Secular Humanism (SH) is a worldview that rejects all belief in God, elevating humans to be the highest “evolved” known being. One of the tenets of SH is: testing all beliefs using reason and evidence in the process of discovering objective truth for the purpose of building a better world.*

While claiming to appeal to evidence and reason, they conclude that our complex and intricately organized universe, including the human body, is the product of chance and chaos! For this unreasonable conclusion there is no solid evidence, only faith in a Darwinian theory. Yet, they all have the ability to reason thus “they are without excuse” for rejecting the Creator (Rom. 1:18-20).

SH’s claim they desire to build a “better world” by discovering ethical principles that will enhance human well-being. Yet if there is no God, what is “better” and what is “well-being”? If stealing from you gives me a “better” standard of living and increases my “well-being”—is it okay? That’s just “survival of the fittest,” known in Darwinian circles as “natural selection.” In reality, who will know what is “better” and in the interest of man’s “well-being”: the Creator or the creation?

And in the alleged pursuit of “human well-being” SH’s oft argue, “If having an abortion or euthanizing a terminally ill patient will ‘enhance human well-being’ then it is justified.”

Only when man realizes that he does not have, nor can he find, the answers to life apart from the One who gave him life, will human well-being be realized resulting in a better world (Eccl. 12:13).

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism#cite_note-what-1

The Exhorter, May 15, 2011

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The desire to be positive almost invariably leads folks in the opposite direction. Overwhelmed by the urge to put a positive spin on everything, they cannot help but being negative about people and things that fail to measure up to their subjective standard of positivism.

     This reminds me of the approach used by brethren who introduced the unscriptural practices of sponsoring churches and church support of human organizations. They charged brethren who refused their innovations as being “antis” (anti-cooperation). In fact, they (we) are only “anti” unscriptural church cooperation. Their innovations were (are) without Bible authority; we are “anti” that! (Col 3:17)

     In like manner, a large number of brethren are being convinced to avoid public confrontation with error (even privately in some cases) because to do so would not be “positive”. They are positively negative about public debate and the censure of publicly taught and practiced error.

     We are positively against this viewpoint and practice because the word of God does not sustain it. Please consider:

     1) Jesus would have been called “negative” by some brethren today. Twice Jesus publicly drove out the moneychangers from the temple because of their covetous conduct (Jno 2:14-17; Matt 21:12-13). Way too negative for some!

     2) Stephen would be called “negative” by some brethren today. He boldly stated: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). They killed him for his bold proclamation. To some, that’s proof enough that he took the wrong approach – that he was “too negative”. Yet, Stephen took exactly the needed approach (Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60).

     3) Paul would be called “negative” by some brethren today. Paul had the audacity to actually name names of men who were leading people astray from the truth by their false doctrine (a hallmark of negativism in the sight of some brethren)! He named Hymenaeus and Philetus as men who had strayed from the faith and were overthrowing peoples’ faith (2 Tim 2:17-18). Yet some brethren, being so convinced they must always be positive, are positively against following this apostolic example which warn sinners and protects the innocent (Phil 4:9; 1 Tim 1:18-20). Some have tried to redefine “false teacher” to sustain the “positive approach” (cf. Rom 16:17-18).

     We are not advocating negativism for the sake of being negative; far from it (Phil 4:4). Rather, we seek to advance a fundamental principle of truth: God’s word is truth and defines our obedience to Him. We must not rely on the wisdom of men to tell us what is “positive” or “negative” (1 Cor 1:23-25). God’s word always achieves His purposes (Isa 55:8-11). When we make His purposes ours, we will positively obey Him even when others say we are being negative by doing so (Matt 5:10-12).

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1. Jno 17:14-19: As we live by the word of God we are “not of this world” (14), kept from the evil one (15), in fellowship with Christ (16) and sanctified (17, 19).
2. Worldliness is rampant among Christians! 

I. GOD’S DEFINITION OF WORLDLINESS.

  A. World: System of Evil in Opposition to God, 1 Jno 2:15; Jas 4:4; Rom 12:2; Jno 16:33; Rom 8:37; 1 Jno 5:4.

II. THE THINGS OF THE WORLD, 1 Jno 2:15-17.

  A. All Sinful Things of the World Fall under these Three Categories.
    1. The lust (desire) of the flesh: Carnality.
    2. The lust of the eye (wanting things the eye can see): Covetousness.
    3. The pride of life (desire to impress, be noticed, admired): Conceit.

III. THE CARES OF THE WORLD, Luke 8:14 (Mk 4:18-19).

  A. As Thorns Choke a Good Plant, there are things that Choke out Our Spiritual Life, Matt 6:25-33; Phil 4:6-8; Josh 24:15; He 2:2-3.

IV. VICTORY OVER THE WORLD. 1 Jno 4:4

  A. We have Control over our Minds, Rom 8:5; Col 3:1-3.
  B. We have Control over our Bodies, Rom 6:13-14; 1 Jno 2:17; 1 Cor 6:19-20.
  C. We must take Inventory of Ourselves (2 Cor 13:5).

Concl.  Jesus died to save us from this present evil world, Gal 1:4. Live for Him, Rom 12:2.

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Heaven is Real

1. What is your concept of heaven? What does it hold for you?
2. Heaven is the home of God’s faithful ones, Heb 11:9-16 (Phil 3:20); Col 1:5; Matt 25:21,34,46.

I. WHAT IS HEAVEN? (284x’s NT, “to rise, lift, heave”).

  A. Three Distinct Uses in the Bible.
    1. Atmospheric heavens, Gen 1:20; Jas 5:18.
    2. Celestial heavens: outer space, Gen 1:14-18.
    3. Perfect and eternal abode of God, Deut 26:15; Matt 7:21; Acts 7:55-56; 2 Cor 12:2, 4.
    4. Heaven is a real place – Not a mood or state of mind, Jno 14:3.
  B. Descriptions of Heaven.

II. WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE? Rev 21-22

  A.  A “New” Order of Existence for the People of God, Rev 21:1-5.
  B.  A Place of Perfection and Completeness, Rev 21:9-21, 2; 2 Pet 3:13.
  C.  A Place of Perpetual Fellowship with God, Rev 21:3, 22-27; 22:4; cf. Jno 14:3; 1 Jno 3:2.
  D.  A Place of Peace and Rest, Rev 21:4-6; 14:13 (1 Cor 15:58; Heb 4:9-11).
  E.  A Place of Worship and Service, Rev 21:22; 22:3.

III. WHO WILL BE THERE?

  A. Those who Obey Jesus and Overcome the World, Rev 14:12-13; 21:7; (Matt 7:21; Heb 5:9) 1 Pet 1:3-5.

Conclusion

1. Lay up treasures in heaven, Matt 6:19-21.
2. Seek the city which is to come, Heb 13:14.

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Marriage is not obsolete. Its divine design spans the millennia of human existence as the foundation for families and a stabilizing force for successful societies. Yet, 40% of Americans surveyed in November 2010 by the Pew Research Center said marriage is passé (The Decline of Marriage and the Rise of New Families, pewsocialtrends.org).

     Marriage was once very important to young Americans. “In 1960, two-thirds (68%) of all twenty-somethings were married. In 2008, just 26% were.” (Ibid.) Now, with the social acceptance of cohabitation without marriage, the homosexual lifestyle and the push for same-sex marriages, the trend is away from God-ordained marriage (Heb 13:4).

     This is not new news. Our point here is whether or not Christians will allow themselves to be influenced into thinking about their marriages in the same way the world thinks about marriage. If history is a predictor of future events, sadly, the answer is probably “yes”. Some will “love this present world” and be deceived by its offerings of “freedom” and “happiness”.

     The world if you get bored in your marriage, the world offers plenty of alternatives to “spice things up” instead of working on strengthening your marriage: “sexting”, pornography, extra-marital affairs and “open” relationships, separation and divorce. These sinful choices destroy souls, marriages, families and societies (Rom 1:22-32; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

     Put your faith and energy into building a stronger marriage; not into the sins that destroy it. Remember, “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be taken by their own lust” (Prov 11:6).

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