humanism

Recently I received a very deceptive email. There was a scripture at the top of the page, and it purported to be of a Christian nature, but as I read I became aware that it actually had a very ungodly focus. It was one of those oh-so-uplifting sentiments that really encouraged everyone to just be good and do what's best and you'll be okay. It was very easy to be deceived by these platitudes. They sound so good and so positive!

The philosophies of the world are all focused on the human side of our nature. While they purport to be working through the individual for the greater human good, they are fully involved in self gratfication. This email was like that. I even pondered for a few minutes how anyone could find a relationship between the quoted text: "Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:2-5) and the self-serving, self-fufilling statements in the body of the writing. There was none except in so far that the reference to "joy" would be fulfilled for the selfish individual by following the adages presented.

For example, one of the statements said: Do not set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you. Now on the surface the first sentence is a very good statement. But this is the way Satan lures us in. At first it looks good. Looking at the second sentence reveals the deception. It has a very humanistic standard. "Only YOU know what is best for YOU." Now actually, at one time in my life I had no idea what was best for me. I thought I did, but it wasn't until the Lord showed me my sin and I repented that I found that what I thought was best was leading me down the broad way to hell. Only through the Lord's leading can we truly know what is best for us. Satan is a deceiver and will encourage us to believe his lies to damn our souls.

One of the greatest dangers today is presented by the ungodliness of Humanism. Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appealing to universal human qualities, particularly rationality, without resorting to the supernatural or alleged divine authority from religious texts. Humanism can be considered as a process by which truth and morality is sought through human investigation; as such, views on morals can change when new knowledge and information is discovered. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects . . . a dependence on faith, thesupernatural, or texts of allegedly divine origin. Humanists endorse universal morality based on the commonality of the human condition, suggesting that solutions to human social and cultural problems cannot be [ related to the theological].

Humanistic writings seem all bright and well intended until we consider that they glorify Man and entirely omit God from the picture. When you get these cute little poems and articles and sayings in your email box, read them with eternal principals in mind and with the Lord's standards as your ultimate scale. Compare each of them to what the eternal Word of God says about the first statement. If you pay attenton you will see that by forwarding them you will be an insrument in sending honest but naive souls to Hell.