With all the recent media hype surrounding the upcoming release of the DaVinci Code movie and the "discovery" of the so-called Gospel of Judas, the ancient heresy of Gnosticism is gaining renewed attention.  Often the debates are shrouded in either the high-sounding language of theology and philosophy or else the Twilight-Zone weirdness of New Age mystery-speak.  Meanwhile, ordinary Dads and Moms are left scratching our heads wondering what, if anything, all of this controversy has to do with the day-to-day life of our families.

Ideas have consequences.  What we believe about God and His dealings with mankind matter - not just in the heady realm of intellectualism, but in our homes and on the job as Americans consistently live out the prevailing worldview which we have absorbed whether intentionally or not.  With this in mind, let's simplify the debate in everyday terms that regular folk can readily understand. 

Gnosticism is one of the first false teachings to confront the Early Church.  Gnostic comes from the Greek word "gnosis" from which we get our English word "knowledge."  Although the specifics of Gnostic teaching are as varied as they are confusing, at the core of Gnosticism there are six foundational beliefs which are in direct opposition to Biblical truth.

1) Spiritual = Good, Material = Bad

Gnostic dualism is soundly refuted in the first verse and following few chapters of the book of Genesis. 1) God created the physical world and 2) He said it was "very good." 

In Christianity, the spirit and the body are integrated and complimentary.  The Word became flesh, and Jesus retained His physical body after the Resurrection - also, the Church is referred to as the "Body of Christ" - these facts are in strong opposition to the belief that matter is opposed to spirit.

What does this mean for families?  A person who views certain activities such as worship, prayer, Bible study, devotion, fasting, meditation, etc. as spiritual - while "worldly affairs" such as their family role (father, mother, husband, wife), their occupation, civic duties, etc. are a distraction or hindrance to the spiritual - is a practical Gnostic. 

If a woman devotes three hours to prayer every morning while her children are left to scrape together some peanut butter and jelly, we obviously recognize that she is not being truly spiritual - she is making a spiritual excuse to escape her God given responsibilities.  When a man spends all of his time preaching and evangelizing while his wife feels like a widow and his children are left to their own devices, he may be preaching the Bible with his words, but he is practicing Gnosticism in his deeds.  If you believe it would be more godly to pray for our nation than to go to the polls and cast your vote for righteous leadership, you have fallen for this devilish deception.

In Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, some Gnostic thinking was evident when the priest observed the traveler beside the road and passed by.  He had spiritual duties to attend to, and he did not want to render himself unclean, lest he be prevented from serving before the Lord in the temple. 

James was confronting this same Gnosticism when he said, "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18)  The "works" he was referring to were very practical, worldly business: "give them the things which are needed for the body." (v. 16)

A friend called to ask my advice about whether to bring her children's great-grandfather from the nursing home where he was wasting away to be cared for by her and her children in their home.  Another Christian friend had told her this might not be a good idea as she already didn't have enough time to spend in Bible study and prayer.  "So, is she saying that serving Jesus as you 'do it unto the least of these' will interfere with your spiritual growth?" I can't think of a better example of Gnostic thinking. Put in practical terms, the answer became apparent as my friend recognized an opportunity for the Spirit to work through her whole family to put hands and feet to the love of God in this elderly man's life.

2)  Secret Knowledge vs. Revealed Truth

Does the Word of God really offer all things necessary for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him?  Or do we need to call in The Experts?  Sadly, I have witnessed a pastor referring a Christian couple to "professionals" because he believed that he was "not equipped" to help them with their marriage difficulties.

If we can't find solutions for our families in the Bible, let's not vainly assume the deficiency is with the Scriptures.  The ability to rightly handle the Word of Truth is not a difficult skill to acquire - but it does require diligence.  God intended for His Word to be understood and applied very practically in everyday life.

Disbelief in the sufficiency of Scripture is frequently manifest in our desire to make the Bible "relevant" or to get a "fresh revelation" from God.  As Christians, we know that the passages in our Bibles have a specific, intended meaning - it is not for us to invent new meaning as we egotistically attempt to discover "what does this verse mean TO ME?"  Rather, we are to discern what God intended to communicate and then apply that truth to our own lives.  The difference is subtle, yet tremendous.

3)  Independence vs. Inter-dependence

The Gnostics were and are a self-absorbed bunch.  It's all about ME.  MY personal prayer time.  MY personal relationship with Jesus.  What is God saying to ME?  How is He moving in MY life?  This is not to say that individual salvation and spiritual growth are unimportant - but in Christianity, our devotion to God is expressed in our love of our neighbor.  Throughout the New Testament, we see Paul addressing the Church as a body and God dealing with entire households.

From the beginning, our society was built on the ideals of individualism, self-reliance, and independence.  Perhaps such a revolutionary spirit was necessary for those times, but is it not true that the same alienating principles which split millions of immigrant families around the world are still at work in America today - severing us from our roots, depriving us of our traditions and customs, isolating us from extended family support systems?

For the Gnostic, religion is a solitary journey.  Self-knowledge is equated with knowing God because, to the Gnostic mind, self and god are one and the same.  As Philip J. Lee, author of Against Protestant Gnostics rightly asks, "If we find God only through self-awareness, how can the God we find be anything more or less than a reflection of ourselves?"

4)  Escapism vs. Pilgrimage

Because Gnostics believe the material world to be an evil obstacle in their quest for personal piety, adherents to this false spirituality seek their salvation by transcending, denying, or else escaping, the trials of life.  The Christian, on the other hand, is seeking a City whose Builder and Maker is God - not apart from the tribulations which our Savior has promised we will have.  Rather, it is in and through those very struggles that we are being fitted for Heaven.

In all likelihood, Wife - God did not gift you to your apathetic, spiritually-dull husband so that you could straighten him out.  Is he making your life miserable?  The Gnostic solution would be to fly away - perhaps join a Ladies' Bible study where you can gossip, oops! I mean "pray" about your troubles, or maybe a Retreat (a rather fitting name, isn't it?) so that you can hear from God and come back refreshed and your vision renewed.  Don't worry, I am not against Bible studies, prayer meetings, retreats, conferences, etc.  But the mature Christian woman does not view her husband as an impediment to her family's spiritual health and well-being.  Rather, your husband's apparent weakness is the very strength of God to lead your entire household into His glorious presence.

The Christian pilgrimage is just as practical as it is saintly.  Do you desire to see your husband grow in devotion and godliness?  Pray for him, yes. Post Bible verses on the bathroom mirror.  Listen to Christian radio programming and definitely search the Scriptures for wisdom.  But then, get up and cook a nutritious meal.  Make a budget and stick to it like he asked you to.  Give some attention to your appearance and provide for his physical desires.  All of this does not guarantee that your husband will respond with instant spiritual maturity - so don't get discouraged when he takes it all for granted and doesn't even notice your new hairdo.

Christian, don't run away from your problems - embrace them as God's special plan for your spiritual edification.  He knows what He's doing - trust Him to carry you through the refining fires and bring you safely out again - spotless, holy, pure as gold.

5)  Elitism vs. the Unenlightened Mass

The ordinary life of faith is fine for those unsophisticated, "average" Christians who seek nothing higher than to serve God and their neighbor.  But, Gnostics have much loftier aspirations.  They will settle for nothing less than total, whole-hearted, sold-out devotion.

6)  Despair vs. Gratitude

As with all false doctrine, Gnosticism is the "vanity of vanities" which eventually drags its disciples to the depths of despair.  In that system, the world and all that is in it is nothing but chaos - the very atmosphere in which we breathe and the lungs which receive that air are irreparably infused with evil. The Gnostic who looks inward instead of upward in his search for meaning quickly finds himself alienated not only from the natural world, but also from God, his neighbor, and ironically, even from himself.

Contrast this gloomy mood of the Gnostics with the hopeful expectation of Divine Providence - as Christians, we believe that God is good and He is in control.

Christian praise and thanksgiving express our optimism which springs from rightly understanding the connection between creation and redemption. God could have given us only one kind of flower, or even none at all.  We certainly don't need those glorious sunsets or all the colors in the rainbow. Anyone who has watched The March of the Penguins must be awed at God's extravagance even in the South Pole where no-one lives to witness the amazing works of His hands.  His generosity and grace are evident in the Creation. 

Likewise, our Heavenly Father didn't have to send His Only Son to ransom us from the eternal separation which we all deserve. But His mercy doesn't stop at merely rescuing us from the Pitt - Jesus lavishes His disciples with abundant life and a blessed eternity in His glorious presence.  Our response must be one of humility and inexpressible gratitude.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? ...O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:3,9)