Philosophy Is Mistaken

The deeper we go into the knowledge of the human being, the more we see the mistakes and limitations of centuries of knowledge that we received and repeat mechanically.

From the Body to Glory: The Truth Revealed in Christ

In this article we will seek to confront some of the foundations of Philosophy with the truth of the Holy Scriptures.

An important initial clarification belongs here: We are used to thinking immediately of the behavior of churches and religious people.
And, in truth, there is an unbridgeable abyss between biblical revelation and this way of thinking.

The Bible is simple, it is beautiful, and it is revealed by the Spirit that Jesus sent, but that few have received even today.

Romans 12: The Path of True Transformation

“I urge you, by the mercies of God, to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your rational worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may be able to experience and prove the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Paul reveals here that true spiritual transformation begins with a real surrender, of the body, and develops through a process: renewal of the mind, discernment of God's will and the practical living out of that will.

What, in fact, is rational worship?

Rational worship is not an intellectual exercise or a conscious liturgy. It is the surrender of the body as a living sacrifice. It is with the body that we obey, deny ourselves, serve, endure, persevere. And it is through the body that we will be judged:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he did through the body, according to what he practiced, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

From surrender to transformation: the spiritual process

Surrendering the body is the first step. But this surrender sets off a process: the renewal of the mind. And this renewal happens as we face trials and remain firm. Each stage, each pain, each renunciation in the body renews the mind, and makes us discern the will of God.

“But all of us… are being transformed with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Philosophy in the face of revelation

Here we can confront the three great philosophical concepts in the light of the gospel:

1. “Know thyself”

The natural man does not know himself. His heart is deceitful and corrupt. Only the Spirit can reveal who we are in God.

2. “Rational animal”

The human being is not only reason, he is a spiritual vessel. He will be judged for what he did in the body. His identity is in the Spirit.

3. “World of ideas”

Plato glimpsed an invisible world, but without revelation. The invisible truth is Christ, and only the Spirit can reveal him.

The joy of trials: the secret of perfection

“My brothers, consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

This maturity is the result of surrender, of perseverance and of the work of the Spirit. It does not come from reason, nor from introspection. But from a real path, lived in the body, shaped in trials, guided by the Spirit.

Conclusion: To know, to surrender, to be transformed

Philosophy tried to climb to heaven by reason. But the truth came from heaven to Earth by revelation. And the path God gave us does not begin in the mind, but in the body: “Offer yourselves…”. This is the true worship. This is the true transformation. This is the true knowledge: the one that comes from God, is worked in us, and leads us to glory. From glory to glory. From trial to trial.