Atos 17

Atos 17

Morris - Like all other Greek and Roman philosophies of the day, Epicureanism and Stoicism were based on an evolutionary world view. The Epicureans were essentially atheists, like modern Darwinists, whereas the Stoics were pantheists, much like modern New Age evolutionists. Both believed in an infinitely old space/time/ matter universe, and both rejected the concept of an omnipotent transcendent Creator. On the popular level, both were expressed in terms of polytheism, astrology and spiritism, with the many gods and goddesses essentially being personifications of natural forces and systems. Both would naturally be strongly opposed to Biblical Creationist Christianity. Paul describes the "pathogenesis" (I am a pathologist) of idolatry as he describes man's progressive descent into idolatry in Romans 1 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them (CONSCIENCE); for God made it evident to them. 20 (AND CREATION) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (THUS THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF THE FALSE TEACHING OF EVOLUTION!) 21 For even though they knew God (COULD PAUL BE ANY CLEARER? CONSCIENCE AND CREATION REVEALED THE INVISIBLE GOD TO MEN BUT....), they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile (EMPTY, VAIN, WORTHLESS) in their speculations (EVOLUTION, PHILOSOPHY, ETC), and their foolish heart was darkened (WHEN THEY CAST OFF THE LIGHT OF GOD, THEY WERE GIVEN OVER TO THE POWER OF DARKNESS) . 22 Professing to be wise (THIS IS SELF-DECEPTION), they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God (NOW THE FINAL DESCENT INTO IDOLATRY BECAUSE MAN WAS MADE TO WORSHIP!) for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. (IDOLATRY WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO IMMORALITY!) 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a (LITERALLY "THE") lie (of Satan in Ge 3:1-6), and worshiped and served the creature (cf 30,000 STATUES IN ATHENS!) rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Ro 1:16-25+ - NOTICE THE TRAGIC PROGRESSIVE DESCENT FROM REJECTION OF THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD TO ACCEPTING THE BAD NEWS OF MEN!) F. F. Bruce comments that "Stoicism and Epicureanism represent alternative attempts in pre-Christian paganism to come to terms with life, especially in times of uncertainty and hardship, and post-Christian paganism down to our own day has not been able to devise anything appreciably better. (The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament)