Seguimiento de Acuerdos

13. Neoplatonic Systematics

In the world of ancient Greek philosoph

In the world of ancient Greek philosoph y, reality is made up of two alien suy, reality is made up of two alien substancesbstances —  —  mind (or mind (or ideas, forms) and matter. Instead of the division of

ideas, forms) and matter. Instead of the division of Christian thought between the uncreatedChristian thought between the uncreated  being of God and the created being of all else, the division is between mind and matter. In all  being of God and the created being of all else, the division is between mind and matter. In all

forms of neoplatonism, this Hellenic division prevails, and it is basic to the

forms of neoplatonism, this Hellenic division prevails, and it is basic to the way modern manway modern man regards himself.

regards himself.

It is basic also to intellectualism. The intellectual may philosophically reject Greek di

It is basic also to intellectualism. The intellectual may philosophically reject Greek di alecticism,alecticism,  but in practice he applies it. The world for him is divided between the men and the realm of  but in practice he applies it. The world for him is divided between the men and the realm of ideas, and the men and realm of practice and work. The modern university thus perpetuates a ideas, and the men and realm of practice and work. The modern university thus perpetuates a Greek faith by its implicit faith that the realm of ideas represents a hi

Greek faith by its implicit faith that the realm of ideas represents a hi gher realm than that ofgher realm than that of  practice. Much of the hostility of the intellectuals to capitali

 practice. Much of the hostility of the intellectuals to capitalism, technology, the life of the middlesm, technology, the life of the middle classes, to manual labor, and much,

classes, to manual labor, and much, much more stems from the unacknowledged much more stems from the unacknowledged premise that thepremise that the life of ideas represents a higher stage of being.

life of ideas represents a higher stage of being. This sense of superiority is implicit inThis sense of superiority is implicit in academicians, writers, the press, and in all members of the

academicians, writers, the press, and in all members of the intelligentsia.intelligentsia. Our concern, however, is more specifically with the

Our concern, however, is more specifically with the seminary, a modern institution for theseminary, a modern institution for the training of the clergy. The modern

training of the clergy. The modern seminary is too often a neoplatonic seminary is too often a neoplatonic institution through andinstitution through and through. Its concerns are ostensibly Christian; they are in reality ecclesiastical and

through. Its concerns are ostensibly Christian; they are in reality ecclesiastical and neoplatonic.neoplatonic. We cannot begin to grasp

We cannot begin to grasp the reason for the faltering life of the church the reason for the faltering life of the church apart from that fact.apart from that fact. A very obvious indication of this ne

A very obvious indication of this neoplatonic division in the life of the seminary oplatonic division in the life of the seminary appears in itsappears in its curriculum. The seminary curriculum is divided between two k

curriculum. The seminary curriculum is divided between two k inds of subjects or courses, theinds of subjects or courses, the academic and the practical. This

academic and the practical. This is at once a plain indis at once a plain indication of the radically neoplatonic life ofication of the radically neoplatonic life of the seminary. Moreover, there is no question as

the seminary. Moreover, there is no question as to which side has prestige. The acto which side has prestige. The academic is heldademic is held in high respect; the practical is regarded with ver

in high respect; the practical is regarded with ver y low esteem and is seen y low esteem and is seen as a concession to theas a concession to the requirement of church life. Students view the

requirement of church life. Students view the practical courses as a nuisance, as thepractical courses as a nuisance, as they usually are,y usually are, and fail to see that the academic courses are equally wretched.

and fail to see that the academic courses are equally wretched. The division between the academic

The division between the academic (the realm of ideas or the mind) and (the realm of ideas or the mind) and the practical (the realmthe practical (the realm of practice and matter) is plainly Hellenic and

of practice and matter) is plainly Hellenic and neoplatonic. There is no hint neoplatonic. There is no hint in the Bible of anyin the Bible of any such division. The Bible does not speak often of

such division. The Bible does not speak often of ““the wisethe wise”” (or, (or, ““ancientsancients””), as in Ezekiel 7:26;), as in Ezekiel 7:26; Jeremiah 18:8, but the reference is to a

Jeremiah 18:8, but the reference is to a class of rulers,class of rulers, elderselders,, men who ruled by the law of God.men who ruled by the law of God. The modern division in the seminary is not

The modern division in the seminary is not of Biblical origin.of Biblical origin. The presupposition of all Greek philosophy was in

The presupposition of all Greek philosophy was in an ultimate impersonalism. The highest kindan ultimate impersonalism. The highest kind of thinking was abstract and impersonal, on

of thinking was abstract and impersonal, on the assumption that such thinking was closer therebthe assumption that such thinking was closer thereb yy to reality. In terms of this alien tradition, the seminary, in its acad

to reality. In terms of this alien tradition, the seminary, in its acad emic courses, adopts anemic courses, adopts an abstract and critical analysis as the

abstract and critical analysis as the ““keykey”” to learning. Students are  to learning. Students are rigorously trained in thisrigorously trained in this intellectualistic approach to the text of Scripture, to

intellectualistic approach to the text of Scripture, to apologetics, systematics, and all things else.apologetics, systematics, and all things else. Our Lord gives an emphatically different perspective:

Our Lord gives an emphatically different perspective: ““If any man will do His will, he shallIf any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine

know of the doctrine”” (John 7:17). Knowledge and practice are inseparably united: they cannot (John 7:17). Knowledge and practice are inseparably united: they cannot  be divided, because life is not divisible into two constituent kinds of being.

Very simply stated, as God gave His word to

Very simply stated, as God gave His word to the prophets of old, He did the prophets of old, He did not divide it into anot divide it into a spiritual and a practical word. The word

spiritual and a practical word. The word is not segmented into one section is not segmented into one section for Christian scholarsfor Christian scholars to meditate over, and ano

to meditate over, and another for others to act on. There is nther for others to act on. There is no abstract and intellectual word aso abstract and intellectual word as against a practical word. Merely to suggest such a

against a practical word. Merely to suggest such a division is to make apparent how ridiculous division is to make apparent how ridiculous anan idea it is. Where God declares Himself to be the

idea it is. Where God declares Himself to be the eternal and sovereign Lord, the eternal and sovereign Lord, the Creator, it is inCreator, it is in order to assert His authority and to make clea

order to assert His authority and to make clear His power to command. Thur His power to command. Thus, in Isaiah 45, wes, in Isaiah 45, we have many declarations with regard to God as Creator. We are told by God,

have many declarations with regard to God as Creator. We are told by God, ““I form the light, andI form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and

create darkness: I make peace, and create evil; I the LORD do all create evil; I the LORD do all these thingsthese things”” (Isa. 45:7). This (Isa. 45:7). This text has been the object

text has been the object of much intellectual discussion: Is God the author of much intellectual discussion: Is God the author of sin? What does Heof sin? What does He mean by creating evil?

mean by creating evil? How shall we translate the word rendered evil? How shall we translate the word rendered evil? The wordThe wordcreatecreate is in theis in the Hebrew

Hebrew barabara’ ’ ;; does this make God the author of sin?does this make God the author of sin?

Is not the point of the text

Is not the point of the text rather to stress the incredible arrogance and insanity of rather to stress the incredible arrogance and insanity of sin, ofsin, of disobedience to God? We are not asked to probe into the mind of God with respect to the disobedience to God? We are not asked to probe into the mind of God with respect to the mysteries of God

mysteries of God’’s absolute sovereignty and mans absolute sovereignty and man’’s responsibility for sin. We are rather requireds responsibility for sin. We are rather required to hear and obey. God demands of the disobedient and the rebellious:

to hear and obey. God demands of the disobedient and the rebellious: Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the po

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the po tsherd strive with thetsherd strive with the  potsherd of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest  potsherd of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou, or to the woman,

What begettest thou, or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? What hast thou brought forth? (Isa. 45:9,(Isa. 45:9, 10).

10).

The goal God has in mind He very plainly sets forth: The goal God has in mind He very plainly sets forth:

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn b

is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out oy myself, the word is gone out of my mouth inf my mouth in

righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, and every righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear (Isa. 45:22, 23).

tongue shall swear (Isa. 45:22, 23).

The seminary approaches this word blasphemously. In the academic segment of its neoplatonic The seminary approaches this word blasphemously. In the academic segment of its neoplatonic lives, it subjects this word to an historical analysis. Was this word inde

lives, it subjects this word to an historical analysis. Was this word inde ed written byed written by ““FirstFirst Isaiah

Isaiah”” or or ““Second Isaiah,Second Isaiah,”” or some later Isaiah? What was the  or some later Isaiah? What was the historical situation which governshistorical situation which governs and conditions the text? What

and conditions the text? What religious and mythical allusions are there in this chapter? The religious and mythical allusions are there in this chapter? The texttext is studied in

is studied in abstractionabstraction,, as though God were not speakinas though God were not speaking to the scholars. As for the plaing to the scholars. As for the plain mandate of God

mandate of God’’s word, let us leave that to s word, let us leave that to the practical courses. There, the student can the practical courses. There, the student can study,study, again with alien premises, the working life of the

again with alien premises, the working life of the Christian community. Moreover, the practicalChristian community. Moreover, the practical departments will make their neoplatonic bows to the

departments will make their neoplatonic bows to the realm of the spirit. Is preaching to berealm of the spirit. Is preaching to be taught? We must be

taught? We must be expository.expository. The text is to be analyzed and carefully expounded, and theThe text is to be analyzed and carefully expounded, and the  preacher becomes a dissector of the Bible. Preaching becomes an anatomist

 preacher becomes a dissector of the Bible. Preaching becomes an anatomist’’s dissection reports dissection report out of the laboratory. We are told

out of the laboratory. We are told that expository preaching at its best is exegetical. Nowthat expository preaching at its best is exegetical. Now exegesis means to set forth the meaning o

exegesis means to set forth the meaning of the text; but is it exegesis if it is done f the text; but is it exegesis if it is done withwith neoplatonic presuppositions, so that we contemplate an abstraction?

Thus, one very prominent and

Thus, one very prominent and very able seminary professor cited as a modevery able seminary professor cited as a model expository sermon,l expository sermon, clearly exegetical, the following outline for Genesis 1:1,

clearly exegetical, the following outline for Genesis 1:1, ““In the beginning God created theIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

heavens and the earth”:”:

I. What things were originated (the heavens and the earth). I. What things were originated (the heavens and the earth). II. By Whom they were originated (b

II. By Whom they were originated (by God).y God). III. When they were originated (in the beginning). III. When they were originated (in the beginning). IV. How they were originated (by creation).

IV. How they were originated (by creation). This professor, whose name out of respect I omit, b

This professor, whose name out of respect I omit, b ecause he was a superior manecause he was a superior man, all the same, all the same gives us a

gives us a ““modelmodel”” sermon for providing information. But Christian preaching does not provide sermon for providing information. But Christian preaching does not provide information in abstraction. God

information in abstraction. God’’s word never speaks to satisfy our curiosity but to command s word never speaks to satisfy our curiosity but to command us.us. God declares the facts of creation so that w

God declares the facts of creation so that we might know our place e might know our place therein, our calling, and Histherein, our calling, and His mandate. God

mandate. God’’s word is a declarative word, the Cs word is a declarative word, the Christian preaching must be a declarative word.hristian preaching must be a declarative word. Exposition-exegesis smacks of the classroom, of the seminary and its neoplatonic divisions, Exposition-exegesis smacks of the classroom, of the seminary and its neoplatonic divisions, dissections, and abstractions.

dissections, and abstractions.

The systematics of neoplatonism is thus very clearly set forth in the

The systematics of neoplatonism is thus very clearly set forth in the curriculum of the seminary.curriculum of the seminary. On the one hand, we have Old Testament and New Testament departments, and church history On the one hand, we have Old Testament and New Testament departments, and church history and theology-philosophy departments. The seminary scholars are loc

and theology-philosophy departments. The seminary scholars are loc ated here. Their favoredated here. Their favored students are prospective scholars, future professors, and they tend

students are prospective scholars, future professors, and they tend to regard the everyday life ofto regard the everyday life of faith as somewhat removed, and as be

faith as somewhat removed, and as belonging to that other realm olonging to that other realm of the seminary, the practicalf the seminary, the practical departments. To give some degree of

departments. To give some degree of hollow prestige to the teaching of chuhollow prestige to the teaching of churchmanship,rchmanship, missions, preaching, and the like, these departments are given such high-sounding names as missions, preaching, and the like, these departments are given such high-sounding names as ““Departments of Practical Theology.Departments of Practical Theology.”” The plain implication o The plain implication of this common designation is thatf this common designation is that the more prestigious departments of theology are

the more prestigious departments of theology are impractical. The truth is that both kinds ofimpractical. The truth is that both kinds of theology are impractical and neoplatonic. The various departments of impractical theology never theology are impractical and neoplatonic. The various departments of impractical theology never really satisfy the Christian hunger of students, despite their prestige, because the

really satisfy the Christian hunger of students, despite their prestige, because the y are abstracty are abstract and unrelated to God

and unrelated to God’’s reality. This is one reason why student s reality. This is one reason why student after student in seminary testifiesafter student in seminary testifies that he dries up spiritually, losing his cutting edge

that he dries up spiritually, losing his cutting edge and vigor. The contact wand vigor. The contact with life is lacking, andith life is lacking, and thus the subjects become impractical and irrelevant.

thus the subjects become impractical and irrelevant. The student tends to starve in a land The student tends to starve in a land ofof  potential plenty. In my youth, when more pastors were still scholars

 potential plenty. In my youth, when more pastors were still scholars, one of the sad facts was that, one of the sad facts was that many of these orthodox men

many of these orthodox men were great experts in Ritschl, who was suddewere great experts in Ritschl, who was suddenly obsolete, as Karlnly obsolete, as Karl Barth began to command attention,

Barth began to command attention, and the focus of their theological training and the focus of their theological training was thus out ofwas thus out of kilter.

kilter.

What shall the prospective pastor do? Turn

What shall the prospective pastor do? Turn to practical theology? But practical theologto practical theology? But practical theologyy