The False Philosophy of Evolution by Random Chance and Natural Selection
Back in Paul's day the Colossians
were struggling with human philosophies (amongst them a Greek version of evolutionary
theory) and so Paul contrasts the FULLNESS that is in Christ with the HOLLOW
EMPTINESS of the vain, shallow philosophies that come from human speculation
- even when it is based on visions supposedly given by angels and supernatural
beings. Paul makes the very strong point that speculative philosophies - whether
skeptical or "supernatural" are nothing compared to the assurance we have in
knowing Christ.
He also points out strongly that once we have Christ we have it ALL. We do not need anything extra. There is no superior class of Christian and no need for esoteric knowledge. Now to look at the text:
Colossians 1:15-3:4 He is the image
of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. {16} For by him all things
were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and
for him. {17} He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
{18} And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the
firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
{19} For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
[Christ is involved in Creation, He is Lord, and He possesses the fullness of God. These doctrines about Jesus depend on a Jesus who is mighty enough to create land and sea and in fact did so. The biblical Jesus cannot be reduced to a mere man or the enlightened outcome of evolutionary processes. He transcends them, and is in fact the very fullness of God.]
{20} and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. {21} Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
[Evolution from matter via random chance is a theory that has arisen because men are "enemies in their minds" and "alienated from God" acceptance of evolution has only served to increase this alienation]
{22} But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- {23} if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
[Note: Paul's selection of the term "creature" for person, thus emphasizing that we too are created beings in need of the gospel. The gospel depends on us first of all being created, for how can God redeem that which he did not own?]
{24} Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. {25} I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--
[The word of God is not an empty philosophy - see v8. but is full of wisdom, the Word of God in all its fullness refers to : 1. All its teachings - including Creation. 2. All its ability to fulfill us - all its hope and might and power and life changing ability.]
{26} the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. {27} To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. {28} We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. {29} To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
[Perfection is "in Christ", no esoteric teaching, human philosophy or special revelation is needed. Scripture is enough and Christ is sufficient.]
{2:1} I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. {2} My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, {3} in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
[In Christ are all the true treasures of wisdom and knowledge. To one who has always keenly sought out wisdom and knowledge this has been a most beautiful discovery. In Christ is all the wisdom I need, not that scientific acumen is bad - all true science is thinking God's thoughts after Him and discovering Christ's ordering of nature...but we do not find truth by searching in libraries alone or by scanning the Universe with our unaided intellect alone. A faith receptive to Christ is needed if this world is to be rightly interpreted.]
{4} I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. {5} For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. {6} So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, {7} rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. {8} See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. {9} For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, {10} and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
[Here we get to the core of the argument - deceptive fine-sounding arguments vs. an orderly faith grounded in Christ; captivating, hollow and deceptive philosophy based on human traditions and basic principles vs a life based on Christ who is the fullness of Deity in bodily form. Paul strives with the Colossians and exhorts the to: "Colossians 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,.." . The Colossians were to proceed as they had begun - by faith in Christ alone, no extras needed. Living out the gospel is the beginning, middle and end of the Christian life. Evolution is just another inimical philosophy, a side-track, an empty man-made tradition, that takes us away from Christ. Captivating it may be but it is deceptive and above all - HOLLOW - offering nothing to the believer, in contrast to faith in Christ by which we "have been given" (note the past tense) "fullness in Christ" (2:10). Jesus is THE answer!]
{11} In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, {12} having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. {13} When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, {14} having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. {15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
[ The unique achievements of Christ are catalogued here. The superiority of Christ is shown by listing the triumphant victories of Jesus, victories that no philosophy or philosopher has ever accomplished. No philosophy can circumcise the human heart and change the very basic nature of a person and make it new and alive. No 'philosophy" can take away our condemnation and guilt before our Maker. No philosopher has risen from the dead. No philosopher has disarmed Satan and all the occult powers. Jesus Christ accomplished all this and more and made it available to us who believe in a Creator God.]
{16} Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. {17} These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [Note that all the above refer to the believers relationship to Creation - food, drink, sabbaths, new moons etc. Satan seems to delight in forbidding participation in God's good Creation. Here and in 1 Timothy it is twisted teaching about Creation doctrines relating to food and marriage that lie at the base of deception. These things do not at first appear religious until we understand that this whole world is God's -His good creation and that Satan is out to set us against it - to pit God's people against God's world.]
{18} Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. {19} He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
[Visions are claimed by many people, some are from God, many are not. Beware of people who base their teaching on "what they have seen" rather than on what God has said in Christ. Such people are literally 'out of touch', disconnected from God. People who base their teaching on special insights outside of God's word import their own experiences and philosophy to Scripture. Evolution is found nowhere in Scripture and to add it in based on special "theological insight" and personal revelation as some have done is to end up out of touch with God.]
{20} Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: {21} "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? {22} These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. {23} Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. {3:1} Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. {2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.{3} For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. {4}When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
[ A preoccupation with this material world, living as if only matter mattered, is in the end futile and ineffective. It cannot combat sin or offer eternal life. Our minds must not be on earthly theories, no matter how great their "appearance of wisdom" but on Christ who is at the right hand of God. And then because Christ has been our all in all we shall know true glory.]
CONCLUSION
Atheistic evolution is a captivating,
deceptive and above all EMPTY philosophy as Colossians points out. The perspective
of Colossians leads us to see the self-evident emptiness of evolutionary philosophy.
Rather than promising a rational basis for life it empties life of true meaning
and purpose hurling us into a meaningless, aggressive, random, blind Universe.
This existential emptiness is evident in the lives of those that follow evolution
to its logical end as Nietzsche, Camus and Satre did. Restoration of meaning
in life will come as we acknowledge who made us, who owns us and who plans our
destiny in accordance with His perfect will. The Creator God is the one who
bestows fullness in life and we will find true meaning as we renounce human
philosophies such as evolution and find our fullness in Christ in whom is the
fullness of Deity in bodily form.
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