Secular Humanists and Social Progressives like to hail how far we have “evolved socially.”  Humanists proclaim that all we need for a social utopia is to abandon the old outdated forms of religion that restrain our “inner goodness.”  Using groups like the ACLU and other legal groups to remove all vestiges of Christianity from our public schools, government, our military and just about every public forum, we are now seeing the fruits of Humanism being harvested in our society.   However, I am old enough to have personally witnessed, in my lifetime, how far our nation has declined socially, morally and spiritually as we abandon our Christian heritage and Christian values.  I recently received an email of comparisons between the 1950’s and today. It adequately frames the discussion with very real and plausable scenarios and so I share it with you here. Let’s compare then and now to see how much better off we are today with secular humanistic values…

Scenario 1:

Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.

1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.

2010 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2:

Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.

2010 – Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged them with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3:

Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.

1957 – Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.

2010 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:

Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt..

1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.

2010 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5:

Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.

1957 – Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.

2010 – The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:

Pedro fails high school English.

1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.

2010 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7:

Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.

1957 – Ants die.

2010 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents — and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:

Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.

1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.

2010 – Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison… Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

President Harry S. Truman, addressing  the Attorney General’s Conference on Law Enforcement, 1950 said this:

“The fundamental basis of this nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teaching we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don’t think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don’t have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in the right for anybody except the state.”

By Dr. Tony Beam

I have to admit I had second thoughts about the title of this column….especially in light of the words of James in chapter 2 verse 18; “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” I also had second thoughts when I consider the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9  HCSB).

But when I read the words of Paul written to his young protégée Timothy encouraging him to “fight the good fight for the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 a) and I when I hear Paul say at the end of his life “I have fought the good fight….” (2 Timothy 4:7 a), I am convinced the title is appropriate.

Charles Colson, former Nixon advisor and founder and President of Prison Ministry Fellowship, verbally paints an accurate and disturbing picture of the challenges evangelical Christians face in the world today. Colson said, “Christians face two serious threats, one from the East (radical Muslim extremism) and one from within (the culture war).

The threat from Islamofacism is growing exponentially as radical elements within the Muslim faith try to destroy the very foundations of Christianity. Extremists use both the sword and fear of the sword to gain an advantage over the complacent hearts and minds of Westerners. Many Christians in the West believe the extremists represent a minor departure from the mainstream of the Muslim faith and that we should not be too worried about the possibility of another 911 type of attack. These misguided brothers and sisters in Christ believe if we will just leave the extremists alone they will leave us alone.

That line of thinking applied to Adolph Hitler by the Europeans prior to World War II left most of Europe in ruins and cost the lives of well over a million people. We make the same mistake today if we do not take the threat of an Iran armed with nuclear weapons seriously. We make it when we fail to realize the influence the terrorist nation of Iran has in Iraq, in Syria, in Afghanistan, in Lebanon, and most recently, in Gaza. We should remember it took the defeat of the Turks by the Polish cavalry in 1683 as the Turks encircled Vienna to stem the fast rising tide of radical Islam. If the United States loses its resolve to win the war on terror, however and wherever that war manifests itself, we may well see the day when all we hold dear will be relegated to the dust bin of history.

The second enemy Colson mentioned is what he calls “Neo-atheism.” This new brand of 21st century atheism is much more pervasive and exceedingly more dangerous than any of its earlier manifestations. Neo-atheism goes much farther than the mere denial of God’s existence. It actually calls for the eradication of all forms of Christianity. One prominent Neo-atheist has gone so far as to suggest that Christian parents should be prohibited by law from passing their religious values down to their children. They consider the teachings of Jesus Christ to be the moral equivalent of child abuse. They believe absolute truth is a myth and objective, fact-based reality is a fairytale told by fools. Relativism has so infested the thinking of many Christians that they are slowly beginning to buy into the ideas put forth by the Left concerning what true Christianity is all about. Moral relativists on the political Left reduce abortion to nothing more than a woman’s right to choose and homosexuality to nothing more than one lifestyle choice among many. They turn the “faith once delivered to the saints” into the “faith once distorted for the sake of political gain.”

If Colson is right (and I believe he is), how can Islamofacism and Neo-atheism threaten a culture that claims to be overwhelmingly Christian? The answer lies in understanding the real threat to Christianity is not the philosophies we face but the faith we lack. It is what I call “Regressive Christianity.” Regressive Christianity’s main problem is the lack of standing room. In fact, every Church in America could use a sign posted prominently over the pulpit that says, “Standing Room Only.” The Apostle Paul, after reminding the Ephesians that our fight is not against “flesh and blood” but against rulers, authorities, the world powers of this darkness and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” exhorted them to “stand therefore…”(Ephesians 6:10-17). He essentially called them to fight not with the weapons of the enemy but through the enablement of God with “truth like a belt, righteousness like armor, faith like a shield, salvation like a helmet, God’s Word like a sword, all while standing in the shoes of the gospel.”

A strange thing happened at the first Battle of Bull Run during the Civil War. People packed up their picnic lunches and loaded up in their fine carriages to ride out and watch the opposing armies do battle. But shortly after the battle began, those sideline thrill seekers realized being mere bystanders was not an option. Three times in this passage Paul says the key to the fight is to stand. It really doesn’t matter how well equipped we are to charge the gates of hell if we retreat or outright refuse to enter the battle. We must replace “Regressive Christianity” with the mystery of an aggressive yet gentle faith that is firmly grounded in God’s Word and faithfully demonstrated in the lives of God’s people.

You can hear Dr. Beam live on Christian Talk 660 weekday mornings from 7:00-9:00 AM (EST) as he is the host of Christian Worldview Today.  You can also listen to recorded broadcasts in the Christian Worldview Today Archive.

Dr. Tony Beam is Vice-President for Student Services and the Director of the Christian Worldview Center at North Greenville College in Tigerville, South Carolina, Dr. Tony Beam received his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and his Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1933 a godless atheistic religion called Secular Humanism was established in America. Among its anti-Christian tenets is one that sounds almost Christian. It is the 15th tenet of Humanist Manifesto I which states “We assert that humanism will: (a) affirm life rather than deny it; (b) seek to elicit the possibilities of life, not flee from them; and (c) endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few. By this positive morale and intention humanism will be guided, and from this perspective and alignment the techniques and efforts of humanism will flow.” (Source: http://www.americanhumanist.org/Who_We_Are/About_Humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_I)

Oddly, but not surprisingly, this anti-christian religion begins with a distortion of reality, and in fact, it is what I consider “a down to earth lie.”   Secular Humanists do NOT affirm life, they do in fact seek to deny it through abortion. Today’s Secular Humanists are the loudest, most vocal supporters of abortion on earth. Here is a quote from a sample article supporting their anti-life agenda clothed in feigned American patriotism: “The Declaration of Independence asserts our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but conflicts between these rights are commonplace. The extreme pro-life, anti-abortion position states that if there’s a conflict between an embryo’s right to life and the liberty of adults, for instance a woman’s freedom to terminate pregnancy, life always trumps liberty.” (Read the entire story to fully comprehend the absurdity of their argument: http://thehumanist.org/humanist/ThomasClark.html).  However, all their arguments are more full of holes than Charlie Brown’s Halloween costume in “The Great Pumpkin.”

In 1973, forty years after Humanist Manifesto I, and in the same year as Roe Vs. Wade, Humanist Manifesto II emerges and it continues the distortion of the truth and throws in some contradictions for variety. The sixth tenet of Humanist Manifesto II states “In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized. While we do not approve of exploitive, denigrating forms of sexual expression, neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction, sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered ‘evil.’ Without countenancing mindless permissiveness or unbridled promiscuity, a civilized society should be a tolerant one. Short of harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their lifestyles as they desire. We wish to cultivate the development of a responsible attitude toward sexuality, in which humans are not exploited as sexual objects, and in which intimacy, sensitivity, respect, and honesty in interpersonal relations are encouraged. Moral education for children and adults is an important way of developing awareness and sexual maturity.”

So, what do we see espoused here by the “moral” humanists? Let me list them as I read what they are saying to me.  They support: fornication, adultery, abortion, homosexuality, divorce, homosexual marriage, and alternate lifestyles of every flavor. It is amazing that in this context Secular Humanists can in the same breath speak of morality and a civilized society.  Can a society be either moral or civilized when these are the traits they seek to trumpet? My answer is no, it can be neither. Historically, these are signs of a civilization that is disintegrating. Ancient Greece and Rome are classic examples of societies that had degenerated into nothing but moral decadence. When societal mores dissolve, the culture and nation follow suit.

Secular Humanists speak of responsibility, personal liberty, freedom of choice and other nice sounding virtues. Contrary to their first manifesto (“establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few”), they choose to ignore the rights of all and choose to glorify the rights of millions of women who, through sexual immorality and/or lack of responsibility, conceive a child and then choose to destroy it through the violent ungodly act of abortion. Watch this video and choose for yourself how “moral” and “ethical” and “civilized” Secular Humanists are in supporting the destruction of the most innocent of human life. Remember that most of the women themselves are victims too due to misinformation regarding the violence they are inflicting on their unborn child. My hope is that this video will dispel that ignorance and reveal the truth. If you watch this and can still deny the existence of independent human life living and growing in a pregnant woman’s womb, you have that right, but you will move into a state of willful ignorance.

Watch this 27 minute video and then make an informed decision.

ABORTION – THE SILENT SCREAM COMPLETE VERSION (with permission from APF). “Republished with Permission from Roy Tidwell of American Portrait Films as long as the following credits are shown: VHS/DVDs Available, American Portrait Films, Call 1-800-736-4567
http://www.amport.com
This has been performed as asked. This video is perfectly legal.”

Source: The Silent Scream Complete Version – Abortion as Infanticide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNo_0cW-ek

More resources:

The Silent Scream website- http://www.silentscream.org/

Catholic Bibical teaching on Abortion

http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thebible.html

Abortion and the Bible

The following is excerpted from http://www.abortion-and-bible.com
This website is a great resource for anyone wanting to refute the nonsense arguments of abortionists and humanists.

PRO-”CHOICE” EXCUSES AND THE BIBLE’S ANSWERS

Pro-”choice” (pro-abortion) advocates give excuses in support of abortion. The Holy Bible clearly answers these excuses. Below are common excuses, followed by paraphrased verses from The Bible that counter the excuses.

EXCUSE– IT’S NOT MY PROBLEM.

• Women: “I’ve never had an abortion. I’m not pregnant now.”
• Men: “I’ve never caused a woman to have an unwanted pregnancy.”
• Both: “Abortion isn’t my problem. It’s only a problem that a pregnant woman must solve. She must choose.”

BIBLE’S GUIDELINES:

• Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the weak and the fatherless; maintain rights for the poor and oppressed; rescue the weak and needy, delivering them from the hand of wicked persons.

EXCUSE– IT’S NOT A BABY; IT’S JUST TISSUE.

• “The product growing in my womb is just cells or a blob of tissue, not a baby. I can have an abortion, since I’m not destroying a human being. That’s what the doctor and nurse at the abortion clinic told me, and they should know, shouldn’t they?”

BIBLE’S GUIDELINES:

• Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7: Mankind is created by God in His image, even carrying His eternal breath of life.
• Exodus 21:22-23: The penalty under the law of Moses was to put to death a person who caused even the accidental death of an unborn baby (as by two men fighting).
• Psalm 139:13-16: Each person is created by God, fearfully, marvelously, and wonderfully, and that person’s future is seen by the very eyes of God.
• Isaiah 42:5 and Acts 17:25: The life and breath of people come from God.
• Jeremiah 1:4-5: God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, even before his conception.
• Isaiah 49:1, 5: God called Isaiah to be a prophet, even before his birth.
• Genesis 25:22-23: God ordained a nation from Jacob (Jews) and a nation from Esau (Edomites, Arabs), while the twins were still in Rebekah’s womb.
• Matthew 1:18, 22-23: God ordained that the Messiah, Jesus, would come from the womb of Mary, even before she conceived.
• Luke 1:36: God ordained that John the Baptizer would be conceived in the womb of Elizabeth.

For more Pro-”Choice” Excuses and the Bible’s Answers visit http://www.abortion-and-bible.com

So, what is your worlview regarding abortion? Do you have a  Christian Worldview or a Secular Humanist Worldview?

This is a clip from Dr. Francis Schaeffer’s “How Should We Then Live series”

“Do you think the emergent church has some hip, cool, new way of thinking? The mentality of “Well, we need to change Christianity…” and “The Bible doesn’t need to be the center of everything…” has been around much longer than these “cool, new, hip guru’s” would like for you to believe. The root of the problem is called “humanism”, and this short video by Francis Schaeffer exposes this way of thinking for the departure from Christian faith that it really is. Notice the similarities between this culture of 1,000 years ago and the culture of today.” (LaneChaplin.com)

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)