Dealing with Humanism

     Another ‘ism’ very much active today is humanism.  Again, looking to Webster, humanism is defined as a philosophy that rejects the presence of supernatural influence in one’s life and stresses individual dignity and worth; the capacity for self-realization.  A humanist believes in the autonomy of the individual.

     One of the basic teachings in the Bible is the sufficiency of God’s provision for His people.

     “So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land…to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant…then beware, lest you forget the LORD…”  Deuteronomy 6:10-12a

     Note the warning to Israel not to forget the source of their manifold blessings.  All is contingent on obedience to God’s revealed standard of righteousness and justice.  Adherence brings untold blessings while disobedience or forgetting God’s commandments brings untold curses.

     “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…”  Deuteronomy 8:18

     This verse reminds the Israelites again that they would not achieve, rather it is God who would give, even the power to get wealth.

     Regarding the autonomy of the individual, King David addressed the sovereignty of God and His presence and influence in the life of the individual.

     “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”  Psalm 139:8-10

     The Spirit of God is not only present with man, the Spirit of God is within all who not only recognizes the sovereignty of God but commits to that sovereignty.

     Further in that same beautiful Psalm David reveals more about God’s presence and oversight of those who love Him.

     “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  Psalm 139:13, 16

     So much for abortion and the autonomy of the individual.

     Another major tenet of liberalism and humanism according to Webster is the ‘basic goodness of man.’

     However, the Bible reveals quite the opposite, i.e., the need for Christ was based on the innate depravity of man.

     King David also addressed the issue of the depravity of man.

     “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.  Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”  Psalm 51:5-6

     David’s son Solomon confirmed his father’s wisdom.

     “For there is not a just man on earth who does good…”  Ecclesiastes 7:20

     All men are born into sin and can only be found holy before God after God quickens his heart to recognize his depravity.  God can then make known His wisdom and reveal His plan of redemption for the contrite heart.

     The New Testament reaffirms the depravity of man and the need of a Redeemer to solve the problem and reconcile man to God.

     “So Jesus said to him… ‘No one is good but One, that is, God.’”  Luke 18:10

     The Apostle Paul addressed the issue and confirmed the need for Christ to remedy man’s seemingly irresolvable dilemma.

     “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”  Galatians 3:22

     Therefore, humanism is in total conflict with Biblical teachings.

      The objective observer finds it perplexing that while nearly 75% of Americans profess Christianity, many more than 25% support abortion and other widely accepted tenets of humanism.  The numbers just don’t add up.

     In addition the concepts of the autonomy of the individual and rejection of supernatural intervention in one’s life have no substantiation in the Bible.

     Is America forgetting God unintentionally or deliberately choosing to ignore His commandments in favor of pleasing the electorate?