| | [[Relativism|Relativist]] interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in '''''the telling of the story''''', without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity". The [[Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)]] of [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] biblical [[hermeneutics]] directly contradicts this approach. | | [[Relativism|Relativist]] interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in '''''the telling of the story''''', without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity". The [[Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)]] of [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] biblical [[hermeneutics]] directly contradicts this approach. |
| | Author Philip J. Lee, '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''' <ref>[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/845498.Against_the_Protestant_Gnostics Against the Protestant Gnostics, Philip J. Lee, Oxford University Press, 1993 (goodreads.com)] <br> See [https://preachingpeace.org/against-the-protestant-gnostics/ ''Against the Protestant Gnostics'': Book Review, by Caleb Miller - Preaching Peace (preachingpeace.org)]</ref> shows that Gnostic tendencies are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and that the Reformation at its heart fostered the inherent Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, and the Gnostic disdain of the [[sacrament]]s and disdain of the doctrine of the [[Last Judgment|physical resurrection of the body]], and a ''[[sola scriptura]]'' reading of scripture ''[[sola spiritu]]'' with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect".<ref>The same elements are found in the earlier [[Bogomil: Bogomilism|Bogomils]] and the [[Cathar]]s or [[Albigenses]].</ref> He demonstrates how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. Pastor and author Peter Dietsch, in summarizing Lee's book, says, "''In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community.''" <ref>[https://www.theaquilareport.com/gnosticism-vs-christianity/ '''Gnosticism vs. Christianity:''' Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)] | | Author Philip J. Lee, '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''' <ref>[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/845498.Against_the_Protestant_Gnostics Against the Protestant Gnostics, Philip J. Lee, Oxford University Press, 1993 (goodreads.com)] <br> See [https://preachingpeace.org/against-the-protestant-gnostics/ ''Against the Protestant Gnostics'': Book Review, by Caleb Miller - Preaching Peace (preachingpeace.org)]</ref> shows that Gnostic tendencies are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and that the Reformation at its heart fostered the inherent Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, and the Gnostic disdain of the [[sacrament]]s and disdain of the doctrine of the [[Last Judgment|physical resurrection of the body]], and a ''[[sola scriptura]]'' reading of scripture ''[[sola spiritu]]'' with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect".<ref>The same elements are found in the earlier [[Bogomil: Bogomilism|Bogomils]] and the [[Cathar]]s or [[Albigenses]].</ref> He demonstrates how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. Pastor and author Peter Dietsch, in summarizing Lee's book, says, "''In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community.''" <ref>[https://www.theaquilareport.com/gnosticism-vs-christianity/ '''Gnosticism vs. Christianity:''' Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)] |
| | :—Peter M. Dietsch is pastor of Providence PCA (''[[Presbyterian Church in America]]'') in Midland, Texas. He summarizes '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''', by Philip J. Lee.</ref> | | :—Peter M. Dietsch is pastor of Providence PCA (''[[Presbyterian Church in America]]'') in Midland, Texas. He summarizes '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''', by Philip J. Lee.</ref> |