roadsign wrote:Has Gnosticism returned? I am reading about first century Gnosticism, and see some similar parallels in our modern churches - esp the ultra-Charismatic ones: Special knowledge (enlightenment) is sought- not intellectual, but something higher which the ordinary Christian is incapable of attaining. These special experiences indicate "salvation". Gnostics diminished the authority of Scripture - esp OT which they allegorized. Also, Gnostics weren't concerned about sin. That is what I see nin our modern movements - very little said about repentance. Often love is lacking in their lives. On the other hand, whatever is experienced "in the spirit" is perfect, it is God's glory, and also an indication of special enlightenment. (characteristic of Gnosticism)Am I on track or way off? Is there any info around?DianeDiane,The Apostle John was so sickened by Gnosticism that it is reliably reported that he wouldn't even stay at the same house that a "christian" gnostic was residing.1 John launches specific attacks against gnosticism. John claims in 2:1 that it was written so they would not sin, and that included the sin of heresy.I started preaching out of 1 John 2 weeks ago, and my study of Gnosticism that was involved with that lead me to a similar conclusion as you: that Gnosticism is alive and well today. It's not as organized as it was in the first three centuries, nor does it many of its forms go by that old title, but its doctrine still finds its way into the church.This webpage below gives a thorough perspective into Gnosticism, which is growing in popularity in America and abroad. This passage tells why: "In an age when the attitudes of self-awakening and self-knowledge are very much in the consciousnesses of people it is no wonder Gnostic teachings are being reexamined. Large groups of people feel alienated from the Christian God. They feel even more alienated from the Christian Church. Many have turned to the pre-Christian dieties and nature for sources of their spiritual and religious experiences. Gnosticism can be one of these sources because is makes man feel worthy of himself and his Diety." (emphasis added) Here's the link: http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/g/gnosticism.html One person noticed that many Gnostic doctrines can be attached to the Matrix movies.I can see where the Matrix does have some Gnostic elements to it. Gnostism basically teaches the following: * There is a supreme god who is good and perfect, but can only be known through special, unnatural knowledge of Him. * This supreme being made other beings that were divine and powerful, but he didn't create matter, just spirits. (only those Gnostics that subscribe to doecitism believe this teaching. Doecitism is the belief that all matter is evil and only spiritual things are good. The doecitic Gnostics say that Jesus had a phantom body and only appeared to be physical.) * One of the lesser beings gave birth to a child, but she was ashamed and hid him away, which led him to believe he was the supreme god. This being is referred to as the "demiurge." The demiurge created all matter - the universe, and he made many mistakes in his creation because he wasn't the supreme being. Some Gnostics teach that the demiurge is evil, while others have sympathy on him because he tried to be good but he is the victim of not having full knowledge that he isn't god. * Humans were part of the creation, and because we were created by the demiurge we lack a natural knowledge of spiritual things and of the supreme being. * The supreme being has sent messengers, men of enlightment who have special knowledge of what god is really like. Jesus was among these men, and many Gnostics taught that he was indeed the son of god, the most enlightened one ever. * Jesus supposedly revealed his Gnostic teachings (sharing his "special knowledge" with them) to his disciples, many of which were women (there are Gnostic gospels that claim to have been authored by the apostle Thomas and Mary Magdelene.) Gnosticism was the first heresy in the church (Judaizers weren't really heretics but misguided Jews who thought Gentiles had to become Jews by at least circumcision before they could inherit salvation.) The apostle John fought Gnosticism with all five of his New Testament works. In fact, there is a second-century document by a disciple of John that tells of an incident while John was staying at a house in Ephesus. Apparently this Gnostic came to stay at the same house and John refused to even go in the same house as him! Why John was so vehemently opposed to Gnosticism is obvious. It perverts not only the New Testament, but the Old as well. Gnosticism has its roots in Gentile (Greek) philosophy, not in Judaism. One of its central bases was Alexandria (Egypt), and that's why the Alexandrian texts that so many modern translations depend upon should be held questionable as to their authenticity. While many of these texts do predate others, there seems to be little concern that these text were altered or influenced by the Gnostics. I am currently going through I John with my congregation on Sunday mornings and have been studying a lot about this. I John battles some of the Gnostic-influenced teaching that was making its way through Asia Minor. It's really amazing how much mordern Christianity resembles Gnosticism. We've reduced the Gospel to a creed, a list of statements that if one learns ("special knowledge"), then we welcome them into the fold. True Christianity isn't about "special knowledge." It's about a supernatural transformation. It's about being born again - being a new creation. While knowledge can transform a person intellectually, it cannot change a person spiritually. They will continue to be dead in their sins unless a Redeemer ransoms them. Jesus didn't suffer and die to make bad men good but to make dead men live! That's why the cross is so offensive to us. It means dying to self and giving God full control. Gnoticism exhalts the person because it is through that self-knowledge that they attaing salvation. Christiainity refuses the exalted self any inheritance to salvation. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." -Luke 18:14 Christians should understand that we can never be reborn unless the old self first dies. That's where the fullness of Christ can be grasped. Gnoticism allows a person to mix their old self with new knowledge, and this is not Christianity. No amount of knowledge, no matter how divine, can give spiritual life. Christ alone can do that. He alone has the words of eternal life (John 6:68), and they are not words that give special knowledge, for He is the Word (John 1:1), and therefore in Him alone is salvation (John 14:6.) Notice how much John fights Gnoticism in his Gospel?
