Gnostics Allegorized the Bible

Dr. Couch, didn't the Gnostics allegorize the Bible? ANSWER:  Yes, but the problem with the Gnostics is something else besides allegorical interpretation. Allegorization started way before the Gnostic cults. The biggest issue with them was their secret-ness, their immorality, and their "spiritualizing" the person of Christ. We do not know all that they taught. In fact, each group held to somewhat different beliefs. And, they really came on the scene sometime after the time of Christ. John the apostle seems to be standing against incipient Gnosticism in his letters of I-III John, written about AD 90-95.    To allegorize the Scriptures is treated in detail in my book An Introduction to Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics (Kregel). The pages are 95-103. The word Gnostic is related to the Greek word ginosko, to know. They believed they had higher spiritual knowledge and knew things that the average person did not know.    Allegorization was expanded and made popular by Augustine. He taught that the Church had become Israel. Thus, the kingdom was the Church here on earth, and, God was finished with the Jews. When he came to the words Jerusalem, or kingdom, he said these words were really about the Church. Charismatics hold to some Gnostic thoughts. Everyone has heard them say, "I don't care what the Bible says, I know what my experience is!" Experience is seen as higher than objective fact in Scripture.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Worshiping Mythological Figures and Idols

Dr. Couch, what causes people to worship mythological figures and idols? What about secret organizations, do they intentionally deceive the masses, and their followers, on the lower levels? ANSWER:  Secret societies certainly can deceive but far more follow after idols and mythological characters because of the ongoing work of Satan in the culture. Believing in other gods, and idols, was one of the main sins and early responses of the world to the religious work of Satan. He loves to see people fooled and misled by idolatry.     In the NT we find many believers being fooled by idolatry. Many struggled getting out of cultish religious worship, though they were still saved. Idolatry is a sin just like all sin! And since believers can "do" all sins, they can be idol worshippers.    Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "We should not crave evil things, as they also craved (the Jews did in the wilderness). And do not be idolaters, as some of them were" (1 Cor. 10:5b-6). James said he wrote to the Gentile Christians "to abstain from things contaminated by idols ..." (Acts 15:20). John warned the Christians "Little children, guard yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21).     Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Door to Door Witnessing?

Dr. Couch, how would you interpret 2 John 10 about not receiving into your house, and greeting one who does not hold to "the teaching"? And, should Evangelical Christians do door to door witnessing? Is this today seen as "pressure" tactics? 

 

    Any method of spreading the gospel is legitimate, however any method may not always work, in every occasion, at all times. Times and culture change. It used to be that street evangelism would be effective but today this is not so. Some years back I was constantly begged to hold home Bible classes that were used for evangelism. They worked! I probably did over twenty years time about 200 classes in homes, with a total of many thousands who came, and with hundreds accepting Christ as their Savior. But today, you could not get ten neighbors to come to your house to hear God’s Word. I think personally the problem is a hardening of heart of our population. God is closing down America to the sound presentation of the truth. 

    I believe 2 John 10 is indeed about those who attempt to come to your house and present a "religious" message that is not about "the teaching of Christ" (v. 9). This would certainly include the cults. The point about not receiving them into your home and not giving them a greeting needs to be explained. I do not allow the cult folks into my house. The "greeting" idea is about giving one who comes to your door a warm welcome/greeting as a fellow brother. You can certainly say "hello"—that is not what John is talking about. But I then send the cult guy on his way and do not give him a hearing.

    I have tried in the past to use the moment to witness to cultic folks, but this rarely works. They come on the offensive and block out what you have to say. 

    Thanks for asking. 

    Dr. Mal Couch