| Gnosticism: Worshipping Knowledge |
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| Written by Batya Wootten | |
| Wednesday, 31 May 2006 | |
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Have we become a people who worship the supposed knowledge of fallen man? Have some in our movement become Messianic Gnostics? Gnosticism is a philosophical movement that flourished in the first and second centuries AD and may extend as far back as the second and first centuries BC. (See Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://www.iep.utm.edu/). Gnosticism (from gnosis, Greek for knowledge or insight) is said to be the pursuit of special knowledge - and I fear that this ancient Greco-inspired movement is alive and well today in some Messianic circles. The essence of the creed of the Hebrew people is that we are to shema, hear and obey, the Holy One of Israel, and Him alone, but in Gnosticism, we might say one worships what is in one's grey matter, one's supposed knowledge. In our day, some Messianics pursue detailed studies in Torah and the opinions of "great rabbis," but their studies sometimes feel like just another form of Gnosticism. Pardon my candor, but it seems to me to be the same old harlot in a different dress. We must realize that a misguided pursuit of knowledge can turn into a form of idol worship. We can look at our "idol" in the mirror when we get up in the morning, or we can look to a "great teacher." Both can be idols. Idol worship called for the death penalty in ancient Israel. To fall into this sin is serious business. Not only is it serious business, but it often seems to me to be stupid business. For example, people fight over an understanding of the Deity of the Messiah, and they work really hard to explain Him. But the fact is that you cannot put the Pacific Ocean into a puddle, and our God is like the Great Pacific compared to the pathetic puddle that is the greatest of our minds. Restated, the created being simply does not have the capacity to fully understand its Creator. We can do so to a certain extent, by the hearing of the ear, and we should seek to hear the truth about Him, however, when one becomes arrogant in their attempts at an explanation, they prove themselves to be but a little puddle. Remember, the One whom we are trying to understand said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mat 18:3). The point in my critique is: What is the attitude behind some of our Messianic studies? What is the heart motivation of the author? Are they trying to prove their greatness with their supposed knowledge? If so, and if we follow them, are we falling prey to a spirit of Gnosticism? Surely we must study the Word. Personally, I have had exhilarating experiences during times of study. To study the Word, to get lost in it, is to look intently into the face of Messiah, because He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). I have had times when I have had to get up and dance and sing and shout because His presence was so great that I could hardly stand more study! I love study of the Word, but with study, like so many others things, the key word is balance. While we want to learn, we also must realize that we are called to have a simple faith, faith like that of a child. If we like to have our ears tickled with the latest bit of knowledge, or if we feel at all puffed up because of what we know, we would do well to beware a certain latter-day tactic of the deceiver. We are warned of it in the Book of Revelation, and I feel the warning especially addresses the Messianic movement of this hour. I speak of it in my new book:
We live in the last days, and haSatan is now sending forth a flood of words meant to sweep us away from our God. The Accuser of the Brethren, haSatan, has now released a torrent of deceptive speech. The woman called Israel in the "Revelation of Messiah Yeshua" is called to follow Him. And we are now seeing this flood, this sweeping away of His followers. We warned about it for years in books and in Herald articles. We even reproduced an article from the Jerusalem Report Magazine that confirmed what we knew to be true: many are denying Messiah Yeshua and converting to Judaism (see "The Other Side of Evangelism" by Ronda Robinson). HaSatan is again using pride in head knowledge, but let us not be so foolish as to think this is a problem that only plagues "Greek thinking." In Jewish circles the Talmud and teachings of the rabbis are often thought to be more important than the Tanakh (the Jewish Bible). Many teach about the benefits of the "Hebraic mind-set over a Greek mind-set." And surely people of different cultures do think differently, and it is always wise to understand the culture and setting of the words of Scripture. However, many people who supposedly had a "Hebraic mind-set" did not accept Messiah Yeshua in His day. Conversely, Messiah Yeshua sent Paul to the heathen Gentiles, to the Greeks, to the other lost sheep of Israel, and they accepted the Anointed One. Hmmm... Perhaps the problem is not so much one of having a Hebraic mind-set as it is a matter of tender heart-set. My friend, Sandy Bloomfield writes,
We are at a point in time when knowledge of the things of Yah are being released (Dan 12:4), and as we know, haSatan, the father of lies, is a counterfeiter of all good things. Thus we now find ourselves in the middle of a "Knowledge War." The Father reveals His truth to one of His saints, and the evil one tries to use whomsoever he can to distort and discredit that truth. Knowledge in itself, even when comprised solely of the truth and delivered without guile, can bring division. Our Messiah proved this to be so (Mat 10:34-36). Absolute truth also can cause enemies to arise even in our own households. How much more will division be the result when pride is at the core of the presentation of knowledge? As Sandy says, that will take us in the opposite direction of where we are commanded to go (to unify and build up the Body), and in a manner that opposes the manner in which we are to walk (with deference, affection and humility). Sandy also wisely points out that pioneer types are often non-conformist - which frequently results in many years of rejection, which results in insecurity issues - and thus we find a custom built snare for Messianics. She also says wounds need to be humbly handed over to the Lord for healing, and if they are not they can cause the person to try to prove themselves to others, or to fill emotional holes. This could be another reason why such a premium is often placed on knowledge in Messianic circles. Whatever the reason(s) for our actions, in our pursuit of all things Hebraic, we have become meanspirited. Many in the Messianic movement have denied and berated everything handed down to us from the Church. It has gotten so bad that some think we are a cultic pariah - a school of fish that do not even leave bones behind in their wake. Because we think we know more, we are often mean to those whom we feel know less than we do. But our God did not set that example for us. He surely knows more than we, and yet, Messiah Yeshua walked among us with the attitude of a caring servant. On the other hand, there is one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy every good thing those of the Messianic movement have sought to bring forth (John 10:10). He seeks to do that through a flood of egoistical words put forth by people who need deliverance from the sins that beset them. Beware, little flock, do not be swept away. Put your hand firmly in the hand of your Messiah and trust Him to see you through. Ask Him to give you ears to clearly hear His voice, to guide you, to deliver you from evil, and from all forms of Gnosticism.
May our hearts break for the sin that is found in our camp, and for sin found in our own hearts. May the Father remove all false ways from us, and graciously grant us ears to hear His truth alone. Amen. Shalom b' Yeshua, |
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