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In 1970, he wrote a follow-up titled, “Know What You Believe.”
Little understood that many Christians had a shallow faith and were unable to adequately express what it was they really believed. I believe that every Christian should develop a personal philosophy of life and of the Christian religion.
We establish this philosophy by getting to know God through Bible study, prayer, contemplation, books, topical research and even by keeping a journal of ideas.
Church attendance by itself cannot completely furnish the Christian. I dare say that some people by Monday morning could not remember what the pastor said on Sunday.
Worldly philosophy can be dangerous because there are so many competing opinions in the marketplace of ideas.
Many of the great philosophers of history could not agree, and still today are at odds with each other. Philosophy, of course, means “a love of truth,” and while many sincere persons are searching for that truth, they have not a guiding star to give them a sense of direction. The Bible is man’s only true guide.
“Keep in mind, by the way, if many of you are thinking of Colossians Chapter 2 where Paul says, “Do not be taken captive by vain philosophies, according to the tradition of men instead of according to Christ,” that Paul is talking about something very particular there. He is not saying that you ought not have anything to do with philosophy at all. He said you ought to be careful of being captivated by vain philosophies that are in the tradition of men.
There is a difference between the tools of philosophy, which are the fundamental tools of thought – and you can’t avoid them even if you wanted to – and the opinions of philosophers on different things.” (Gregory Koukl of “Stand to Reason” at www.str.org))
“If you think of any of the great thinkers of that period of time, Irenaeus, Augustine, later on in the medievals, like Anselm and Pascal and others like Thomas Aquinas, these are people who made phenomenal contributions to the field of Christian theology and Christian thought. All of these people were very, very careful and rigorous philosophers. (Koukl)
Our goal in studying philosophy is not to study the philosophies of men per se, but primarily to learn how to think. The public schools teach our children English, math, history, social studies and certain electives, but they do not teach our children how to live or how to think.
When we send our children to college they need to be prepared to contest the worldly philosophies they surely will encounter.
Finally, we need to remember I Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”
People today want more than the old clichés and pat answers.
Raymond F. Smith is a deacon at Fellowship Bible Church in Victoria and President of Strong Families of Victoria