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Subtle Forms of Gnosticism
Posted by Chris Johnson in Baptist Life, Bible & Theology, IMPACT Features, News & Culture
Well, it is about time for another Southern Baptist Convention. This year may be one of the few years that the neo-doctrine of abstaining from the drinking of wine has been muted for at least a brief season. There simply may be too many other important matters to address this year; the nuances around the legitimacy of drinking wine has not risen to a heightened level of deliberation as seen in previous years.
With the younger generation almost bathing in alcohol …and the continual begging of big business, like the proponents of Budweiser panting daily for more drinkers, you would think that the religious conventions of the world should not remain silent. Yet, could there actually be a more unique, powerful, and transparent way to defend the right to remain sober? Certainly there is a more sober and less gnostic way…. and yet it is an interesting and predictable error of the Gnostic that reveal some of the best clues to confronting the drunkenness of this age. The do’s and the don’ts seem to become much clearer when held up against the shadows of a Gnostic rubric.
Let’s see where you land in this exercise of the will.
Re-facing Evil
Is it true that fermented wine is evil? This is an interesting question. And it is a question that is typically and strategically ignored in the pursuit of higher moral relevancy. Of course, any Christian would know that the juice that has fermented to the point of wine is not evil in and of itself. The process from yeast laden grape skins, crushed to yield juice that ultimately ferments into wine, and then eventually if left to nature turns to vinegar…. doesn’t literally rise to the level of evil. If evil were described in such a manner,…such a definition would be to agree with the gnostic thinker, where physical aspects of matter can be reformed in the appearance as an intention of the heart. It is important to understand that Gnostics spend an inordinate amount of time working the soft plastered face of evil into a meaningful desired pattern. So that, if the pattern fits the relevancy of the politic, then the pursuit has been successful and sometimes even profitable. But for whom, and at what expense?
What Gnostics Believe
Gnostics depend upon a certain type of knowledge to form their belief. The gnostic belief is immersed in the idea of an eternal principle of evil where the spirit of man represents the principle of good, and the body (material), that of evil. This view, in one sense, is the same as the Pelagianistic and Semi-Pelagian consideration that adorns man as sovereign and willing to choose in the absence of God. So, from this vantage point, a Gnostic will never see “sin” in relation to God and His will; and because of such lack of reference and truth, will never recognize the demand of the law of God….. which is, love to God. The very lack of such “love to God” which is the result of Gnostic belief subtly demonstrates the antithesis by which we can embrace the actions of the will with relation to the act of abstinence, the act of sobriety, an act of temperance, and so on.
The Law of God, represented in the Ten Commandments, echoes a stark rebuttal to Gnostic thinking when exposed in John’s three brief letters.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:14-17 ESV
It is by pure “grace upon grace” that drunkenness is avoided. The intent of the heart to remain faithful to Christ, and never be drunk with wine meets the mark of obedience in the Spirit. Is this what we teach our children? Do we teach our loved ones to “love God” above everything, and to honor their mother and father? As John proclaims,… “it is from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace”! Not grace from the actions of drunkenness, but grace fully received to bring glory to God and honor to our mothers and fathers. The higher form of devotion is not abstaining from fermented wine itself, but in a less gnostic manner,…remaining obedient to the Spirit by never being drunk with wine at all; whether you choose to abstain or not to abstain from drinking the fruit of the vine.
Remaining True to His Word
Why is it important to remain vigilant and not adopt forms of Gnosticism? The best reason is given by John. The Word became flesh…….
1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,1 and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 1 John 1:1-4
The sinless flesh of Christ, innocent to the Gnostic principles, delivers a potent message. It is “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” that brings meaning to life and answers to refraining from drunkenness. It is more important to remain true to God’s Word,…even when the subject matter goes against the political bellwether of well-meaning brothers and sisters. The Spirit is powerful, and He is able to keep you from stumbling. Teach your children and loved ones the principles maintained by the Spirit while diligently refusing to be delivered over to the way of the Gnostic.
Do not get drunk with wine……
Blessings,
Chris
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Interesting take on the issue: I actually like this argument better thatn most I’ve heard. Personally, I’m a permissive teetotaler (I don’t drink, but I don’t mind if people do around me).
Do you know if anyone has researched the historical background of the temperance movement in Christianity? I’m a little fuzzy on how we went from beer-fermenting Catholic monasteries and Luther to abstinent Protestants writing “baptist bulls” every other year…can you fill in the blanks or point me in the right direction?
Andrew,
Thank you for the comment. You almost answered your own question concerning the swing in political footballs when it comes to drinking wine. There have been many folks that have unearthed a treasury of information on the temperance movements throughout time. Temperance is not a new phenomena… since we have it recorded as far back as records have been kept. The most interesting debate though is trying to establish the fact of the wine, in and of itself possessing material evil. I’ll be out most of the morning, but I would like to here from those that defend the gnostic belief of fermented wine being materially evil.
Andrew,
One book that was written several years back by Peter Lumpkin, “Alcohol Today” has some interesting statistics. Even though I disagree with Peter in his final analysis and use of the data, I think he has captured some good stats. His book is a good example to show the pattern of gnosticism relative biblical fact concerning wine. Many of the biblical characters discussed wine, its use, and its abuse, but not one defined the substance itself as evil. In my opinion, the better way to curtail drunkeness is to depend upon the Spirit….as scripture would encourage…be drunk in the Spirit. So, we must teach our children and loved ones the great benefits of living in the Spirit, being controlled by the Spirit, and recongizing that “He”, the Spirit, lives in us.
meant to say in a better way…. “His book is a good example and illustration of the use of gnostic type thinking relative or compared to biblical fact”. His leaning more toward gnostic theory.
Chris,
Peter has been called a lot of things, I’m just wondering if he has ever been called or referred to as gnostic before? I think that he would refer to himself as a … Non-Gnostic-ist.
Alcohol Today is a great book!
Hey Chris,
You write, "Even though I disagree with Peter in his final analysis and use of the data, I think he has captured some good stats". No problem on disagreeing on the "final analysis," but it would be helpful to me to understand why you disagree on my "use of the data." In your view, how did I misuse, abuse, or misinterpret the data I employed? And for clarity, the "stats" I employed I did not capture but used reputable sources which had captured the data. Even so, what data I did utilize in my book hardly served as foundational to my thesis.
In addition, you assert, one book written "several years back" by "Peter Lumpkin[sic]" remains a good example of "the use of gnostic type thinking relative or compared to biblical fact”. Interesting. First, my book debuted exactly two years ago this month. I had a book signing at Lifeway’s display during the June, 2009 SBC. Normally "several years back" doesn’t equate to "a couple years ago". But I grant we may not be dealing with norms.
More significant is your odd assertion that my book employs "gnostic type thinking." When you wrote your book review on Alcohol Today: Abstinence in an Age of Indulgence (Hannibal: 2009) "several years back" (wink), I was appreciative and still am. And, though you made some gargantuan jumps in logic pertaining to my book’s presentation then, I had no intention of poking myself in the eye by arguing with a reviewer over my book since I might want others to review my book without thinking I’d show up on their site and argue my perception of their errors. One thing missing from that review, is your categorizing my work as “gnostic thinking.” Perhaps you’ve read it again and reconsidered. I really need you to tease this out, Chris. Nothing fancy but I want you to actually quote my book. I think that’s the best way to understand your reasoning.
Thanks.
With that, I am…
Peter
Peter, thx…. fair enough. I am traveling today in New York State, but will engage tonight and tomorrow. BTW,…I don’t think you are a gnostic, …so I want to make that very clear at the outset. (I know that is comforting
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Blessings,
Chris