sole source of knowledge. There is no absolute morality, and the most important pursuit of mankind is that of pleasure and physical advancement.
I’m sure you’re noticing the stark contrast between what the bible teaches and humanism. Believers in The God Jehovah say that there is One True God, and that He alone is the source of all wisdom and true understanding. There is such a thing as absolute morality (God).
The world of humanism is centered around humanity's selfish desires and the belief that we are the greatest authority in the universe. It wreaks of pride and drips with arrogance. It is clothed with anger and bent on subduing any talk of God or a greater authority. It shakes in disgust at the thought of submission and reverence to an all-powerful and all-knowing God.
But here's the problem - even Christians fall into it's trap. It is cunning and deceptively empowering to the individual. It tells you through pretty language and elegant speech how you're deserving and worthy. It pumps you full of the idea that you are self-made, wonderful, perfect just the way you are, and that you should fully embrace your "own truth".
Before you know it, humanism has slyly ensnared you in it's Delilah-esque seduction. Be sure of this — It will charm you like the serpent in the garden. Adam and Eve were tricked into the dungeon of pride and the pursuit of knowledge. They traded the garden of God for the dust of the world; Humanism, in it’s earliest form.
There's a reason the forbidden tree was called "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil". God never said it wouldn't give them knowledge, but knowledge wasn't what they needed. Sometimes the things we think we should know, turn out to be the things we wished we would have never been enlightened to.
Think of it this way — Have you ever asked a question you wished you didn't ask? Have you ever been given information that you would have just rather not known? What about being given a secret that weighed you down, or a responsibility that you shouldn't have had to bear, but now you carry the burden?
How about the scenario of your children keeping their innocence? Should your 3 year old know about the gruesome side of life? Should your 5 year old learn sickening details of human trafficking? Should any of our children have to bear the weight of adult responsibilities and heavy decisions? That was the forbidden tree.
God was shielding His children from a burden, not a blessing.
One of the lies is that God doesn’t have your best interest in mind. That tree may have opened their eyes to the knowledge of the difference between death and life and the weight of darkness, pain, agony, and torture, but is that what they really needed? Was it worth it? Was it in their best interest? They became more knowledgeable, but was that knowledge helpful? That's the danger we all face when presented with what Colossians speaks of.
"hollow and deceptive philosophy...depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Don't get caught up in the promises the world will give you. There's no job, person, wealth, pleasure, or position that will ever fulfill you. There's no president good enough to save the world. There will be no philosophy or human wisdom that can surpass the intelligence and wisdom of our exceedingly intelligent and wise Father.
Trusting in human plans and innovations over God is a sad mistake. It’s like looking at an elaborate dish cooked with many ingredients, and then praising the server’s culinary prowess instead of the chef’s.
The creator deserves the praise. Everything you utilize (this earth, it's resources, your body and it's functions, etc.) is from God, not the cleverness of man.
The first line of our verse says it all. "See to it that no one takes you captive..."
Belief in yourself and human cunning makes you a slave to the things of this world.
Challenge: Make it your mission this week to filter everything you hear, see, and read, through prayer. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide. Don’t let your view of yourself and your opinion of what’s best, ruin what God wants to do in your life. Read your bible, heed wise counsel, and put on the armor of Christ.
Don't trust just anyone who is intelligent or extremely smart. They might speak with great eloquence and even persuasiveness that sounds logical and enticing, but where does their input lead?? We know where Delilah's led. Sampson's tragedy. We know where the serpent's led. Mankind's great fall.
Who will you let lead you, the creation or The Creator?