An abundance of information on Gnosticism is readily available. Many books and articles on the subject have been written and can be obtained in any quality bookstore or library. Old manuscripts with reference to Gnosticism dating back to the early Church are also available, and provide great insight into the teachings and influence of Gnosticism on the world and in particular, the Church. W.H.C. Frend writes that "in the second century Gnosticism was a world-wide movement." [The Early Church, W.H.C.Frend, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1965, p.62]. Gnostic sects sprang up all over the world. Jacques Laccariane says, "No sooner was gnostic thought born than it began to be disseminated along the great routes of the Orient". [The Early Church, W.H.C.Frend, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1965]. Since that time Gnosticism has entrenched itself in the major religions of the world and not least of all Christianity. Gnosticism, while appearing to be a complex system of thoughts, is really quite simplistic and can be rather easily defined and understood.
The following attempt to set forth and explain some of the basic Gnostic thoughts will help some Christians to be on guard against the "winds of doctrine" blowing through the Church. The greatest challenge in the Church today is to discern between Gnostic thought and Christian thought.
What is Gnosticism? According to Webster, it is "an occult salvational system . . . stressing [knowledge of spiritual things] as essential . . . combining ideas derived especially from mythology, ancient Greek philosophy, ancient religions, and eventually, from Christianity". [Webster's New World Dictionary, Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1988, p.577].
The doctrinal core of Gnosticism is basically a form of mystical religious or philosophical doctrines which other adherents and some early Christian sects spread and which the early Church leaders vehemently rejected as heresy. Believers in Gnosticism are called Gnostics. The word "Gnostic" is derived from the greek word gnostiko or gnosis (inner mystic knowledge). The Gnostics believe that "gnosis" is subjective (internally perceived by the mind or feelings) knowledge of the devine element or spark in every man that needs to be discovered to be known. They believe the divine spark originally came from the "realm of light" (totally alientated from the world and the flesh), and is resident in the soul of man and is held there in captivity by the flesh (a product of demons). The only way to release the divine spark is through divine "revelation knowledge", experienced within in the spirit. Also they believe that only when the unconscious spirit in man is awakened by revelation from the "realm of light" can he come to know his real self - the god within.
Explained in a nutshell:
2. Elitism
The mystic "gnosis" (or knowledge) is only taught to the elite -
those who have a special capacity beyond the force of reason and the flesh.
According to Gnostic writings, this special capacity was imparted by a
messenger bearing a "spark" of light from the "realm of light" even before
the creation of the world. The goal of the Gnostic is the release of the
inner man by virtue of gnosis (inner knowing) and his return to his native
"realm of light". There seems to be a special "place" for a special "people"
who are called out or chosen. That is how the spiritual elitism comes forth.
It is this Gnostic thought that is behind many of the aberrant teachings
of the Latter Rain Movement. (This will be discussed at length in Chapter
3).
3. Intuitive
The Gnostic concept of God is determined by the depth of illumination
and revelation subjectively (by mind or feeling) experienced "about God".
The concept rejects external faith in God the Person. The reference point
for goodhood is in self. Gnostic revelation must be distinguished from
Christian revelation because it is not rooted in history and transmitted
by Scripture. It is rather the intuition of the mystery of self. The dark
cloud of mysticism that overshadows the Church can readily be traced to
the Gnostic's "intuition of the mystery of self".
4. Self-Knowledge
The Gnostic believes that gnosis (selfe knowledge) is redemptive
and as such needs to be discovered and known. As a result of gnosis, man
subjectively discovers as a creature, the reality of his lasting unity
with the transcendent God. He discovers that his life is immortal and that
he is an ongoing manifestation of the light and the god that dwells in
his inner self. This knowledge, it is believed, has a redemptive quality
that takes the spirit in man to the ultimate realm of light such as the
fulness of God.
5. Redefinition of the New Birth
Love and salvation are reckoned obvious consequences of "gnosis".
Pure knowledge without subjective reality provides intellectual enlightenment
that comes from force of reason and must be avoided because it suppresses
the gnosis of Divine Reality. The only substantial evidence of Divine Salvation
comes from within the self-consciousness of man. It is in the experience
of the inner gnosis that the Gnostic is "born-again". The redemptive quality
in man must not be sought in the incarnation of God in Christ through the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures or in faith through grace,
but rather in the self-conscious seat of his own divinity. In other words,
the fullness of divine self-consciousness is the source and evidence of
the Gnostic's "New Birth".
6. Divinity
To the Gnostic the mystery of God was already unveiled (at least
in secret) long before the birth of Jesus Christ and even before the Scriptures
were written. In fact, they say it was revealed and buried in man before
the creation of the world. Therefore, the only way for man to know about
God is through gnosis (self knowledge). As a result, he will experience
and know the Divine Spark within himself and know he is a member of the
Elite - a "Manifest Son of God".
Because certain "popular" theological concepts are not being measured and subjected to strict Scriptural scrutiny, Gnosticism is gaining a stronghold. As a result of new theological thought, even fundamental orthodox doctrines are being grossly changed into seed-beds for Gnosticism.
The statements below (originally in chart form) is adapted from Which Jesus Do You Follow? by M. Dauer.
FUNDAMENTAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY:
GNOSTIC/NEW AGE THOUGHT:
