Belief Isn’t Enough

With few exceptions, I have spent the last month or so continuing/renewing my studies of Augustine and Aquinas. One of the common denominator’s between the two is that they are not only both theologians, but also great philosophers. Augustine was a student of Plato. Aquinas a student of Aristotle.

To many, the marriage of theology and philosophy may seem strange. Often times Christians poo-poo Greek philosophy. I think I understand why, it is due in part to what Paul said in the Book of Colossians.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

But keep in mind that Paul wasn’t banning or discouraging philosophy or the study there of. In fact, in my opinion, the Apostle Paul would have been well versed in Greek philosophy.

The word philosophy comes from the Greek, “phílosophía” and simply means the love of wisdom. The Bible repeatedly tells us to “get wisdom”!

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).

Philosophy in a practical sense is the rational and conscious investigation and analysis of truth. Jesus Christ is the truth! We are to investigate and learn of Christ!

Augustine lived during the 4th century, Aquinas during the 13th. Philosophy was their tool for digging into the truth of Jesus.. They didn’t “spoil” us with philosophy or “vain deceit”, but rather astounded us with revealed truths and methods of discovering the word and wisdom of God!

A real problem in my opinion, is that many Christians never move past the belief stage in their relationship with Christ. Belief comes first and is a prerequisite for all learning and knowledge. But too many simply believe and don’t intellectually know Him. It’s emotional. God has your heart, but your brain is somewhat left out in the dark.

Jesus said that we are to “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…” (Mark 12:30).

We are to love God with our heart, soul, strength and mind! How many of us are really only giving Him 3 out of 4?

Jesus Christ made it Crystal Clear in Matthew 11:29 when he said, “learn of me”!

“But suppose the ignorance and difficulty are the natural state of the soul, that it begins there and advances toward knowledge and rest as the happy life brought to perfection within it. Even so, the soul is not denied the power to make this progress by piety and diligent study of the highest things. If by its own will it refuses to do so, it is justly punished by being cast into deeper ignorance and greater difficulty; by the most proper and suitable government of the universe, it is placed among inferior things. The soul is not held guilty because it is naturally ignorant and powerless, but because it did not apply itself to learn and did not work to acquire ease in acting rightly.” 

– Augustine from his book, “On Free Choice of the Will”

And what “will” would refuse “progress by piety and diligent study”? Who would elect to remain in “deeper ignorance” and cause “greater difficulty” for himself?

Pride. Holy pride causes many to stay in the belief stage and not to venture into the pursuit (knowledge) stage. After-all, what is learning of God if not pursuing after Him?

Please do not misinterpret what I am saying. I am not suggesting that we all need to become philosophers. I am not suggesting that faith is an academic exercise. Belief in God is requisite. But to grow and expand in our relation with Jesus Christ we must learn of Him. And that learning does not happen through osmosis. It comes through, “piety and diligent study”.

I’ve known folks who for 20 years attended Church every Sunday, believed in God with all their heart but have never read the Bible outside of a few select verses. I have seen atheists who were Bible smart rip apart a Christian and shatter their faith because they were ignorant of the Word.

Belief plus knowledge equals an unshakable and unbreakable faith.

Now, just to trip everyone up, if we had perfect love for God and neighbor, none of this would be necessary. But that’s a topic for future discussion.

Bill Hitchcock