Expert: Paul Walker - 2/5/2004

Question
I'm wondering if you could tell me your thoughts on philosiphy.  I for a while wrote down my thoughts on daily living, but after a recent spiritual awakening begain to wonder if Santan could be using my thoughts of philosiphy to draw my attention away from God's Word.  I have currently stopped writing down my thoughts on daily living, but am still wondering if it's possible to have man made philosiphies outside the bible that are inspired by god.

Answer
Dear Sam,

I appreciate your question, it is a very good one and not one I have gotten before.

Colossians 2:8  BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST.

I can say for sure that God's word warns us to beware of philosophy. There are many false doctrines base on some philosophical contrivance. There is nothing wrong with thinking, it is what God made us to do. However, we are to bring every thought into obedience to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST;

Neither is there anything wrong with recording one's thoughts for later examination and comparison to the Scriptures. However, philosophy is basically the imaginations of men. They sit around and dream up things to fit the limited pieces of the puzzle they have rather than study God's word. God is not inspiring man made philosophies. The main object of creation is for God to be glorified, not man.

Isaiah 55:8  For MY THOUGHTS [ARE] NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER [ARE] YOUR WAYS MY WAYS, saith the LORD.

Many take a verse or two and rather than study the word for further light they wrongly reason, or philosophize, a private interpretation. This is what you have to be wary of in your own studies. The best thing you could do is to read through the Bible a good seven times before trying to put the pieces together. You cannot understand the part without being familiar with the whole.

I hope this helps.

Your Servant In Christ Jesus,
Paul Walker
ysicj@aficj.org