6th May, 2022.

BEWARE OF ANTI BIBLE PHILOSOPHIES Pt.7

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.

HEDONISM

Aristippus of Cyrene was a student of philosophy under Socrates. He was the first to preach the philosophy of "Hedonism". What is Hedonism? This is the philosophy that supports the pursuit of pleasure and self- indulgence. Aristippus believed that the ultimate meaning of life is pleasure and, thus, pleasure should be man’s greatest pursuit. In the ancient world, what made this philosophy to gain wide acceptance was because Epicurus, his student, subscribed to hedonism. Epicurus taught that there is no afterlife and so one must enjoy pleasure as the ultimate end. In Acts 17:18, during the second missionary journey of Paul, he debated with the Epicureans. It was in the 18th century Hedenism re emerged and gained prominence through Jeremy Bentham as an ethical and psychological theory. Through Satan's subtlety, the philosophy of Hedonism has coloured modern preaching & teaching of some preachers resulting in flamboyance and pursuit of material things. Same has affected some Christians too. They may not know it is Hedonism but that's the philosophy their teaching and lifestyle portrays.

What does the bible have to say about Hedonism? King Solomon can give us an insight about this: “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ . . . I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 10). King Solomon was Hedonistic at a time but hear his conclusion: “everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). That's worth pondering over. Those that are devoted to the pursuit of pleasure will not profit from the word of God. Jesus established this truth in his parable: “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature” (Luke 8:14). The pursuit of pleasure is not meant to be man’s ultimate goal or pursuit. The pop culture preaches and teaches Hedonism through music. That's why most of the songs are centred on worldly pleasure.

No hedonistic man will make heaven. God's ultimate purpose for our lives is not hedonistic pleasure but to please and glorify Him: "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2 NLT). As God's children, we must learn to abide in God's presence to find true pleasure: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” ( Psl16:12). The "Gospel" that doesn't point to Christ, heaven, righteousness but is centred around the pursuit of wealth, breakthrough, and material things is hedonistic. Nothing corrupts true biblical teaching than the modern hedonistic philosophy. Jesus asked a very vital question: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?"(Mark 8:36”). That's a question begging for answer from ages past. Do this: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well*” (Matthew 6:33).