Hypocrisy #7: the evil nature

Paul foretells in 1Timothy 4 that in later days, some will depart from the faith and turn to teachings of demons, “in hypocrisy of false words” (4:1,2). He adds to it (4:2.3):

…forbidding to marry, abstaining from foods which God creates to be partaken of with thanksgiving…

It is not difficult to recognize the later-on, mandatory celibacy and the obligatory fasting, in these words. Before very long, in church history, these ideas became compulsory. It may seem a bit exaggerated of Paul to call these “doctrines of demons”. But then, the evil thought that lies behind these teachings would elude us. Listen to Paul’s motivation (4:4):

seeing that every creature of God is ideal and nothing is to be cast away, being taken with thanksgiving.

The mandatory celibacy and the obligatory fasting do not seem to stand alone. It is a denial that God’s creation is good. The good that humanity can enjoy in marriage (read: sexual intercourse) and in eating food, would be objectionable. The basis of this thinking can be found in classical-Christian formulations. This is not only the case within the Roman Catholic Church.  The ‘three forms of unity’ speak also of “the depraved nature” of man. However, the Scriptures do not know this. Not nature is depraved, but deviating from nature, precisely, is (Rom.1:26,27). Or what do you make of many Bible translations, which in 1Cor.2:14 speak of “the natural man”?. This is ever so wrong, because Paul does not, here, speak of the natural man, but of “the soulish man.” Nature is good. The deviation from nature is wrong. With the the teaching of the “depraved nature” of man, also came the idea that man should hate his own flesh and must fight against it. All these formulations have in common that they consider the physical and the wholesome desires, as objectionable. But this is a dishonor to God, as the Creator of all things. Enjoying a meal or a glass of wine is a gift from God. And none other than the Creator, Himself, is the Inventor of sex and the desire for it. Traditionally, the church has disguised the issue. They say that God’s creation is good, but they mean that human nature is evil. Why did they have children instructed to sleep with their hands above the blankets? They were afraid that children would discover their own body and excite desires. It is precisely the (secular) world, that in this area, flawlessly denounces “the hypocrisy of false words”. How many ‘clergy’ have, these last several decades, not been unmasked in their wrongdoings with boys and girls? In the dark they do, what they condemn in broad daylight. That is hypocrisy. But it is even worse. Paul speaks in this context of a “branded conscience” i.e. a conscience that is cauterized (1Tim.4:2). With great piety they preach against nature, but meanwhile, they abuse their position of power, with the result that the lives of countless young people are severely damaged. That is unconscionable. These are the bitter fruits of “the doctrines of demons” – teachings that have their roots in the corrupted belief that God’s good creation is condemnable.

Delen: