3rd May,2022.

BEWARE OF ANTI BIBLE PHILOSOPHIES Pt.4

Col2:8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

RELATIVISM

There's an old philosophical ideology called "Relativism". Often, you have heard when people make statements like "Truth is relative." Here, relativism mean that whether a particular statement is true or not is a matter of personal preference. In essence, they're are saying what is true for "A" may not be true for "B. If I say, "I believe in God" or "Jesus is the only way" a relativist will say "That's only true from my perspective/experience but not a general truth for all". What relativism attacks is the universality of truth especially the truth of scriptures*. Relativist also believes that culture and world view colours our perspective. That is, "right" and "wrong" is determined by our cultural perspectives so nothing is absolutely "right" or "wrong". All is based on our cultural perspectives. This philosophical ideology prevents us from judging anything as wrong because "Right" is relative. If we subject this theory to scriptural scrutiny, so many things are wrong with it.

A philosophical ideology like this undermines the authority of the bible simply because it places the truths of scriptures on the scale of relativism. A relativist will quickly call the bible "Jewish book" or "Greco- Roman book" simply because he believes what is written in the Bible is coloured with Jewish laws and customs or the ancient Greco-Roman ideologies. A relativist will see the truths in the Bible as "Jewish truths" that doesn't apply to him. That's a dangerous position. The bible says, "Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens" ( Psl 119:89). Biblical truths are not relative, they are universal. What is true about sin, righteousness, sanctification, rapture and other Bible themes in Africa is the same in Europe, America, Australia and other parts of the world. No difference. What the bible DESCRIBES may be in the mould of the culture of that time but what the bible PRESCRIBES is universal, it breaks all moulds.

Another evil of relativism especially in Africa is to make us feel Christianity is "White Man's Religion". This has made African Traditional Religion to thrive. The African relativist will tell you the truths in the bible is a "Western Construct" thereby making you feel he has another set of truths that he lives by. It is like saying "the white man is correct because that's what his culture permits, I am also correct because this what my forebears handed to me". The bible says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"( Heb13:8). Nothing is relative about Christ. He remains the saviour of the world. The life of Christ in us knows no race, color or culture. Don't subscribe to relativism in handing scriptural matters. This ideology has resurfaced. We can't handle scriptural truths with this ideology and still remain true to our faith. Beware!!!