Have you been
sold . . . A Different Gospel? Study No. 186
T |
oday nearly
two billion people profess a belief in Jesus Christ. The Christian religion
that began in Jerusalem now girdles the globe and encompasses one-third of
mankind. This seems like a remarkable accomplishment — but there is a hitch!
Jesus warned that “many will come in
My name [claiming to be Christian teachers] . . . and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5, 11, 24). The Apostle Paul marveled that converts in Galatia
(modern Turkey) were turning to a “different gospel” built on a perverted
understanding of the truth (Galatians 1:6-9). The Apostle John recorded
a prophecy that Satan would deceive the
whole world (Revelation 12:9). Could this include you and the church you attend?
Surprising as it may seem, the Christianity embraced by millions today
is not the same “faith which was once
for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). From the beginning, numerous
false teachers opposed the gospel proclaimed by Jesus and the Apostles. It is
common knowledge among historians that the original faith did not remain
uncorrupted (see The Story of
Civilization, Durant, 1972, vol. 3, p. 595). That is why some churches acknowledge
that their beliefs are based on the Bible and
tradition — which often runs counter to Scripture!
One of the prime opponents of early Apostolic Christianity was
Gnosticism — a radical belief system that mixed pagan ideas, Greek philosophy,
mysticism, and human reasoning with twisted explanations of Scripture. Although
Gnosticism faded from view after the second century, many of its subversive
and heretical ideas were absorbed into
mainstream Christianity. Even more remarkable is that numerous scholars
acknowledge that Gnostic ideas are alive
and growing inside Christian churches and seminaries today.
New Testament Professor Peter Jones documents the “striking parallels
between the ancient heresy of Gnosticism and the spirituality of New Age
thinking and the postmodern worldview” (Spirit
Wars, 1997, p. vii). The dangerously deceptive doctrines battled by Paul,
Peter, John, and other early Apostolic leaders are being revived today with a vengeance — yet the average person is largely
unaware of the real source of ideas
promoted under the guise of progressive Christianity!
This article will take a brief look at early church history, and will reveal
some eye-opening and sobering facts!
Who Were the Gnostics?
Gnosticism “developed in the same
places as dawning Christianity and the Judaic religions: Palestine, Syria,
Samaria, and Anatolia [Asia Minor]” (The
Gnostics, Lacarriere, 1989, p. 43). Gnostic teachers claimed to have secret knowledge about the creation of
the world and the purpose of life, and competed with the Apostles on the same
ground. British historian Paul Johnson describes Gnosticism as “a spiritual
parasite which used other religions as a carrier. . . . Gnostic groups seized on bits of
Christianity, but tended to cut it off from its historical source” (A History of Christianity, 1976, p. 45).
Gnostic teaching was a particular
threat to Christianity, because Gnosticism created “the illusion it was a
Christian doctrine” by referring to the Hebrew Scriptures and the teachings of
Jesus, while twisting and perverting the original meaning (Lacarriere, p. 44).
Many Gnostics also claimed to be Christians. Historian Johnson notes the
Apostle Paul “fought hard against Gnosticism, recognizing that it might
cannibalize Christianity and destroy it” (p. 45). Johnson also comments “the
most dangerous Gnostics were those who had, intellectually, thought their way
quite inside Christianity, and then produced a variation which wrecked the
system” (Ibid.).
One of the earliest Gnostic teachers was Simon Magus. He is thought to
be the Simon (mentioned in Acts 8) who used sorcery to deceive people in
Samaria. Simon was attracted by the miracles performed by Philip. Although
Simon claimed to be a Christian after displaying a superficial conversion,
Peter
and John
rejected him for being “poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” (Acts
8:23). Other translations of this verse describe Simon as “a bitter poison
and a pack of evil” (Moffatt), and “a bitter weed and a bundle of crookedness”
(Williams). Although Simon continued to follow the Apostles around (Acts
8:13), he and his disciples (Marcion, Valentinus and Basilides) promoted a
message that was “subversive” and “radically different from the Apostolic
teaching” (Lacarriere, p. 46).
The radical and subversive nature of Gnosticism can best be appreciated
when contrasted with the teachings of Scripture. The Bible reveals that an
all-powerful God created the earth and the universe (Genesis 1:1). This
magnificent creation was produced according to a well-thought-out plan (Psalm
139:14; Proverbs 8:22-31; Job 38). Everything God made was very good (Genesis 1:10, 18, 21).
God created human beings in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Male and
female were created as separate genders for the purpose of marrying and
reproducing in a family context (Genesis 1:28, 2:22-25). Satan, in the
form of a serpent (Ezekiel 28:13), deceived the first human beings by
insinuating that God was a liar and was withholding valuable information from
them (Genesis 3). Adam and Eve were banished from the garden paradise
for disobedience. Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind, making it possible
to be reconciled to God, receive the Holy Spirit, gain eternal life and
participate in the future kingdom of God (John 3:16-17; Acts 2:38; Mark
1:14-15).
Gnostic teaching totally reverses
nearly every detail of these biblical accounts! Gnostics taught that the
real God is unknowable and incomprehensible. This world “is a stupendous
mistake, created by a foolish or vicious creator-god” (Mystery Religions in the Ancient World, Godwin, 1981, p. 84).
Humans are merely “fragments of the universe . . . sediment from a lost heaven”
(Lacarriere, pp. 16, 19). This evil, incompetent god was self-conceived by
Sophia (goddess of wisdom) and later seduced Eve, who then gave birth to Cain
and Abel. The serpent was actually sent by the true God to teach wisdom to Adam
and Eve before they were unmercifully expelled from the garden. This wicked
god, the Jehovah of the Hebrew Scriptures, tricked people into worshiping him
as the true God, and the Old Testament “is the story of his tyranny and
egotism” (Ibid., p. 85). The villains of the Bible (Cain, Esau, the
Sodomites, etc.) are regarded as heroes by Gnostics for standing up to this
evil god!
In Gnostic belief, salvation is obtained not by accepting the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ for our sins and changing our life, but by learning secret
knowledge. For Gnostics, knowledge comes from within oneself — not from
revealed Scripture, yet the Bible says just the opposite (Proverbs 3:5; John
17:17)! For Gnostics, this world is evil; the body is the evil — a corrupt
prison for the soul — from which one must seek to escape. Marriage and
procreational sex are also seen as evils dreamed up by the wicked creator-god.
The real hope, to Gnostics, is not to
see the future kingdom of God, but to
regain an imagined past, freed from
the fetters of this world (spirit from matter, light from darkness) in a
timeless and incorporeal Kingdom of Light. It is not hard to see why the ideas
of Simon and his followers “flew in the face of the whole Apostolic doctrine
and the teaching of Jesus” (Lacarriere, p. 47). Gnostics literally turn the
Bible upside down!
Gnosticism is anti-Scripture, anti-God, anti-Law, and antichrist — yet
its proponents often claim to be the true
Christians! Marcion, a highly intelligent man — and originally a member of
a Christian community — wrote and traveled widely in the 2nd century promoting
deceptive Gnostic ideas. His major work entitled Antithesis contains many ideas that subvert and reverse the
meaning of Scripture. Marcion even produced a canon — a list of books that he felt should
constitute the real Bible! Marcion,
however, eliminated the whole Old
Testament because he felt it was a record of Jehovah’s “crimes against
humanity” (Godwin, p. 85). He rejected three
gospels (Matthew, Mark, and John) because he felt they had been corrupted by
Jewish influences and leaned too heavily on the Old Testament. He discarded six of Paul’s epistles for the
same reasons. Marcion apparently felt he was a better judge of Scripture than
the Apostles and Jesus Christ!
Some of the most controversial teachings of the Gnostics had to do with
the lifestyle they advocated. Marriage and procreational sex were scorned as
the distractions of a wicked god. This led to drastic extremes! Certain teachers,
such as Marcion and Valentinus, advocated asceticism (self-denial). They
forbade marriage and taught that Gnostics should remain celibate. Initiates
already married were told to abstain from sexual relations for life (After Jesus, Reader’s Digest, 1992, p.
132). Since some Gnostics taught that Adam was created without gender, the
ideal state one should aspire to is androgyny — where sexual identity is
suppressed or eliminated. The Gnostic Gospel
of Thomas states, “when you make the male and female into one, so that the
male is not male and the female is not female. . . then you shall enter the
kingdom” (Unearthing the Lost Words of
Jesus, Dart and Riegert, 1998, p. 54). Celibate asceticism — denying one’s
sexuality and abhorring marriage — was a way of achieving this androgynous
ideal and becoming like the true God.
However, other Gnostic teachers advocated just the opposite! Simon
Magus appears to have rejected marriage and promoted free love! Gnostics saw laws given by an evil creator-god as restrictive
and inhibiting. They taught the “practice of free love must be the means of bursting out of the social straight jacket specifically
invented to stifle its [love’s] liberating spontaneity. . . in the promiscuity
of men and women lies the true communion” (Lacarriere, p. 51). Some Gnostic
sects participated in orgiastic rites of almost indescribable perversion. The
idea was that to extirpate evil, it must be practiced until it is exhausted!
This stood in marked contrast to the biblical admonitions to “flee sexual
immorality” (I Corinthians 6:18-20) and avoid all forms of evil (I
Thessalonians 5:22).
One might expect that such
extreme ideas would have vanished from the Christian community especially after
being labeled as heresy by the early Church. Yet, despite considerable
opposition by Church leaders, “this unusual
religion was to have a lasting impact
on Christianity” (After Jesus, p. 131). Gnosticism was the bridge
over which pagan ascetic practices such as celibacy crossed into Christianity.
The Gnostic idea that faith needed to be supplemented by philosophy (The Early Church, Chadwick, 1993, p.
74) appears in church doctrines based upon the Bible and tradition! The idea that the Kingdom of God is “within you,”
instead of being a definite future event, is a Gnostic twist of Scripture that
still influences the belief of many Christians today (compare Luke 17:21;
Acts 1:6; Matthew 19:28).
Gnosticism taught that the true God is unknown, unknowable, and
noncorporeal (without a body). This contrasts sharply with the God of Scripture
(see Jones, pp. 168-169, also Exodus 33:17-23; Revelation 1:13-17, 4:1-3).
These ideas about God, which originated from Greek philosophy, have influenced
Christian thinkers from Augustine (a former Gnostic) and Aquinas, to many
modern theologians (see The Openness of
God, Pinnock, 1994, chap. 2). The ultimate goal of Gnosticism — to be freed
from the fetters of this world (spirit from matter, light from darkness) and to
return to a Kingdom of Light — is remarkably similar to the belief about going
to heaven to behold the beatific vision (look on God) for all eternity. This
differs dramatically from biblical promises that the saints will rule with
Christ when the kingdom of God is restored to this earth (Daniel 2:44, 7:27;
Revelation 5:10, 11:15-18).
Scholars now recognize that when Marcion eliminated entire books of
Scripture based on his own reasoning, he was “using historical and critical
methods basically similar to those of
modern scriptural scholars” (Johnson, p. 46). Marcion’s attempt to call into
question the inspiration of Scripture by listing supposed contradictions
between the Old and New Testaments finds ready listeners today — even among
professing Christians! For Gnostics, Bible prophecy was myth or allegory
without literal historical meaning — a view that also finds supporters in
modern mainstream Christianity (see Chadwick, p. 37).
The parallels between ancient Gnostic ideas and modern Christian
theology are not accidental. Today we are witnessing “an orchestrated attempt
in Christian liberal circles” to present Gnostic writings ‘‘as a valid, alternate, even superior expression
of early Christianity” (Jones, p. viii).
Modern radical scholars are attempting to rehabilitate Gnostic texts and are even suggesting that such
writings — clearly labeled as heretical in the early centuries of the Church —
be added to the New Testament canon! But why
is there such an interest in Gnosticism on the part of liberal theologians?
The reason is simply that ideas promoted by the Gnostics in the first
and second centuries are very popular today! Gnosticism was a theology of liberation — promoting
unlimited human freedom! Gnostic teachers wanted an “adult Christianity”
that was “liberated from the everlasting references to Genesis and the Mosaic
commandments” (Lacarreire, p. 103). Their goal was to break the “mooring ropes”
that tied human conduct to the Bible. Sound familiar? For many Gnostics, “total
insubordination was lauded as the road to liberation” (Ibid., p. 74).
Their practice of communal sex, attempts to gain a state of spiritual ecstasy,
refusal to work, desiring to live as philosophical vagabonds, would blend
easily with the hippies of the 1960s. Former rock star John Lennon once
commented “It seems to me that the only true Christians were the Gnostics”
(Jones, p. ix).
But that is not all! Gnostic texts “are employed [by liberals] to
justify women’s ordination, the goddess character of the Holy Spirit, the moral
appropriateness of abortion, the feminist reinterpretation of culture, and much
more” (Jones, p. 90). These common interests reveal why New Testament scholar
Peter Jones asserts, “Gnosticism was the earliest expression of ‘Christian’
liberalism” and that “modern liberals only imitate their long-lost cousins, the
Gnostics” (p. 64).
Many professing Christians do not seem to realize that their
progressive ideas are rooted in this ancient heresy!
As the twenty-first century dawns, several powerful social movements
are reviving Gnostic ideas. Peter
Jones states “feminist thinkers have discovered the revolutionary character of
Gnosticism as it applies to gender and patriarchal civilization” and that “an
egalitarian, non-patriarchal vision constitutes the agenda of cutting-edge theology, sociology, and
global politics in the West. Gnosticism
and feminism are a match made in heaven”
(Jones, p. 162). He quotes a feminist who states, “Gnosticism is becoming a
powerful influence in feminist research into the overthrow of the male in the divine” (Ibid.).
Feminists want to change Western society and they realize that “to
change the civilization built on the Bible, you
must change the Bible” (Jones,
p. 81). This is why liberals and radical feminist theologians want to include
Gnostic texts as an authentic view of early Christian teaching — equal with the
Bible! Theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether asserts, “Feminist theology must
create a new textual base, a new canon. .
. Feminist theology cannot be done
from the existing base of the Christian Bible” (Ibid., p. 82). Asian
feminist theologian Chung Hyun Kyung has stated, “feminists are free to use the
ancient Gnostic texts, originally rejected as heretical, because the Christian
canon was created by men” and that “women are not obliged to accept a book. . .
they had no part in framing” (Ibid., p. 88). Feminists view the orthodox Bible
as a tool “for social control through the patriarchal suppression of women”
(Ibid.). They like the Gnostic Gospel of
Mary because it places Mary Magdalene at the foundation of Christ’s Church,
rather than the Apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:19-20; Matthew 16:18;
Galatians 1:17-19). Women took unprecedented leadership roles in many early
Gnostic sects (After Jesus, p. 131).
Today’s radical feminist theologians have developed what they call a
“ritual of exorcism” to expunge Bible verses that describe different roles for
men and women, such as Ephesians 5:22-24 and I Peter 3:1-6 (Jones, p.
82). Like the Gnostics, they use verses they like, and discard verses with
which they disagree! Feminists create an androgynous deity by their support of
sexually inclusive terms in new biblical translations. To understand the Bible,
feminist theologians assert, “new rules will require feminist interpreters to
assume that Scripture is not the word
of God. . . is not a container of
revelation” and to “correct as we read” (Ibid., p. 120). In other words,
everything in the Bible “must be reinterpreted by feminist interpreters” which
is just what the Gnostics did (Ibid.).
Many Christians today simply do not grasp the real intent of feminist theology. Radical feminist Naomi Goldberg
has stated, “the feminist movement in Western culture is engaged in the slow execution of Christ and Jehovah.
Yet very few of the women and men now working for sexual equality within
Christianity and Judaism realize the extent of their heresy” (Ibid., p.
195). She blames “God the Father of Judeo-Christian Scripture as the architect
of the patriarchal society” and states that “like patriarchy this God will have
to go” (Ibid., p. 180). Patriarchy refers to the authority of the
father. In her words, “We women are going to bring an end to God” (Ibid.).
This would include rejecting His laws found in the Bible — which was also the
Gnostic mission! Goldberg has predicted, “when feminists succeed in changing
the position of women in Christianity and Judaism, they will shake these
religions at their roots” (Ibid., p. 181). Remarkably very few
theologians acknowledge that Bible prophecy reveals women will push to dominate
society as the end of the age nears (Isaiah 3:12).
In light of such brazen comments, Peter Jones observes, “Christians
must realize that the religious feminist movement carries with it a frontal assault on the normativity of
creational heterosexuality and, beyond that, on God Himself as the Creator” (Ibid.,
p. 196). This, in essence, was also the Gnostic agenda — to denigrate the
creation, its laws and its Creator! Catholic educator Leon Podles senses the
significance of this assault when he writes, “feminism may be as much of a
challenge to christianity as was Gnosticism (to which it bears a strong
resemblance)” (The Church Impotent — The
Feminization of Christianity, 1999, p. 139).
Retired Episcopal bishop John Shelby Spong has an even larger radical
agenda! Spong made headlines a decade ago when he ordained a homosexual priest.
The radical bishop has asserted, “Feminism and homosexuality lie at the heart and soul of what the Gospel is all
about” (Jones, p. 192). Spong feels “the church should bless and encourage same
sex marriages” (The Arizona Daily Star, Sept.
25, 1999). Spong would agree with radical feminist theologians — and Gnostics —
that “the Bible is full of rhetoric and concepts we do not and can not believe”
(Ibid.) such as guidelines for sex role differentiation and
prohibitions against homosexuality. He also echoes sentiments of early
Gnostics who wanted an adult Christianity when he asserts, “I’m anxious to
open Christianity so it can be everything it can be. . . a more enlightened
Christianity” (Ibid.). Spong is simply advocating the same goal as the
Gnostics — the destruction of biblical Christianity!
Today the Christian view of sex and gender roles is under attack.
Liberals say biblical guidelines limit human freedom — but the real reason for
this attack goes much deeper. Jones quotes a common lesbian assertion that
“compulsory [biblical] heterosexuality is the very backbone that holds
patriarchy together,” that homosexuality
will break that backbone and that “lesbian, bisexual, and gay issues. . . are wedges driven into the
superstructure of the heteropatriarchal system” (Ibid., p. 179). The
real goal of homosexuals, radical feminists and liberal progressives is to
change the way Western society operates by
eliminating its biblical foundation! Their tool is the Gnostic tool of
sexual liberation!
The modern return of Gnosticism — a belief system that rejects both God
and His laws — is no coincidence. It was actually prophesied! The Bible warns
that the end of the age would be marked by lawlessness
(Matthew 24:11-12) and that it would be related to a movement that
was “already at work” in the days of the Apostles (II Thessalonians
2:7-8). The early Gnostics were major antagonists of the Apostles and, just
as liberals today, they preached a very deceptive message. This is why Paul
warned the Galatians against believing a different
gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), and why he instructed Timothy to “guard
what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and vain babblings and
contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge [gnosis]” (I Timothy
6:20).
Gnostic ideas are the product of intelligent, yet profoundly misguided
minds. Gnosticism — ancient or modern — is a dangerous deception. Social
movements built on these perverted ideas will lead to disaster. Societies that
reject moral guidelines in favor of unfettered human desires are headed for
trouble! The God of the Bible thunders: “Because you have rejected [My]
knowledge, I also will reject you. . . Because you have forgotten the law of
your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6). The revival and
embrace of Gnostic ideas by liberal, professing Christians is a case of history repeating itself. To remain
ignorant of the past is to risk being deceived by a different gospel. Do not be
deceived! Open your eyes! Believe the real
word of God and the message of true Apostolic
Christianity!
— written by Douglas S. Winnail. From the July-August issue of Tomorrow’s
World, ã 2000 by Living Church of God, reprinted by
permission. All scripture references
are from the New King James Version