Gnosticism, Part 2 – Modern Appeal

Gnostic Mass Temple (2011), New Orleans, Author Alombrados (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)

We examine this week the attraction of the heresy of Gnosticism for the modern world [1A][2].  Ecclesia Gnostica, for example, has parishes across the United States, including Austin, Portland, and Los Angeles [3].

False Authenticity

Many have accepted as fact the false claim by author Dan Brown in his best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, that the Gnostic gospels were supposedly earlier and more accurate than the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but were suppressed by the Emperor Constantine [4A][5A].  They mistake the current Gnostic revival for reform, based on texts supposedly more valid than the original canon.

Those unfamiliar with Scripture and history may even mistake Gnosticism for fresh revelation.

Sin Excused

“One part of Gnosticism that appeals to people is that it reduces sin to a necessary function of the material body, which is in any case ‘not the real me’. It provides a convenient way to escape the reality and the guilt of sin…” [4B].

Gnostic ideas are expressed in Rosicrucianism and Scientology [5B].  Scientologists, for instance, do not view humanity as fundamentally sinful, or in need of Salvation through atonement and grace. 

The psychoanalyst Carl Jung, also, drew on ancient Gnostic teaching in his work [5C].  Jung felt the traditional catalog of sins was simplistic [6].  He did acknowledge a “shadow” within the psyche, but considered this a negative aspect of personality that needed to be integrated.

Elitism

“By assuring its adherents that they are specially enlightened people, Gnosticism panders to human pride.  The appeal of being part of an elite must not be underestimated…Gnosticism, with its teaching of salvation by secret knowledge, appealed to the same desires as the ancient mystery cults… The Gnostic could look down his nose at…ordinary Christians…” [4C].

The same is true today. 

Escape

“This world, it [Gnosticism] tells its adherents, is a mistake; it ought not to be.  I should not be in this world, the Gnostic says, and the real me is a fragment of divinity” [4D].

The Gnostic belief that the physical world is innately evil holds special appeal to those wounded by this fallen world [7].  In reality, the Gnostic heresy offers only superficial relief for despair, alienation, and fear.  Christ alone can comfort and heal us.

Sexuality

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” (Rom. 1: 24-25).

And Gnostic thought is at the root of the modern debate about sexuality [8][12A].

Gnostics view the male-female distinction as part of the evil creation order, therefore, something to be rejected [12B].  Androgeny is the ideal [12C].  Since the “real you” is presumed to be inside, what is felt overrides all external factors, including biological reality [12D].

Gnostic thought promotes feminine characteristics, such as love and nurture, as positive “spiritual” traits in contrast to masculine “physical” qualities such as aggression and strength [5D].  Mary Magdalene is often an important figure in Gnostic thought [5E].

By contrast, in keeping with Gnostic contempt for the body, the so called Gospel of Thomas states, “For every woman who makes herself male will enter the Kingdom of Heaven [5F].”  This holds great appeal for those in the Transgender Movement suffering from gender dysphoria.

We have already discussed the Gnostic underpinning for homosexuality.

Again, one can clearly sees Satan’s hand in this.  Satan seeks to undermine the natural order God established, and destroy the image of God in mankind by leading us into sin [13].  But God made us male and female (Gen. 1: 27; Matt. 19: 4-5).

Self-Indulgence/Asceticism

The Gnostic emphasis on direct personal experience permits a wide array of teachings [1B].  Gnostic teachings can be interpreted either to allow for hedonistic self-indulgence (since the body is presumed destined for destruction) or to require severe asceticism (since the body is seen as evil) [5G]. 

This variation, by itself, is a red flag as to the errors in Gnostic thought.  The Holy Spirit supports unity among believers, not division (Eph. 4: 3).  However, these extreme viewpoints hold appeal both for those intoxicated by today’s materialistic culture, and those disgusted by it.

Virtual Reality

An estimated 10% of American adults now watch religious services exclusively online, rather than attending in person [9]. 

Meanwhile, multisite church campuses often today feature video streaming.  Some churches have no actual pastor aside from the far away individual the congregation watches on a video screen (or a home computer).   Worshipers are less likely to feel a connection to such an individual (or he to them) [10A]. 

This may be a subtle reason Gnosticism has crept into churches.  Virtual reality replaces bodily reality, effectively diminishing the importance of physical interaction [10B].  

Christian Response

Contrary to Gnosticism, Christianity does not teach that reality is divided as between the spiritual and physical [11A].  Christianity teaches that reality is divided as between the Creator and His creation [11B]. 

We do not merely possess souls; we are souls [11C].  To be a human soul is, in other words, to be embodied [11D].  Our bodies are essential, not incidental, to our humanity [11E].

Our bodies, though fallen and frail, are still good creations of a good and loving God (Gen. 1: 27, and Ps. 139: 13-16).

“…Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge…” (1 Tim. 6: 20).

Scripture, in fact, places a high value on knowledge.  The Apostle Paul counted everything else as loss when compared with “the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” his Lord (Phil. 3: 8 NIV).

But when Paul uses the words “secret” and “mystery” (Rom. 16: 25, Col. 1: 26, and 1 Cor. 2: 7) he is referring to the long-promised and now revealed Good News of Salvation, not some secret, spiritual knowledge revealed only to an elite few [5H].  The Good News of Salvation is for all people (2 Cor. 5: 19 and 1 Tim. 2: 4).

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[1A and 1B]  Wikipedia, “Gnosticism”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism.

[2]  Insight for Living, “Mind Over Matter:  The Heresy of Gnosticism both Then and Now” by Derrick Jeter, 6/15/09,  https://insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/mind-over-matter-the-heresy-of-gnosticism-both-then-and-now.

[3]  Wikipedia, “Ecclesia Gnostica”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesia_Gnostica.

[4A through 4D]  Banner of Truth, “Gnosticism” by Gervase Charmley, 3/22/16, https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2016/gnosticism/#:~:text=Gnosticism%20may%20be%20said%20to%20have%20been,matter%20of%20acquiring%20and%20using%20secret%20knowledge.

[5A through 5H]  LCMS Document Library, “LCMS Evaluation:  Gnosticism”, file:///C:/Users/Anna%20Waldherr/Downloads/LCMS-CTCR-Evaluation-Gnosticism.pdf.

[6]  Wikipedia, “Individuation”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individuation.

[7]  Modern Reformation, “Protestant Gnosticism Reconsidered” by Philip Lee, 4/11/08,  https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/protestant-gnosticism-reconsidered.

[8]  United Methodist Insight, “Dueling Gnosticisms” by Chase Crickenberger, 7/20/22, https://um-insight.net/perspectives/dueling-gnosticisms/ .

[9]  Pew Research Center, “Americans’ experiences with virtual religious services”, 6/2/23, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/06/02/americans-experiences-with-virtual-religious-services/.

[10A and 10B]  Christian Post,  “Baptist Theologian Warns of Gnosticism in Churches that Feature Video Preaching Only” by Stoyan Zaimov, 1/12/18, https://www.christianpost.com/news/baptist-theologian-warns-of-gnosticism-in-churches-that-feature-video-preaching-only.html#:~:text=A%20prominent%20Baptist%20theologian%20has%20warned%20that,preaching%2C%20could%20be%20a%20sign%20of%20Gnosticism.&text=Gnosticism%20is%20a%20heresy%20that%20makes%20false,the%20Chuck%20Colson%20Center%20for%20Christian%20Worldview.

[11A through 11E]  Christian Post, “Why Christians Believe Your Physical Body Matters” by John Stonestreet, 5/27/16, https://www.christianpost.com/news/why-christians-believe-your-physical-body-matters-opinion-164524/ .

[12A through 12D]  Christian Institute, ““Gnosticism”,  https://www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/gnosticism.pdf.

[13]  The Beacon, “God’s Broken Image” by Sean Chen, 12/24/15,  https://lighthousebc.com/beacon/2015/12/24/gods-broken-image/.

Gnosticism, Part 1 – History and Theology was posted last week

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