Philosophy

“My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.” (Colossians 2:6-10 MSG)

We are so dazzled by the words of deep thinkers, the philosophers…the ones who sound like they know what they are talking about. We read the latest books, and listen to podcasts, by the latest “it pastor”, and quote him/her to others as if it is gospel truth. If you read enough of these books, and listen to enough of these podcasts, you will realize that they don’t all think the same way. They interpret the Bible with their own perceptions and experiences…just like we all do. The difference is that we have given them the authority to interpret the Bible and faith for us…instead of searching out the truth for ourselves.

So, how much time do we spend in study, and in developing our philosophy, by listening to the Spirit, and reading the Word? Do we give our own study the same amount of time that we give to listening to others? Does God’s own word teach us as much as the “it pastor”?

“Oh, how I love all you’ve revealed; I reverently ponder it all the day long. Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. I’ve even become smarter than my teachers since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel. I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages simply by doing what you tell me.” (Psalm 119:97-100 MSG) This is a direct quote from King David, showing us that we can become smarter than our teachers, as we ponder on the word of God. 🙂 Something to think about and strive for? Don’t ever underestimate your own capacity in learning and understanding the Word. Give it a try.