by Bishop Percy Williams - Originally published in Volume 48, Issue 1 - Spring 2004
It is difficult for the Church to fulfill its God-given role if it is confused, unsure, or even mistaken about what that role is. The Scripture is very clear on the role and responsibilities the Church has been given to not only create, but also to maintain strong families. Could the lack of strong families be a direct result of the Church’s failure fulfilling this God-given role? The Church has become a part of the problem instead of working to help to strengthen and to maintain strong families.
SECULAR HUMANISM
What has caused the breakdown and destruction of the family unit? Tim LaHaye in his book entitled “The Battle for the Family,” blames Humanism and calls it public enemy number one. “With its many tentacles extending eagerly from such centers as government, public schools, T.V., and pornographic literature sources, the octopus of Humanism is determined to destroy the family. Yet many Christians are not even aware of its existence. Secular Humanism is an anti-Christian system of thought that influences every decision and most of a person’s actions. It is anti-God, anti-moral, anti-self restraint, and anti-American.” Mr. LaHaye’s book was published in 1982. We can see that the destruction has escalated since he wrote this book. It’s amazing that something that is so powerful, dangerous, and destructive to families and our society is hardly understood by many Christians.
Paul gave us a warning about the Last Days and what to expect. He gives us clear descriptions of what will happen in II Timothy 3:1-5 NIV, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–having a form of godliness but denying the power. Have nothing to do with them.”
It seems as if Paul was given a glimpse of the days we’re living in and the Humanism that Tim LaHaye wrote about. The same things that Paul talks about in II Timothy 3:1-5 are anti-God, anti-moral, anti-self restraint, and anti-American. Was Paul warning us about a Humanistic system that would try to destroy morality and Godly values?
HUMANISM: THE GREATEST THREAT TO JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES
It is almost impossible to measure or determine all the damage that the system of Humanism has done to our society. Dr. Bill Bright, former national director of Campus Crusade for Christ, warns of the dangers of Humanism. “I believe the most dangerous religion is Humanism... Humanism has become the greatest threat to our Judeo-Christian heritage and is doing more to destroy the moral and spiritual fiber of our society than any other peril. Have you ever wondered why our society is becoming more secular, why prayer and Bible reading are no longer welcome at our public schools? The religion of Humanism is largely responsible. Have you ever wondered why Americans are much more tolerant today of sexual freedom, homosexuality, incest, and abortion? The religion of Humanism is largely responsible.” We can see the things that Dr. Bright warned about pose some of the greatest concerns to our society to this present day.
In 1975, Dr. Paul Kurtz, editor of Human Manifesto II, writes about the humanist. “Humanist attitudes are becoming more firmly
established in our society. When first enunciated in the 1930's, Humanism was considered a radical thesis in religion. It has since been widely accepted by millions of people, even within the Churches...Many of the old taboos have been undermined; freer, more open attitudes toward sexuality, sex education, abortion, euthanasia, marriage, divorce, and birth control have developed.” The freer and more open attitudes are the problems the Church is facing. God has given us His laws and statutes, and they stand firm. Psalms 93:5 declares that God’s statutes stand firm; this leaves no room for wavering. Dr. Kurtz statements are even more of a reality today than when written.
The “tentacles of Humanism,” as Tim LaHaye calls them, have reached into government, public schools, T.V., pornographic literature, the Church, etc. It is almost impossible to measure or determine all the damage that the system of Humanism has done to our society. It is easy to see how something that affects so many aspects of our society could be so detrimental to our lives. These tentacles need to be exposed and severed in order to stop and prevent further damage.
A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT
Government is one of the areas where we can readily see the detrimental effect on our laws. We have seen changes in our laws as a result of the Humanistic system. Our laws were based on Godly principles when they were enacted. Attempts are being made to remove God’s Name, the Ten Commandments, and anything else that has reference to God. We have laws that legalize abortion, instead of protecting the unborn. We even have laws that allow mothers to abandon their babies without any repercussions from the law. Efforts are presently being made to change our laws to allow for same-sex marriages. City, State, and Federal governments have all been affected by this menace to our society.
Public schools have suffered much damage, not only in the detrimental things we see and hear daily happening in our public schools, but also the fact that it is being promoted by schools. We’ve gone from schools that have a good, safe, secure learning environment to almost a fortress where armed security patrol daily to ensure safety. Prayer and references to God have been banned and have been replaced by guards and metal detectors.
OUR SCHOOLS–DANGER ZONES?
Our laws were based on Godly principles when they were enacted...now they are trying to remove all traces of God from our way of life. We’ve seen the erosion in our schools by the number of school shootings and other violent incidents we hear about almost daily. Some kids and teachers feel the need to arm themselves with weapons in order to feel safe. Schools have resorted to zero-tolerance policies in order to try to combat the fights and confrontations.
The freer and more open attitudes are very much in evidence in our schools, by the number of school kids having premarital sex, using drugs, teen pregnancies, teen alcoholism, and even the number of teens committing suicide. Discipline and corporal punishment have been replaced by timeout, expelling, etc., resulting in problems of disrespect for authorities and disregard for rules of conduct. Humanism has certainly had a negative impact on our schools and on our children.
IT’S NOT REAL, IT’S JUST A TV SHOW
Television has probably been the greatest tool used by the Humanist movement. We now have rating systems in place to help us determine what should be wholesome and entertaining, but even with an acceptable rating there’s no guarantee we won’t see things that offend us. Sex and violence are the order of the day, while homosexuality is openly talked about and openly portrayed.
Zig Ziglar talks about the negative effect of TV in his book, “Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World.” “When your child is in front of a television set or a movie screen, you’re permitting him to be educated (indoctrinated) by the most effective and persuasive educational tool in America today. Through TV, we can be (have been) conditioned to believe incredible things. Many of the most widely viewed TV programs have conditioned us to believe that premarital, even extramarital, sexual relationships are perfectly alright provided they are meaningful relationships.”
We can readily see the dangers of TV and the damage it does to our perception of truth. This book was written in 1985, and we know without a doubt its much worse now than then. Television has progressively gotten worse with the profanity and vulgarity of its programming. Even cartoons are loaded with violence, magic, witchcraft, etc., containing things that confuse and distort the truth. Is it any wonder our kids are confused?
SURFING THE NET
The Internet is another tool that is being used to further the Humanistic agenda. Pornography is being sold and distributed through this medium. We are experiencing a new way to deceive and distort the truth. Cyber-relationships are being utilized to avoid detection and ensure privacy of users. This medium is being used locally, nationally, as well as internationally to distribute, promote, and advertise this material.
The Church has not been exempt from this attack by the Humanists, and their attempts to destroy or change truths that were once accepted without question. Escalating divorce rates among believers and the Clergy are just one of the results of this influence. Homosexuality is not only tolerated in the laity, but also allowed in the Ministry. Homosexual bishops are being promoted without any consideration of an ungodly lifestyle practiced openly.
HAS GOD CHANGED HIS MIND?
The rise of homosexual churches is also another result of this influence. Instead of the Church taking a firm stand in opposition to this destructive philosophy that is anti-God, anti-Church, anti-moral, and most of all anti-Christ, some churches have began to question long held beliefs, practices, and even the Word of God. Confusion over the role of the man in the household is a result of this system that has catapulted a feminist movement challenging the man’s God-given position in the home.
It is evident that we have vast problems in our society, when we can measure our crime by seconds and percentages. One out of every six boys will be sexually abused by age 18. One out of six women in America has been raped or experienced attempted rape. Burglaries, murders, assaults, thefts, and break-ins are occurring every few seconds. Is our society in trouble?
How do we counteract Humanism and its destruction? I believe the solution is simply obedience to the Word of God. The Word of God has the answer.
Titus 2:1-5 (NIV), “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what it good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their own husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God.”
The word malign means to utter misleading or false reports about; to speak evil of.
While Humanism has done much damage to our society and the family unit, the damage is not irreparable. God has given us the solution to this and any other force that would attempt to destroy what He has created and ordained.