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Gnosticism: Mystical Knowledge
The definition of the word Gnostic is about as easy to nail down as a flopping fish. It is derived from the Greek word gnosis, meaning to know. In the case of Gnosticism, what is known has shifted over the thousands of years since Gnosticism first reared its head during the formation and solidification of the early church.
Basically, the Gnostic believes in acquiring special, mystical knowledge as the means for salvation. According to Gnostic beliefs, there is a Great God that is good and perfect, but impersonal and unknowable. The creator of the universe was actually a lesser deity—a cheap knock-off of the true God—who wanted to create a flawless material universe but botched the job.
Instead of having a utopia, we ended up with a world infected with pain, misery, and intellectual and spiritual blindness; all matter is now corrupt and evil. However, when this lesser deity created man, he accidentally imbued humanity with a spark of the true God’s spirit, making man an inherently good soul trapped in the confines of an evil, material body.
Contrary to a message of salvation through Christ alone, the Gnostic Jesus brings a message of self-redemption. Man only needs to examine his inner spark to find the knowledge needed to free himself from his material body and reach God. This alleged purity of heart is the exact opposite of what is stated in The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?
Today, Gnosticism has evolved and branched out from the exclusively spiritual into the secular and scientific. Psychologist C.G. Jung praised Gnosticism as superior to traditional Christianity as a way of thinking. Another form of Gnosticism denies the existence of God altogether, while embracing an eternal—but still flawed—universe. This atheistic form of Gnosticism doesn’t see the material world as totally evil, but as flawed and incomplete. Mankind becomes the deity, and it is his right to improve the human body and the world around him through his own wisdom.
Christianity and Gnosticism are mutually exclusive; however, it is easy for a Gnostic mindset to seep into our own thinking if we’re not careful. The Gnostic is pursuing goodness, but, instead of seeking to be regenerated by Christ, he grabs hold of a man-centered purpose for living. Gnostic thought makes man wise in his own eyes, something Proverbs pointedly advises Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Gnostic thinking claims that deeper truth can be found apart from God. But Proverbs says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Instead of searching our corrupt, flawed inner selves for answers, we should instead test everything against the revealed Word of God. In the end, it is God’s truth alone that can be trusted. There is actually no such thing as Christian Gnosticism because true Christianity and Gnosticism are mutually exclusive systems of belief. The principles of Gnosticism contradict what it means to be a Christian. Therefore, while some forms of Gnosticism may claim to be Christian, they are in fact decidedly non-Christian.
Gnosticism was perhaps the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries. Influenced by such philosophers as Plato, Gnosticism is based on two false premises...
Basically, the Gnostic believes in acquiring special, mystical knowledge as the means for salvation. According to Gnostic beliefs, there is a Great God that is good and perfect, but impersonal and unknowable. The creator of the universe was actually a lesser deity—a cheap knock-off of the true God—who wanted to create a flawless material universe but botched the job.
Instead of having a utopia, we ended up with a world infected with pain, misery, and intellectual and spiritual blindness; all matter is now corrupt and evil. However, when this lesser deity created man, he accidentally imbued humanity with a spark of the true God’s spirit, making man an inherently good soul trapped in the confines of an evil, material body.
Contrary to a message of salvation through Christ alone, the Gnostic Jesus brings a message of self-redemption. Man only needs to examine his inner spark to find the knowledge needed to free himself from his material body and reach God. This alleged purity of heart is the exact opposite of what is stated in The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?
Today, Gnosticism has evolved and branched out from the exclusively spiritual into the secular and scientific. Psychologist C.G. Jung praised Gnosticism as superior to traditional Christianity as a way of thinking. Another form of Gnosticism denies the existence of God altogether, while embracing an eternal—but still flawed—universe. This atheistic form of Gnosticism doesn’t see the material world as totally evil, but as flawed and incomplete. Mankind becomes the deity, and it is his right to improve the human body and the world around him through his own wisdom.
Christianity and Gnosticism are mutually exclusive; however, it is easy for a Gnostic mindset to seep into our own thinking if we’re not careful. The Gnostic is pursuing goodness, but, instead of seeking to be regenerated by Christ, he grabs hold of a man-centered purpose for living. Gnostic thought makes man wise in his own eyes, something Proverbs pointedly advises Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Gnostic thinking claims that deeper truth can be found apart from God. But Proverbs says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Instead of searching our corrupt, flawed inner selves for answers, we should instead test everything against the revealed Word of God. In the end, it is God’s truth alone that can be trusted. There is actually no such thing as Christian Gnosticism because true Christianity and Gnosticism are mutually exclusive systems of belief. The principles of Gnosticism contradict what it means to be a Christian. Therefore, while some forms of Gnosticism may claim to be Christian, they are in fact decidedly non-Christian.
Gnosticism was perhaps the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries. Influenced by such philosophers as Plato, Gnosticism is based on two false premises...
21 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2013
3 people want to read
About the author
Robb Moser
152 books1 followerRobb Moser was the pastor of Way Home Church and the publisher of Verse to Verse. Robb was a Word of God preacher and a Gospel of Jesus teacher. Moser studied at Moody Bible Institute and Reformed Theological Seminary.
He was raised in the Presbyterian church and attended Congregational, Lutheran, and community churches for 50+ years before starting a home church called the Way on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, 2011. The Way was the name of the Jesus followers and the Christ believers. Acts 24:14 But this I admit to you that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets.
He was raised in the Presbyterian church and attended Congregational, Lutheran, and community churches for 50+ years before starting a home church called the Way on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, 2011. The Way was the name of the Jesus followers and the Christ believers. Acts 24:14 But this I admit to you that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets.
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