See to it that no one takes you captive
through philosophy and empty deception,
according to the tradition of men,
according to the (I)elementary principles of the world,
rather than according to Christ.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
and in Him you have been made complete,
and He is the head over all rule and authority;
-Colossians 2:8-10
by Ravi ZachariasThe greatest pursuit of philosophy has been to find unity in diversity.
You remember the early Greek philosophers said there were possibly four constituents to this world: earth, air, water, fire. The pre-Socratic philosophers talked of these four components, but they said that doesn’t answer the question unity in diversity.
What is the one thing that pulls the four of these together? That’s where we get the word quintessence from. What is the fifth essence that pulls these four essences together? So the greatest pursuit of philosophy has been to find unity in diversity - it still is philosophy’s pursuit. The greatest pursuit in culture is inscribed on most American coins which says, “e pluribus unum” = out of many, one; out of plurality, singularity; out of diversity, unity.
They are looking for a unity to bind cultures; things that will keep us from despising one another for race, or color, or creed, or gender. The greatest pursuit of philosophy has been unity in diversity; the greatest pursuit of culture has been unity in diversity; the greatest pursuit of education has been unity in diversity. That‘s what the word university means. It’s looking for unity in diversity. All of the disciplines, take the whole host of disciplines across history, they are desperately looking for that which would unify all of the disciplines. You go to philosophy, you go to culture, you go to academia; the desperate search is for unity in diversity.
Listen now to those magnificent words of late 19th early 20th century Archbishop William Temple (who was famous for saying: “the Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members”) when he defines what worship is all about:
That’s why I believe even in the Lord’s supper you don’t not only think of history or the past; you don’t only engage the truth in the present; you don’t only think of the Lord’s coming. While the mind is engaged and the head is bowed, the hand is holding and the mouth is tasting; all of every sense is converging into that act of the Lord’s supper.
Worship takes the diversity of our loves and abilities; coalesces them into a direction and life. Now we can see how worship responds to guilt for with reverence we come to Him for forgiveness. Now we can see why worship goes beyond the satisfaction of pleasure for even pleasure has its weariness. Now we can see how worship guides our feelings for even our feelings need to be bound and informed by the truth. Now we can see how worship needs to know who God is for we come to Him on His terms as Daddy, sir or holy Father. Now we can understand how worship counters the sense of loneliness, for loneliness cannot be dispelled by love alone--only worship can bind all our passions--something love alone cannot do.
This is the reason that worship is the supreme expression and life; the root from which life’s branches grow and its expressions flower.
What is the one thing that pulls the four of these together? That’s where we get the word quintessence from. What is the fifth essence that pulls these four essences together? So the greatest pursuit of philosophy has been to find unity in diversity - it still is philosophy’s pursuit. The greatest pursuit in culture is inscribed on most American coins which says, “e pluribus unum” = out of many, one; out of plurality, singularity; out of diversity, unity.
They are looking for a unity to bind cultures; things that will keep us from despising one another for race, or color, or creed, or gender. The greatest pursuit of philosophy has been unity in diversity; the greatest pursuit of culture has been unity in diversity; the greatest pursuit of education has been unity in diversity. That‘s what the word university means. It’s looking for unity in diversity. All of the disciplines, take the whole host of disciplines across history, they are desperately looking for that which would unify all of the disciplines. You go to philosophy, you go to culture, you go to academia; the desperate search is for unity in diversity.
Listen now to those magnificent words of late 19th early 20th century Archbishop William Temple (who was famous for saying: “the Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members”) when he defines what worship is all about:
“Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It’s the quickening of conscience by His holiness; nourishment of mind by His truth; purifying of imagination by His beauty; opening of the heart to His love; submission of will to His purpose; all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest expression of which we are capable. There is unity in diversity; finding worship to bind the diversity of the inclinations of your heart.”Once we understand this; that this is that great binding.
That’s why I believe even in the Lord’s supper you don’t not only think of history or the past; you don’t only engage the truth in the present; you don’t only think of the Lord’s coming. While the mind is engaged and the head is bowed, the hand is holding and the mouth is tasting; all of every sense is converging into that act of the Lord’s supper.
Worship takes the diversity of our loves and abilities; coalesces them into a direction and life. Now we can see how worship responds to guilt for with reverence we come to Him for forgiveness. Now we can see why worship goes beyond the satisfaction of pleasure for even pleasure has its weariness. Now we can see how worship guides our feelings for even our feelings need to be bound and informed by the truth. Now we can see how worship needs to know who God is for we come to Him on His terms as Daddy, sir or holy Father. Now we can understand how worship counters the sense of loneliness, for loneliness cannot be dispelled by love alone--only worship can bind all our passions--something love alone cannot do.
This is the reason that worship is the supreme expression and life; the root from which life’s branches grow and its expressions flower.
