18 minute read
Gnosticism: A Practical Response
Introduction
His name was Bernie, and he was the guy who was going to work on my old Ford Escort. During my pastoral internship, I had foolishly traveled down a road known for collisions with deer. But since it was a valued short cut, I ignored the warning, and then the anticipated outcome became a reality – out jumped the frightened animal, and soon the entire front end of my automobile was smashed by the buck. Since the town was small and didn’t have body shops, I took it to the local automobile mechanic.
By all practical purposes, Bernie was a beloved member of our community nestled within the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. He was jovial, good hearted - a man who would provide you with the proverbial “shirt off his back.” While every local church salivated at the prospect of having Bernie as a member, that would never be, since he did not believe. He professed no known faith in Jesus Christ. Instead, he espoused the “I’m a good person, and everything is going to be ok” theology focused on self, rather than on the living God. And so, in a place you might least suspect it, the modern face of Gnosticism had reared its ugly head, hidden behind the kindhearted smile of my small-town mechanic.
This story poses a question, and that is, “what is Gnosticism today, in a practical sense?” Because this early church heresy, which continues to thrive in contemporary society, is based on the three premises: “all matter is evil,” “the divine spark is within,”1 and “you have the knowledge.” But since the early days of the Church these premises have been consistently refuted in scripture.
Is All Matter Evil?
Let ’s start with “all matter is evil.” If matter is evil, then what does one do with the God made flesh in Jesus? As it is written in John 1:14, “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.”2 Furthermore, what does one do with the physically resurrected Christ? Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit then does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39). And what about the second premise, this “divine spark” within us? Well, Exodus 20:23 states, “You shall have no other gods before me.” That is ― there is no divine spark in us. God is the divine creator, and we are his creatures. And what about the third premise, “you have the knowledge?” Well, scripture refutes that one too. Hosea 4:6 explains that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Gnosticism is based on the Greek word γνῶσις, which means knowledge.3 The adherents of Gnosticism believe that they have a special esoteric knowledge about God.4 I remember one occasion when a visitor wanted to have a meeting with me to discuss my preaching. He shared that I was not teaching enough on sin, especially the so-called “national sins.” But when I explained to him that there was no hierarchy to sin, he reminded me that he knew that God was leading him to speak to me about this matter. That is – he alleged that God had given him a special knowledge and understanding that no one else had. A special knowledge, known just to him - really? Or was it perhaps a figment of his own understanding? As it is written in Proverbs 3:5-7, “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
Gnosticism in Today ’s Church
And while Gnosticism has been around for centuries, it appears to be more than prevalent today, especially in the local church. Indeed, contemporary gnostic proclivities can be found in the areas of sin, self, and salvation. “I’m not really sure how it has affected things.” Those were the words of a congregant who came into my office to confess an affair with a co-worker. This person failed to recognize how the sin of adultery would impact his marriage, children and work. In addition, he tried to affirm his actions by blaming his spouse for not fulfilling her marriage vows due to health concerns. What this person was doing was “compartmentalizing” his behavior, thinking that the affair could stand by itself, and not have any influence on other aspects of his life.
In dealing with sin, we are very good at what I call the three (3) R’s, “Rejecting, Rationalizing and Refusing.” This can be clearly found in David’s interaction with Bathsheba. At first, he refused to confess that he had an illicit affair with the naked woman sunning herself on the rooftop. David then tried to hide his sinful behavior by having Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite, sent to the front line of battle where he would surely be killed. Then after the deed was done, David refused to admit that anything had happened, until confronted by the prophet Nathan. Gnostic thought closely follows David’s 3 R’s: it does not look at sin as disobedience against God or something worthy of repentance. The Gnostic might believe that his behavior can cause heartache, but it is not something that the individual needs to be either “forgiven” for or “saved” from. But this view isn’t a special knowledge about how things are, rather it’s just pure ignorance about the nature of evil in the world.
The gnostic mindset is also characterized by a self-focus rather than a God-focus. But the role of “self” in Holy Scripture is quite clear. Our lives aren’t all about us, rather they are all about Christ. As it is written in Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” But in Gnosticism, it’s all about self. In knowing oneself, one knows God. It ’s based on personal enlightenment, rather than on service to others.
When I was on my pastoral internship, one of the parishioners shared with me that their son had been invited to a weekend retreat at a leadership institute. It was based on personal growth. Not surprisingly, the organizers told him that if he kept coming to these gatherings, and paying the fee, he would grow even more. This scheme was decidedly New Agey, and gnostic at its core. But the temptation of becoming empowered, growing deeper in self-knowledge, and in control of one’s destiny, is a hard one to combat. But it ’s not the Lord’s plan for humanity. In Genesis 1:26 it says, “ Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” In this verse, we learn that we are created in the image of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And in John 1:12-13, we are reminded, “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” Human beings weren’t created to concentrate on themselves, rather, they were created to serve God and other people.
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to do a home visit with a senior saint of the church. She was not your typical ninety-something, as she still drove the tractor to cut her own field and she could still hunt down and kill the black snakes that slithered into her home. While talking one day, the topic of everlasting life was mentioned, and she said those words which send chills down my spine. “I hope I’m going to heaven. I’ve tried to live a good life.” Now mind you, this person was baptized, confirmed, fed at the Lord’s Table, and was an active participant in Christ ’s Church for decades. And yet she still thought that being a good person would lead her to paradise. Sadly, gnostic thoughts like these can be found in the very heart of the church.
But does this attitude really surprise us? Because we live in the shadow of a prevailing Protestant work ethic where we’re constantly peppered with the belief that there is no “free lunch.” And so, in this environment, the thought that we have to do something to gain paradise is quite plausible. But Scripture teaches us differently. How about Romans 3:28? “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” And then there is Ephesians 2:8-9 which clearly proclaims, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
It is clear that gnostic thought and action has crept its way into the life of the local congregation through a false understanding of sin, self and salvation. It has entered into the church insidiously, vexing the hearts and minds of wellintentioned believers. But if we would just leave the discussion right there, centering on the negative, devastating attributes of this heresy, nothing worthwhile would be accomplished. The church must always be looking for practical ways to teach the fullness of the Christian faith, while pointing out the falsities which try to derail the truth. Some of the teachings that the local parish can reinforce which oppose gnostic practice include servanthood, vocation, life, confession/forgiveness and discipleship.
Servanthood
While Gnostics teach that it ’s all about self, Christians teach that it ’s all about servanthood. As Jesus himself said in Mark 10:45, “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.” Being a servant was the core of Christ’s ministry. We see this as he called his disciples to follow his example when he washed their feet. We also see this when he urged others to feed, clothe and visit those in need. And we see this when he was willing to sacrifice himself on the cross. In Philippians 2:3-8 Paul writes, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
I was once asked to lead a weekend congregational retreat on servanthood. After some preliminary presentations and discussions, it then became real. We traveled to some mission sites and engaged in inside/outside cleaning, food distribution, and other tasks. When we arrived back at the church for debriefing, I will never forget a particular comment. One participant told me and the church’s pastor, “I heard you guys’ words on servanthood. But I didn’t take them seriously until I saw you cleaning toilets.” Teaching and living servanthood is a powerful antidote for the gnostic understanding of self.
Vocation
Vocation is another concept which derails the gnostic theology of having a divine spirit within, versus being a minister for Jesus. Vocation, one of the pillars of the Reformation, was Luther ’s vociferous defense of the ministry of the common man, rather than spiritualizing those in the ordained priesthood or monastic orders. Luther held to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers: the belief that a layperson’s ministry to his neighbor was just as valuable as the ministries of the professionals of the church. As it is written in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
The word vocation literally means “call.” This call may be a career, a relationship or even an encounter where we can make Christ known to others. And it ’s the church’s role to equip those called for ministry. In Ephesians 4:12 it says, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” So how exactly does the church equip? It equips by using God’s Word and identifying gifts. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” And In 1 Peter 4:10 it is written, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
It ’s through the priesthood of all believers that individuals can serve and share their faith. Some of the ways that the local church can promote vocational ministry may include ascertaining spiritual gifts and helping individuals to understand them (focusing on equipping, and empowering people to do ministry, leading Bible studies and retreats on vocation, and by valuing individuals’ work, helping them to learn that in careers and relationships God can be glorified.
I’ll never forget Roberta, a member of my internship church. Roberta had a great passion for Jesus, and always wanted to share the Lord with others. She had a home beauty salon and took the opportunity to make Christ known when others were in her chair. She frequently placed Bible verses on her mirror and gave scriptural guidance to those who shared their life challenges. In a sermon on “The Talents,” I had once given each congregational member a quarter to use to witness for Jesus. Roberta taped her quarter to her mirror, and when her patrons asked her about it, she explained that this was the church’s seed money to serve God. Well, when they heard that story, they gave even more money. Hundreds of dollars were ultimately received for hurricane relief. And she did all this from within her vocation as a hair stylist. And so, by focusing on vocation, the ministry of daily life, we thwart the gnostic understanding that we might have some sort of divine spirit.
All Life is Sacred
While Gnosticism believes that all matter is evil, including the body, God’s Word teaches that all life is sacred. Whether it be the life of the unborn or the elderly, scripture is clear. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul writes, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were brought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” It ’s the Spirit that lives within our bodies, and God uses our very lives to share his word, love our neighbors, and forgive.
Not long ago, I had the privilege of being with one of my church members when they died. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know that the breath of God, the Spirit, leaves a person’s physical body. Through this encounter, the importance of God’s creation is seen, as the Lord uses human bodies for his purposes in executing his plan on earth. While the Gnostics want to proclaim how matter, including the human body are evil, we instead cling to the psalmist ’s words in 139:14, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Martin Luther
Confession and Absolution
Confession and absolution are vital to our relationship with God. Knowing that we are sinful, and that Christ shed blood, died, and rose to pay the ultimate price for those sins, has brought forgiveness and life to our being. While gnostic belief sees no connection at all to sinfulness and the need for reconciliation, we hear differing words in 1 John 1:8-9, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Some time ago, a member of my community wanted to make a private confession. While this was painful since the person had blatantly lied to her children and caused great anger within the family, the freedom that was felt after the confession was life changing. While even believers have a hard time admitting their wrongs, we realize that it is the only way our relationship with the Father can be repaired through Christ. Gnostics can dance around the sin issue, focusing on the ignorance of neglecting to live an ethical and moral life. But Christians understand that confession centers on our relationship with God. Let us be reminded of the words in Romans 5:6-8, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person―though perhaps for a good person one would even dare to die ― but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The Trinity
The center of Christian belief is in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While Gnostics are dualistic and nontrinitarian, believers in Jesus are called to walk in the faith, and continually grow as disciples. The Greek word for disciple is μαθητής, “mathetes,”5 which can be defined as a “pupil,” or “learner.” While there is no chronological age connected with being a disciple, the center of life is rooted in Jesus of Nazareth, and all other aspects of living revolve around Christ. In Matthew 28:19, we are specifically called to be and to make disciples. Some characteristics of this kind of “student of the Lord” include being in the Word, worship, prayer, witness and stewardship. In John 8:31, Jesus says that if we abide in his word, we are truly his disciples. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us that we should not forsake the assembling, that is ― worshiping together. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul exhorts us to pray for all things. Witnessing about Jesus locally, regionally, nationally and globally can be found in Acts 1:8 and being stewards of God’s blessings is spoken of in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Growing disciples is the mission of Christ ’s Church. Whether it ’s Whether it ’s done in worship, small groups, retreats, or even visitation, the goal is to grow people’s faith, trust, devotion, and service for new life in the Lord.
“Trinity” Andrei Rublev
The Church Cannot Remain Silent
While the heretical tentacles of Gnosticism have slinked their way into the life of the local congregation, the church cannot remain silent. We must confront this false theology and teach the orthodox understanding of the Christian faith. While adamantly rejecting the gnostic concepts of a divine spark within, the possession of special knowledge, that matter (the body) is evil, and the dualism of good and evil,6 we must practically teach the biblical imperative of the Triune God that Jesus Christ alone is Savior, and that it is only in him that we have forgiveness and everlasting life. True knowledge does not come from self or some special revelation. Knowing the Way, the Truth, and the Life is what provides us with wisdom and hope.
Rev. Brad Hales is Pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church in Culpeper, VA, the Director of Renewal Ministries for the North American Lutheran Church, and he also teaches at St. Paul Lutheran Seminary.
Endnotes:
1Kurt Rudolph, Gnosis: The Nature & History of Gnosticism (New York: Harper One, 1984), 57.
2All biblical quotations referenced through this essay employ the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).
3Bentley Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures (New York: Doubleday, 1987), 9; Rudolph, 55; “G1108 γνῶσις.” Blue Letter Bible, March 5, 2022, https://www.blueletterbible.org /lang/lexicon/inflections.cfm? strongs=G1108&t=kjv&ot=TR&word=%CE%B3%CE%BD%E1%BF%B6%CF%83%CE %B9%CF%82;
4Simone Pétrement, A Separate God: The Christian Origins of Gnosticism (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1990), 129-139.
5“3101. Mathétés,” Bible Hub, March 4, 2022, https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm
6Pétrement, 171-180.
