The Far-Reaching Influence of Humanism
Having placed man upon the throne which God alone has right to occupy, our society has essentially become a world in which survival of the fittest is a fitting mantra. In a world that has long declared “God is dead” (though humanists would never aver such, for they never held God to be alive in the first place), the humanistic philosophy has spread like a wild fire in a drought-laden prairie. No God to whom we must give answer, no higher law by which to conduct our lives, no immortal soul that will spend an eternity in hell for failing to abide by the commands of the Creator—is it any wonder, then, that our world is falling faster and further into absolute chaos? The society in which we find ourselves has given itself over to the fulfillment of every desire imaginable. Take note of the consequences of trying to forget God and His law (Romans 1:19- 32; God gave them up!). We have humanism to thank for the rank hedonism prevalent in our world. We have humanism to thank for the degradation of the moral fabric of this nation. We have humanism to thank for the increase in violent crime, the divorce rate, children born out of wedlock, lack of respect for those in positions of authority, and on and on the list could continue. After all, if man is merely the product of unguided evolutionary change, and if man has no eternal soul about which to be concerned, then let us “eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32). If humanists are correct in their assessments of the nature of man, then anything goes (see Judges 17:6).
The Influence of Humanism on the church
Religion is being influenced more and more to imbibe the prevailing doctrine of “you believe what you want to believe, and I’ll believe what I want to believe, and we will agree to disagree when our beliefs contradict.” Humanism is influencing many major religious bodies to abandon any vestige of an objective standard of truth (which standard does exist [John 17:17]). Some are attempting to hold hands with both humanism and Christianity by advocating theistic evolution. While those who would propose this theory are trying to gain favor with both humanists and those who believe in the Biblical account of the creation, they in actuality set themselves at variance with both sides. No man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Such fence-straddling makes the Lord sick to his stomach (Revelation 3:16). With humanism being the popular social, ethical, moral, political and philosophical thrust of our time, many religious institutions are afraid to reject this dangerous and demonic doctrine. Myriads of so-called Christians are following a multitude to do evil (Exodus 23:2) for fear of rejection, loss of numbers and loss of revenue. Such is contrary to the spirit of Christianity (see 2 Timothy 1:7; Revelation 20:8). Should the church continue to cower to the bullying of an increasingly fashionable philosophy, she will soon (if not already) find herself bowing the knee to political correctness rather than Him Who sits on the throne of the heavens. May God grant us more courage, that “with all boldness [we] may speak thy word” (Acts 4:29).
- Patrick Morrison
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