strove to rise above matter didn't care about personal ethics. Their pure spirits could not be tainted by "earthly" sin. Thus, they could act any way they wanted.
Aging John roared out against the twin dangers of Gnosticism: immoral living and doubts that Christ became a man. Beliefs must be judged by the actions they produce, and John stresses the theme of brotherly love. He primarily refutes errors by presenting a wholesome picture of the Christian life as it is supposed to be lived.
True fellowship is not a mystical, super-intellectual flight into the great Alone, but a relationship with the Father through Christ. And that also entails responsibilities to others in God's family.
Life Questions: Gnosticism showed itself in several ways: the belief that matter was evil, a desire for "super-spirituality," a tendency toward loose morals. How can we counter those same trends among Christians today? |
