The Humanistic View
by Calvin Kindell
The most destructive and dangerous view of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST is that it is all about us. This humanistic view permeates our society and is rapidly making its way into our pulpits.
So, what is humanism? It is defined as: “an outlook or a system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.”
So why is this view of life so destructive and dangerous to the cause of the Gospel?
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron with the point of a diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars while their children remember their altars and their wooden images by the green tree on the high hills. O my mountain in the field; I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures, and your high places of sin within all your borders and you even yourself shall let go of your heritage which I gave you and I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you do not know. For you have kindled a fire in my anger which shall burn forever. Thus says the LORD “Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert and not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope is in the LORD, for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters which spreads out it roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought nor will cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it? I the LORD search the heart I test the mind even to give every man according to his ways according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:1-10)
This passage is very clearly in opposition to a humanistic viewpoint. The book of Colossians states that, “ALL things were created through him and for HIM.” (Col 1:16). Job says, “In his hands is the life of every living creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10). The psalmist says, “it is HE that has made us a not we ourselves” (Psalm 100.3).
How has this concept of humanism crept into our pulpits? The moment men begin to water down the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST by adding human effort to it, it becomes a subtle but deadly form of humanism.
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from HIM who called you in the grace of CHRIST to a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of CHRIST. But even if we or an angel from heaven preached any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you let HIM be accursed. As we have said before so now I say again if anyone preaches another Gospel to you than what you have received let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men or GOD? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men I would not be a bondservant of CHRIST. But I make it known to you brethren that the gospel that was preached by me was not according to man for I neither received it from man nor was I taught it but it came by revelation of JESUS CHRIST” (Galatians 1:6-12).
Paul makes it clear in this passage that the Gospel is exclusively GOD’S message and there is nothing that man can add to it. The book of Proverbs instructs us “Not to lean on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge HIM” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Jeremiah proclaims “O LORD I know the way of man is not in himself it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are his ways or ways they are infinitely higher according to the prophet Isaiah chapter 55:8-9.
So how are we to combat this humanistic viewpoint and its attempt to undermine our faith in CHRIST?
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the path of sinners or sits in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in the law of the LORD and in HIS law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).
We can combat humanism by realizing that life is not about us it’s about our creator. HE gave us life for the sole purpose of honoring HIM the best way of coming to this realization is pondering GOD’S word consistently.
“Set your minds on things above not on the things of the earth” (Colossians 3:2).
This text tells us where our minds should be, placing emphasis on “earthly things” is detrimental to our faith in GOD. When we give our all—seeking HIM—He takes care of us (Matthew 6:25-33) and if were honest this is the best way to live.
So, let us examine ourselves through GOD’S word and prayer to see if we have fallen into this ever-pervasive trap of humanism and if we have, we can change simply by reminding ourselves that it is all about HIM!