In the Humanist Manifesto II there is a premise put forth that Traditional Biblical Christianity is no longer valid. It, in essence, calls for Christianity to either be reshaped (in secular humanistic values) or be rejected outright. Here are some quotes from that document: “Some humanists believe we should reinterpret traditional religions and reinvest them with meanings appropriate to the current situation. Such redefinitions, however, often perpetuate old dependencies and escapisms; they easily become obscurantist, impeding the free use of the intellect. We need, instead, radically new human purposes and goals.” That stated goal of Humanists was implemented through the majority of Christian colleges and seminaries in the 20th century. Humanism and Liberalism crept in and undermined the Bible’s Authority as the Word of God. The result has been the collapse of biblical morals and values in our culture. It lead to the demise of churches and the splitting of nearly every major Protestant denomination.
Today we are seeing the next wave of Humanism, called the “emergent church.” This new religious zeal focuses on peace, love, acceptance, environmental awareness and the brotherhood of man. These are not bad things, in and of themselves, but they are NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe the root of this so called “emerging church” is not Jesus Christ and the saving work He did on Calvary, but rather it is rooted in Humanistic teaching. Again, in the Humanist Manifesto II, we read: “We appreciate the need to preserve the best ethical teachings in the religious traditions of humankind, many of which we share in common. But we reject those features of traditional religious morality that deny humans a full appreciation of their own potentialities and responsibilities.” That is to say they refuse to accept the deity of Christ, and instead focus on the presumed “goodness” of man. While they may recognize the desire man has built into him for worship (instilled by the Creator) and a sense of right and wrong (a conscience), they openly reject the Bible as the Authority for morality and Jesus Christ as the only means to salvation.
Humanist Manifesto II says “Traditional religions often offer solace to humans, but, as often, they inhibit humans from helping themselves or experiencing their full potentialities. Such institutions, creeds, and rituals often impede the will to serve others. Too often traditional faiths encourage dependence rather than independence, obedience rather than affirmation, fear rather than courage.”
Today’s so called “emerging church” rejects most creeds, ordinances and traditions of Christianity, and places a high value on good works and social activism. While Evangelical Christians emphasize eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, many in the emerging church emphasize the “here and now.” That is exactly from the Secular Humanist II model: “More recently they have generated concerned social action, with many signs of relevance appearing in the wake of the ‘God Is Dead’ theologies. But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species. While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.”
Now when we contrast that to God’s Word, what we find is quite a great divide between Humanist Manifesto II and the Bible. The fallen sinful nature of man as a result of original sin is called “the doctrine of “total depravity.” You do not need to look far to see how perverse and sinful mankind is and the atrocities he is capable of. Yet, in the emerging church, repentance often takes a back seat to good works and “man’s potential” for good.
“The doctrine of total depravity asserts that people are by nature not inclined to love God wholly with heart, mind, and strength, but rather all are inclined by nature to serve their own will and desires and to reject the rule of God. Even religion and philanthropy are wicked to God to the extent that these originate from a human imagination, passion, and will and are not done to the glory of God. Therefore, in Reformed theology, if God is to save anyone He must predestine, call, elect individuals to salvation since fallen man does not want to, indeed is incapable of choosing God.
Total depravity does not mean, however, that people are as evil as possible. Rather, it means that even the good which a person may intend is faulty in its premise, false in its motive, and weak in its implementation; and there is no mere refinement of natural capacities that can correct this condition. Thus, even acts of generosity and altruism are in fact egoist acts in disguise.
This idea can be illustrated by a glass of wine with a few drops of deadly poison in it: Although not all the liquid is poison, all the liquid is poisoned. In the same way, while not all of human nature is depraved, all human nature is totally affected by depravity.”1
There are many passages in the Bible to support the doctrine. From these verses it is clear that the Humanist teachings are totally anti-christian. The are a contradiction to God’s Holy, inerrant Word.
Read each of these verses below and you will see the folly and the flawed vision of man in Secular Humanism.
Genesis 6:5
Job 15:14-15
Job 25:4-6
Psalms 51:5
Psalms 58:3
Ecclesiastes 7:20
Ecclesiastes 9:3
Jeremiah 17:9
Jeremiah 13:23
Isaiah 64:6
Isaiah 64:7
Isaiah 64:8
Mark 7:21-23
John 3:19
John 6:44
John 6:64-65
John 8:34
Romans 3:10-11
Romans 8:7-8
1 Corinthians 2:14
Ephesians 2:1-3
Titus 3:3
(1. Source: Wikipedia)
