13 december 2014

Philosophy Of Man & His Depravity

I have always thought of philosophy as simply “the love of wisdom” (Gk. “philosophia”). And by wisdom, I mean “the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding” (Lockyer p. 1103). On these bases, philosophy for me is carefully knowing and carefully doing what is truly right, for there are so many things in this world that can deceive us if we are not careful.
 
So many people are not aware of the fact that they are philosophizing in their way of thinking on a daily basis. Many are not aware that philosophy is not only an academic study taught in colleges, that it also refers to one’s own worldview – his way of thinking on which action or attitude would be the best for him to take. As the American philosopher and theologian Francis Schaeffer once said, “There is a second meaning [of philosophy] that we must not miss if we are going to understand the problem of preaching in the twentieth-century world. For philosophy also means a person’s worldview. In this sense all people are philosophers, for all people have a worldview.” And on this basis, whether we are aware of it or not, each one of us has a philosophy to hold.
 
The philosophies of men, however, have their limitations and dangers, given the fact that man’s nature is corrupted with sin. Sometimes, it is not only the outside factors that can deceive us; sometimes, it is what we think is the best for us, which comes from our very own hearts – hearts made corrupt and selfish by sin. And because of sin, we are also in nature rebels against the Creator Himself. Because of this, the philosophies of man (generally summed up to what is called humanism) have been progressively rejecting the laws this Creator have set up in His creation. These philosophies have reduced God to an imaginary being and raised humanity to becoming false gods, being able to do what may please them. We should remember that this kind of thinking is what made tyrants, like Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler, and Joseph Stalin, slaughter billions of people unnecessarily.
 
And knowing that like those tyrants, I am only a man - sinful and naturally corrupt - I already gave up on the idea of developing my own philosophy about four years ago and decided to simply submit to God’s wisdom, which I found out can only be revealed through Jesus Christ. For why should I trust my wisdom, knowing that I am sinful and vile to the core? And why should I not submit to God’s wisdom, knowing that He is eternally good and incorruptibly just? For me, this is the true “philosophy” – loving wisdom by choosing what has been proven perfect and therefore, the best.

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This was my answer to the first question in my take home examination in my "Philosophy of Man" subject.



other prose: A Sunday Night Note: A Warning Against Worldliness and Exhortation for Godliness, The Folly of Seeking Satisfaction in Sin, Why Would a Loving God Condemn People to Hell?, A Friday Night Prayer, How Do I Know That I Am Saved, Four Things About Jesus A Story of Miracles Reminded Me Of, God's Saving Grace for the Infants, If You Hear His Voice, Do Not Harden Your Heart!, Two Major Misconceptions About Salvation in Today's Christianity, About the Doctrine of Trinity, Why Study Theology If You're Not a Even Pastor?, About Christian Perfection, You Only See Me When You Need Me!, A Personal Reflection on Father's Day, Why Gamble?, When a King Sheds Blood, a Kingdom Is Established, Faith and Common Sense, The Love of Money, Does God Want Us to be Perfect?, In Dealing with the "Lucky" Chain Messages, A Mother's Day Lesson from a Sermon and a Song, Can a person be saved from his sins by the prayers of others?, Brainwashed Blind Follower?, I Hate to Be Single, but I Still Have to Wait!, Another Suggestion for NYers Who Want to Ban Balut in NY, Why Can't the Rich Be Satisfied with Their Money?, To The New Yorkers Who Hate Our Street Delicacy Called 'Balut', About Repentance - My Own Renewed View of It, Should We Fear Death?, The Value of Life, A Sudden Thought About God, Idolatry, & Atheism, Faith In Humanity?, Heart Vs. Mind: Which One Should You Really Trust?, Something More Important Than Pentecostalism, My Personal Problem with Piety & Servitude, Why Porn is NOT For Real Men, Grace and Truth: A Side of the Truth You Probably Don't Want to be True, Should Christians really listen to rock music?, A Friendly Reminder Regarding Literary Evangelism, FOR PROTESTANTS ONLY, No Religion is Above the Truth!, I Do Not Despise Haters But I Despise Their Hatred, Gracious Truthfulness, Born Poor To Make Us Rich, Philosophy Of Man & His Depravity, A Note On Women's History Month, MY LOVE LETTER TO ALL LADIES, The Poem "In Our Own Eden: A Prince's Song To His Young Wife" - The Author's Commentary Notes, I Guess The Good Old School Days Are Gone Forever, WAS IT REALLY CURIOSITY THAT KILLED THE DOG?, Insights from Acts 12 (III), Insights from Acts 12 (II), Insights from Acts 12 (I), Effects of Sin (Insights from Genesis 3-5), BAYANI, Man: The Most Special Creation of God, Sovereign Yet Restraining, A Dream by Yehudah (Jhuart Dizon), Attitude Check!, Words of Wisdom, Pisiya: Little Gems Yet to be Discovered, Tanaga: A Filipino Treasure,

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