S2 E16: A Biblical Worldview of Philosophy {Worldview Series, Part 6} – Reformed Faith and Family
Should Christians Study Philosophy?
Philosophy is defined as: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.
When you consider the discipline of philosophy, do you imagine it as a natural realm in which Christians ought to engage, or do you expect that they ought to keep their distance? From what I have observed, many well-meaning Christians treat philosophy as though it were witchcraft – something that God’s people have no business entertaining.
After all, doesn’t the Bible warn us to stay away from philosophy?
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. – Colossians 2:8 (ESV)
I will grant you that it is imperative for Christians to not be taken captive by worldly philosophy, just as it is imperative that we not be bound by human traditions rather than the Word of God.
Be that as it may, does it naturally follow that the study of philosophy would be off limits to Christians?
R. C. Sproul had a very reasonable response to this question during the question and answer session attached to one of his teaching conferences that I will paraphrase as follows.
The Christian should beware of a great many worldly philosophies. Then again, it is exceedingly difficult to beware of something unless we are first aware of it.
I think his point is very well taken. If we have no idea about the worldly philosophies that are driving the cultural narrative of our day, how can we possibly expect to be able to look out for it and avoid it? How are we to search the Scriptures for well-reasoned responses to keep ourselves and those around us from being taken captive therein?
You have likely heard of intersectionality or identity politics. Even if you haven’t heard those terms, you may have heard of departments of equity and inclusion being introduced in the political realm or within universities and corporations. All of that is very much driven by the dominant philosophy of our day, and manifests in a myriad of godless and destructive ways.
How are we to resist the spirit of the age, or to seek to rescue others who are already swimming in those waters, unless we understand the world’s arguments and have answers of our own?
Listen in on Caleb and Lindsey’s conversation concerning how Christians ought to relate to philosophy. They share practical resources to educate both yourself and arm your family against the secular philosophies of our day.
It is important to ask yourself the question, “Why do I believe or do this or that?” As Christians we ought to be purposeful. Philosophical questions get to the root of why we exist and what our duty is to our neighbor. These answers are found in God’s Word alone, therefore Christians ought to be the most confident in sharing these foundational truths with the very confused world around us.
What Does Philosophy Seek to Answer?
If it is appropriate for anyone to study philosophy, then it is appropriate and essential that Christians not only be engaged but be examples of honest and fair study and debate. Once you realize the basic and essential questions that all philosophical systems seek to answer, you will realize that Christians cannot help but engage in philosophy. We have the answers to these questions right from the mouth of God.
- Who am I?
- Where did everything come from?
- How did I get here?
- What is my purpose?
- Why does it seem like something is wrong with me and the world around me?
- Is it possible for what is wrong to be made right?
- What is the meaning of life?
- Is there a higher purpose, or being, or force to which I must answer?
- What happens after death?
- What is the basis of right and wrong?
- Do moral absolutes exist, or is everything relative?
- Can we really ever know anything?
There are many more questions, but you can quickly see that they cover all the important questions in life. Philosophy seeks to answer the kind of questions that Scripture identifies, explains, and for which solutions are offered. We are here because God created us. Our purpose in life is to know God and enjoy Him forever. Things feel wrong because of sin in the world. We cannot fix what is broken, but God has made a way to overcome every obstacle. God’s Word, according to God’s nature, is the basis for defining right and wrong. We could go on and on.
The Bible’s Exit from the Conversation
Part of the reason that so many Christians believe, or at least live as though they believe, that we have no reason to be involved with philosophy is because we were willing to oblige, long ago, when anti-Christian thinkers demanded that we remove God and His Word from the conversation. We ceded the ground and the arena. We allowed the Bible to be removed from the acceptable cultural conversation, as well as the large realm of academia.
In this day and age, the only philosophical system that isn’t welcome in the larger conversation is the one that flows out of the Bible. Specifically, one that is born out of submission to Christ and recognizes His rightful sovereignty over every ruler and authority on earth – including every
academic discipline such as philosophy.
Christians far too easily gave up the fight. It was demanded that we set aside the Bible and argue fairly on a level playing field with everyone else – no appeal to divine authority. And Christians by and large went along with it. Like so many conquered people throughout history, Christians willingly laid down their greatest weapon – the Word of God.
It is true that you can argue for biblical principles from secular sources. There is yet an imprint of the image of God on all men. There are many philosophies that get things right in some areas. Christians believed that they could use other sources to defend biblical truth – “approved” sources. Yet, the greatest defense of biblical truth has always been, and will always be, because “thus sayeth the Lord.” God created the world, and God gets to define all parameters therein.
We desperately need to get over our embarrassment over the Word of God. We believe in the supernatural. We believe that a supreme being existed for all eternity and created the universe.
We believe that man was created in His image and can only be rightly understood in relationship to Him. We have the answers to the important questions in life because the God who created us has spoken to us.
That is our greatest strength, and yet we have allowed the world to turn it into our greatest embarrassment. That must change. This is only going to get worse if we do nothing, and the godless are allowed to continue to drive the culture uncontested.
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Everyone has a worldview whether they realize it or not, and more than likely their worldview is not consistent with itself. As Christians, we are called to have a thoroughly biblical worldview. This Family Field Guide is a work-in-progress as we march through a series on both the blog and the podcast teaching families how to build a Christian worldview based solidly on the one standard for all life and truth, God’s Word. Download your copy of this Family Field Guide for FREE to use with your family or your church. It is a discipleship resource to help you think more broadly and intentionally about your own worldview, and to help your children as they grow and learn more about how this impacts their own lives.
