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Tag Archives: Gnosticism
This Has Nothing to Do with the Instrumental Music Controversy at All. Really.
It’s amazing how we delight in creativity. It’s because, I believe, the creative side of humans is very much in the image of God. When we delight in the arts, we delight in a spark of God that remains in … Continue reading
Backgrounds of the Restoration Movement: Gnosticism, Part 4 (Two Stories, Creation, Story)
“Dualism” is the notion that the world is divided into good and bad — and that the two do not touch. Francis Schaeffer liked to speak of the first story and second story. In his terms, we’d describe Platonic dualism … Continue reading
Posted in Restoration Movement, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Church of Christ Links, dualism, Francis Schaeffer, Gnosticism, Restoration Movement
2 Comments
Backgrounds of the Restoration Movement: Gnosticism, Part 3
Another area where Platonic thought crept into the church is in our understanding of the “soul” and the afterlife. In Biblical usage, our bodies will be resurrected. Indeed, “resurrection” specifically refers to the reanimation of the body. However, in Greek … Continue reading
Posted in Restoration Movement, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Church of Christ Links, creation, Gnosticism, Plato, Restoration Movement, resurrection, salvation
13 Comments
Backgrounds of the Restoration Movement: Gnosticism, Part 2
The essential idea was that to become pleasing to God, the Christian had to master certain secret knowledge (hence, the name). The truly holy were separated from the lower-level Christians by their superior knowledge. (1 Tim 6:20-21) Timothy, guard what … Continue reading
Posted in Restoration Movement, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Church of Christ Links, cilice, Gnosticism, Restoration Movement
6 Comments
Backgrounds of the Restoration Movement: Gnosticism, Part 1
This summer, my church is taking a break from its usual approach to adult Bible classes and going back to a more traditional approach — each class has a different subject. I thought I’d teach some new material on the … Continue reading
Posted in Restoration Movement, Uncategorized
Tagged All, antinomianism, Church of Christ Links, Gnosticism, Plato, Restoration Movement
15 Comments
