8th May, 2022.

BEWARE OF ANTI BIBLE PHILOSOPHIES Pt.9

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.

STOICISM

Stoicism was first taught by Zeno around 300 BC. Stoicism is one of many ancient Greek philosophies. Ancient Greece was the home of intellectuals in centuries past. Paul, in his missionary journey to Athens met with the stoics and engaged them in a debate in the Areopagus and later presented the Gospel to them in Mars Hill(Acts 17:18). Stoicism emphasizes rationalism and logic. Stoicism believes in a universal force of reason that governed everything. That force is believed to make things happen on earth. That force is known as "Logos" meaning "Word". It will interest you to know that the term "Logos" was used by Heraclitus some 500 years before Jesus was born. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is referred to as the "Logos" (Word), and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; he is the driving force sent by God( John1:1,14). Here, there's a similarity between Christianity and Stoicism because both believe in "Logos"- Word.

What is anti bible about Stoicism? Stoics believe "Logos" is an unknowable force. The idea of saying man cannot know God and presenting God as an impersonal force is totally anti scriptures. God want us to know Him that's why He sent Jesus: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). We can know God through a sound relationship with Christ: "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”(John 14:6‭-‬7 NLT). The "Logos" that Stoics thought as unknowable and impersonal is revealed in the bible as the Christ who came in flesh and dwelled with men: "In the beginning was the Word( Logos) , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth"(John 1:1, 14 KJV). Hallelujah!!! Jesus Christ is the "Logos" that Stoics don't know. We know Him. He lives in us and we in Him.

Another teaching of Stoicism that is anti scriptures is that man should seek help from within. Whereas the bible teaches that we should seek help from God in times of trouble: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, Which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2 KJV). Man cannot help himself. The phrase “God helps those who help themselves” combines Stoicism and Christianity. They're immiscible. God's help is for the helpless. Finally, Stoicism doesn't have a firm belief about after life. For the Stoics, what matters isn’t so much what may or may not happen after death, but how we make best use of the time we have now. They've forgotten that life here on earth is a dress rehearsal for the life to come in eternity. We believe in resurrection of the dead and two eternal destinations for mankind- Heaven or hell: "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Heb9:27). Revelations 20:6 says, "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years". Eternity is real, prepare to meet the Lord.