True Christians are Gnostics and not Theologians

At the early stages of Christianity, were people identified as Gnostics. Such people were regarded as heretical. They were totally invalidated, but appearing as having held to the fundamentals of Christianity. Theologians assume to know, based on theoretical assumptions. It is from that consideration that God is assumed to be three in one. To be accepted in Scholarly echelons, one is expected to subscribe to the doctrine of the Trinity. Or else the coveted quality of being a degree-holder won’t come one’s way. Nevertheless, falsehood is unacceptable before God.

It is not my intention to, either agree or disagree with the teachings of those identified as Gnostics. I am not fully informed of the actual doctrines, leading to their being negatively viewed, by their contemporaries. While knowledge can be assumed as esoteric, I take knowledge as referring to being informed, on any subject under discussion. If one knows what other people are yet to be informed about, I do not regard that as suggesting being esoteric. I wonder whether we still have Gnostics in our times. I would certainly be interested interacting with them. I hope they exist somewhere.

A person, who knows, is certain of knowing that he knows. Each person knows some things, unknown by other people. Gnosticism is derived from the Greek gnosis, meaning knowledge. It is from that definition that I approve of Gnostic usage when referring to my understanding of true Christianity. Whether true or false, that the Gnostics misrepresented knowledge, without having it, I am not qualified to judge.  But I suppose it is improper for anyone of this world to have labeled another fellow human with derogatory terms like heretic.

The term Gnostic refers to knowledge rather than ideas of just waffling theories, based on unfounded information. A person who knows, knows that he knows and speaks from the confidence of knowing what he talks about. Others may misrepresent him as cockish but denying him of the certainty of what he knows to be true. Behaving as one without knowledge, when the opposite is true, cannot be acceptable before God.

This describes the predicament faced by true Christians, manifested by early disciples. One can be treated as an outcast, for stating what one knows to be true. The man born blind had to be ejected for maintaining the truth that Jesus had healed his blindness. Jesus was killed for maintaining that He knew God. Those pretenders would not have killed Jesus, had He lied that He did not know God. Only a few are willing to stand for the truth, which is unacceptable in this world.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 

“This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:4-8 NIV).

A person, who testifies the truth, is not necessarily esoteric. Jesus was the first to be denounced as a Gnostic. Hence, He was crucified by those regarding Him similarly to how the Gnostics were viewed.  However, those who denounced the Gnostics, assumed to understand Jesus better. But it is possible that the Gnostics truly represented Jesus.

A true Christian is a Gnostic. Unlike those accepting theories as facts, true Christians adopt what they factually know, leaving out the uncertainties. I suppose Gnosticism does not necessarily imply knowing everything. But a Gnostic becomes one, when certain of what he knows, just as certain of what he does not know. In other words, that person can distinguish between black and white. He is not found in the area of uncertainties.

Knowledge is assumed possible when having committed oneself to deep study. But that cannot always be true, as one can acquire knowledge when willing to receive knowledge from anyone with knowledge. The Pharisees rejected knowledge from Jesus. I suppose they were sincere in assuming that they had knowledge, above everyone else.

It is true that those Pharisees, together with the Scribes, were the custodians of Scriptures. The only problem is that they could not apply what was in those Scriptures. Jesus said, just by assuming to see, they remain blind (John 9:41). It may be impossible to appreciate that those sitting in the comfort of assuming to understand cannot know anything.

The more the truth is presented before that person, the more the person feels disgusted about it. The unrecognized pride in that person is a clouding factor. Without a miracle directly from God, it is extremely impossible for that person to ever accept what comes from a despised person.

His pride informs him that it ought to have been him to receive that knowledge ahead of everyone else. This is what infuriated the Pharisees who could not appreciate the miraculous healing of a man born blind. It didn’t matter, even if the healed person was their relative or not. His wrongness was considered to be his acceptance of being healed on the Sabbath Day.

Christianity would be successful if applied according to Scriptures. Falsehood ought not to have found its way into Christianity. The number of Christians would, drastically, diminish, when truth is applied, but the remnants would have a powerful impact, leading to more positive results.

The blindness continues, as nothing else is as comfortable as the status quo. There cannot be any urgency among those benefitting from the status quo. Death comes, regardless of living under comfort. It is only the pride that makes everything appear normal. There is no urgency among those receiving tangible benefits that make them adorable by others of this world.

The difference between theologians and Gnostics is that theologians are reverently accepted, while Gnostics are acerbically rejected. The Gnostics are not pretenders. They are prepared to die for what they know to be true. I have never heard of any persecuted theologian in recent times. Even during Jesus’ time, theologians lived comfortably, yet accepted with their falsified information.

Theologians are respected by ordinary people for the number of years they spend in college. Ordinary people find the academic titles more fascinating, rather than Jesus’ truth. The Gnostics are the only ones who know that, Jesus physically left the scene, after resurrection, but spiritually, he remains alive. Jesus is currently not known by many, just as many could not know Jesus, during His time.

To the Gnostics, nothing has changed in humanity. To them, Jesus is as alive as He was in the first century. Today’s theologians would scoff at asserting that reality, and yet carrying the Bible that agrees with that reality. This testifies to the fact that the Spirit is more real than the body. The Gnostic speaks from the condition of knowing what is true, without prejudice.

A theologian speaks from the position of uncertainty. He covers his ignorance by stating that it is impossible to know God. However, the Gnostics think differently. They remain willing to know more things, but assertive of what they already know. They ought to be treated as authority, due to their access to the abundant knowledge. But that is impossible, as this world is only fascinated by falsehoods, more than truthful information.

Theologians can be commended for hard work in study, although very little is obtainable from their studies. There is no truth that can come out of lies, just as lies can never come out of truth. Truth implies the ability to separate distinct differences between falsehood and truth. The truth refers to what remains to be, and falsehood refers to what remains to be not.

The separation of the two is what grants freedom. While appearing as impossible to know everything, what is advisable is clinging onto the known and remaining open to new knowledge. Gnostics are willing to experience anything, while theologians are unwilling to experience the unknown. The Gnostics label against those regarded as heretics was driven by unwillingness to experience anything, by theologians.

The bottom line is that the befitting term for Christians should be “Gnostics,” rather than “Christian” whose significance has been drastically eroded. Christians are expected to have answers to all problems experienced in this world. Jesus said they are the light of the world. Christians cannot be the light of the world, without the knowledge, desperately needed by the world.

The reason for theologians to be unable to access knowledge arises from not knowing God. It is impossible for those theologians to know God, as knowing God requires suspending their personal worth. Jesus did not die for money, but for the redemption of human souls. The understanding of this reality does not require a theological thesis. It is self-evident and understandable to those taking Jesus’ words without alteration.

Theologians remain in the area of being theoreticians, whose studies can be considered fascinating but without the necessary applicability. The Gnostics have no reason to claim being the ardent Bible Scholars. They simply adopt what they know to be true and apply it, without alterations. They talk of Jesus and God they know, rather than an imagined God, assumed to be three in one.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (John 14:18-21 NIV).

The above message was directed at those who regarded themselves as Gnostics, rather than theologians. They would know God as Father, and Jesus, who enabled them to reach their level of understanding. The only condition delineated for those to reach this level is obeying everything that Jesus taught. Such people cannot be regarded as esoteric or viewed as theologians. They would have had the scales of their eyes removed as to see what the entire world cannot see.

True Christians are Gnostics who speak only of what they know, rather than the imaginary ideas. The only difference between them and Jesus is that Jesus was observed by many people after resurrection. They are yet to manifest as having also been resurrected, as to be similarly observed by many people. To become a Gnostic, one is expected to obey everything taught by Jesus, without exception. The key lies in appreciating that the Gnostics are not different from Jesus.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son-ship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are hears—of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:12-17 NIV).

The above Scripture is referring to the Gnostics, and not theologians, holding to the doctrine of Trinity. Ordinary people cannot imagine the possibility of humans being equated with Christ. They view Jesus as too holy to be equated with physical humanity. This is similar to how the persecutors of Jesus assumed God to be too holy to be equated with a Man they considered despicable.

Nothing else serves to separate pretenders and genuine Christians, who ought to be identified as Gnostics. Those who feel uncomfortable being identified with the Gnostics should realize that they do not belong there. It is not, necessarily, a sin not to be counted with the Gnostics. What is sinful is being attached to theologians who make Christianity a difficult endeavor to attain. Let the Gnostics rise up and shine, before the imminent second coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.

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