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In three different encounters with 3 different people in the last 3 days, I’ve heard people talk about themselves or someone they know who has a feeling of low self worth. One person said they could say 1,000 nice things to the person they loved but they wouldn’t receive it but if they said one negative thing they would never forget it. For the Christian, their worth is found in Christ.
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns, attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.
Humanism takes the centuries of Human Ethical development that should be credited to the work of the Holy Spirit on the earth through the Church and says, “I can take it from here.” A prodigal son of sorts.
After the French Revolution, the idea that human virtue could be created by human reason alone independently from traditional religious institutions developed. Liberal reformers and radicals embraced the idea of Humanism as an alternative religion of humanity.
Thesis:
Humanism, rooted in pride, leaves people with their sinful nature still in tact and eternal life out of grasp. This also creates a void in the daily life of the humanist as never being able to accomplish enough to find lasting peace, rest and fulfillment.
Six points from the Humanist Manifesto III released in 2003.
- Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis.
- Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change.
- Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience.
- Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals.
- Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships.
- Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness.
Humanism sees the human as capable of solving his own problems with human effort. Mankind is at the center of the thinking of the humanist. There is no deity.
The Nature of Fallen Man
Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.
Romans 3:10-12
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Humanism is the way around the cross to develop internal value.
The issue of human worth.
*The (humanist) lost person, according to Ephesians 2:12 is…
- Excluded from citizenship in Israel
- Foreigners to the covenants of the promise
- Without hope
- Without God in the World
In a humanistic society it can be a temptation for the Christian to find their value in the same things.
A cross-less system is a system that leaves people with their sinful nature in tact. The deep issues of their hearts cannot be changed by implementing systems of humanism including, but not limited to, hypnosis, positive thinking, and extensive education.
Colossians 2:22,23
These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
A great delusion can be presented to people to give them the idea that they are basically good and don’t need a savior. One way to help people overcome this delusion is to hold up their “goodness” to the moral law found in the 10 commandments including the New Testament version of the 10 commandments.
Commandment #6 - Do not Murder
1 John 3:15
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Commandment #7 - Do not commit adultery
Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Commandment #8 - Do not Steal
Stealing is stealing no matter how small. Have you ever stolen something?
Commandment #9 - Do not Lie
Have you ever lied or mis-represented the truth?
By God’s standards of judgment on just 4 of the Ten Commandments, you’ve admitted to being a lying, thieving, murdering, adulterer at heart.
What’s a Holy God going to say to you on judgment day with these sins unresolved and accredited to your record?
The White Throne Judgment
Revelation 20:11-15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Only in Christ can a person find true fulfillment.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
So when it comes to worth, only in Christ do I get compared to God’s son and find out that God chose me over his only begotten sinless son. This immediately ascribes to me worth, incredible worth. However, it’s not SELF esteem, in myself I’m nothing, but in Christ I find my value. I lose myself in him to take on the life that is truly life. 1 Tim 6:19
Because of God demonstrating his love for me by sending Jesus to die for me when I was a sinner, (Romans 5:8) I no longer can think of myself as worthless. I have incredible worth to God! Who am I to tell God I’m not worthy when he’s ascribed me worth?
Humanism in it’s false attempt to exalt humanity leaves the cross out of the picture and keeps me from receiving the value God has placed on me. The humanist has a false reality of worth based on earthly accomplishments. The believer’s worth is based on what Christ did on the Cross! This frees the believer to pursue anything God leads him to, no longer under compulsion and false motivations based on an illusion of human goodness.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124