Reading
the recent American philosophy was a bit overwhelming and at certain point and
degree releases a tingling sensation to the ear because of the twisted understanding
of truth. But I must admit, most of their arguments are quite convincing.
Nonetheless, the truth evidenced in the Word of God can impossibly be overcome
by any secular philosophy at all.
Philosophy
may be overwhelming at times indeed that is why I used to stay away from it
even back in my early years of being a Christian. But over time I realized that
philosophy can be very useful for our theology for as long as it furthers a
pursuit of truth.
As
the writer of Ecclesiastes said in Ecclesiastes 12:13 that the whole duty of
man is to obey God, we are to deal with the many different worldly philosophies
without losing our connection to the Divine wisdom of God. I believe that all
necessary questions or existential inquiries pertaining to God, eternity, and
the godly life are addressed in the Word of God, the Bible. Paul in his
accounts implied that he has knowledge of the Greek writings and other
philosophies as he was able to deal with arguments with the stoics and
epicureans in the book of Acts. Hence it should be normal for Christians to study
and use philosophy for apologetic and evangelistic purposes. And as for me, it would
also be part of that helmet of salvation in Ephesians 6, which will protect us
from being gullible to the worldly philosophies that will draw us away from the
truth of God.
Although
we can say that faith and reason are in conflict most of the time and that
faith is implicitly irrational or anti-intellectual, it does not mean that we
are to devalue philosophy at all. The Bible presents us the truth about faith
and God and further the Gospel as being grounded in reality and founded upon
the history of God's people as recorded by eyewitnesses of extraordinary and
divine events.
We
always need to balance things whether in our understanding of the divine realm and
matters about it along with the physical. We can never understand the things of
the Spirit of God without His special revelation, which is His Word. His wisdom
does not come from our natural state of mind for our human reason is fallen. We
need God who gives wisdom as a gift to us. Reason that does not come from God is
deadly. Hence we need God’s wisdom and not the pride of human reason. As Proverbs 9:10 says, the beginning of all wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Holy Fear- rooted in love- not the idea of fear that this world teaches).
God
is the ultimate source of wisdom and we are to ask this gift from Him so that
we can think rationally. That way, we are able to say that we have the
"mind of Christ".
Philosophy
is neutral. It can be used to argue, boast, and be prideful about wisdom. But
on the other hand, it can be a beautiful tool that can lead us to enlightening,
mature, and healthy arguments that lead all to the knowledge of God. So us,
Christian theists, should take philosophy positively and Biblically in accordance
to the will of God.
