Jesus is No Myth

Are you a victim of the culture war?

Ver. March 2017

More than a few people say that there are two subjects they will not discuss—politics and religion. Why this is so varies from person to person, but the reason usually comes down to a wish to avoid conflict. Why get into an argument? Who wants to turn a friend into an enemy? Besides, in our modern American culture, “everybody knows” that you have a personal right to believe anything you want. And it’s a widely held opinion that one religion is just as good as another. 

Is that what you believe? If so, did you ever wonder where you got that opinion? Do you also believe that the opinion is one that a good Christian would hold? Well, if you do, it isn’t. The idea that one religion is just as good as another is not even approximately Christian, or biblical. The idea comes from the philosophy of relativism.

Luke wrote that the Apostle Peter, speaking of Jesus, told the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem that,

Acts 4:12 ”… there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

That rules out every other religious teacher the world has ever known. Peter was completely convinced that one religion is not as good as another, but he did not decide this on his own. He must have known what Jesus said to Thomas,

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

 The United States Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but it does not guarantee that you will choose the right one; neither does it overrule what Jesus said.[1]

There are surprisingly large numbers of people in the United States, and in the world for that matter, who believe that the U.S. is a Christian country. Yet it might surprise you to learn that what Jesus said, and what the Apostles taught, do not guide American society. Christianity has only a waning influence.

If not, then what does?

It is the Humanist Manifesto—or more accurately the philosophy behind it.[2] So you say, “What is that?” Well, the Humanist Manifesto is a document that establishes the credo for a secular religion, a “set of common principles,” as they say. And these are a “…design for a secular society on a planetary scale.”[3] The Humanist Manifesto has been published three times, once in 1933, in 1973, and in 2003. The later Humanist Manifestos updated and expanded the affirmations stated in the earlier versions. These have also been revised and restated on the website of the Council for Secular Humanism, but the ideas remain the same. Among these are that knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis, that humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change, and that ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. All these and more are taught by the media and the public education system.

The belief that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture or to society and are not absolute are the logical consequence of modern humanistic education. Modern public education strives to erase the idea of God from the classrooms, and to substitute a philosophy of humanism. By the removal of the idea of a Divine Creator and a God who informs about morality and sanctions right and wrong our society embarked upon a sea of moral and religious relativism.

If you doubt this was the aim of humanistic philosophy, consider the following quote,

John J. Dunphy, in his essay, The Humanist (1983), illustrates this strategic focus, "The battle for humankind's future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: A religion of humanity—utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to carry humanist values into wherever they teach. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new—the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism."[4] [5]

Unfortunately, “humanist values” have led to a disintegration of a fixed moral code, and to behaviors that only a few years ago would have been broadly censured, or even prosecuted.

The Humanist Manifesto says a lot about the ideas that influence American society. Some of them are listed below. For example, in reference to the opinion that it is impossible to have a fixed moral code, consider this statement from the Humanist Manifesto,

Manifesto: We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological sanction. Ethics stems from human need and interest. To deny this distorts the whole basis of life.[6]

Humanists believe that right and wrong are evolving concepts. That is why people who have been educated in the public schools are the most likely to hold the opinion that morality is relative and that one religion is just as good as another.

Secular humanism uses the public school system as the main vehicle for the promotion of its worldview. As Charles Francis Potter said,

“Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American public school is a school of humanism. What can the theistic Sunday-school, meeting for an hour once a week, and teaching only a fraction of the children, do to stem the tide of a five-day program of humanistic teaching?”[7]

Therefore, since humanistic philosophy dominates public school curricula, it should come as no surprise that humanist opinions prevail in our society.

Surprisingly, Americans who hold humanist opinions frequently regard themselves as either Christians, or at least believers in God. Accordingly, it may come as a shock to learn that a person cannot be a Christian, or a believer in God, and be a secular humanist at the same time. The two belief systems are incompatible and are in direct opposition. The explanation offered by the Council for Secular Humanism is clear on this subject,

“Secular humanists accept a world view or philosophy called naturalism, in which the physical laws of the universe are not superseded by non-material or supernatural entities such as demons, gods, or other "spiritual" beings outside the realm of the natural universe. Supernatural events such as miracles (in which physical laws are defied) and psi phenomena, such as ESP, telekinesis, etc., are not dismissed out of hand, but are viewed with a high degree of skepticism.”[8]

The philosophy of naturalism denies that God causes anything to happen within the material universe. As they would say: every phenomenon in nature may be accounted for by a material cause.

The New Testament doctrine is also clear about this. In Hebrews the 11th chapter, we read,

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
…

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.[9]

So, would what you believe cause you to be considered a humanist? Or, would your beliefs—and as a result—your behavior indicate that you follow the tenets of Christianity? Below are popular beliefs that compare Humanist doctrine with Biblical Christianity. Take a look and see where you stand. Sadly, you may find that your behavior derives not from Christianity, or the Bible, but from the opposite: atheistic Humanism.[10]

Do you believe the “fundamentalist” religions are scary and dangerous? If so, then you should know that the rhetoric against firmly held religious belief comes from the Humanist Manifesto,

Manifesto: “...traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species.”

But Jesus said,

John 8:24 “Unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.”

And,

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

He also said,

Matthew 28:18 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

The Apostle Paul wrote,

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

People who abandoned the principles of Christianity, and adopted the moral relativism of recent years have also embraced the “social gospel,” and “liberation” theology. Yet, biblical Christianity steadfastly maintains that religion ought not be man-centered, but God-centered. Change is made by Christianity first in the inward man, in the heart; outward change follows.

Do you believe the following statements?

Manifesto: “Any account of nature should pass the tests of scientific evidence;  

And that,

Manifesto: “…the dogmas and myths of traditional religions do not do so.”

If you believe those statements then you believe something that is straight out of the Humanist Manifesto. But the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans,

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

John in his gospel wrote the following concerning Jesus,

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Not only did John write that Jesus was deity, but that He was the one who created the material universe. This idea cannot be reconciled with naturalism. Peter, also, was clear about his belief that God not only created the earth, but that He caused the great Flood that destroyed the antediluvian world. These two events are directly contradicted by naturalism, and therefore by secular humanism. [11]

2 Peter 3:3 Know this first of all, that in the last days  mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

People who use mockery as mentioned by Peter against biblical accounts of creation usually believe Darwin’s General Theory of Evolution. The biblical account of the creation of the world and of man cannot be reconciled with the idea that the material universe is its own cause, and that man arose from the natural world through material causes. Biblical accounts of creation assert a Divine Intelligence who created the world and man, whereas naturalism—and therefore humanism—asserts that the world came about by accident, and man through natural selection.

Organizations promoting the ideas of naturalism and Darwinism include the American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way, The Freedom From Religion Foundation, and many parts of the U.S. public education system.

Humanists also say,

Manifesto: “We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural; it is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of the survival and fulfillment of the human race.”

The Psalmist wrote,

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

Jesus said to His disciples,

John 6:63  ”It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

The Apostle Paul said to the Athenians,

Acts 17:30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was an extraordinary, supernatural event that stands in direct opposition to naturalism, and, therefore, humanism. His resurrection cannot be accounted for by any natural cause, and must as Paul said be attributed to God, a supernatural being, who is over all, through all, and in all.[12]

Yet, narrow, materialistic assumptions underlie humanism.  Humanism is clearly biased toward denial of the spiritual. How then is it even possible that the existence of God, or the spiritual, could be accepted by people who believe in humanism? The two systems of belief must lead to different worldviews.

There are influential people who say, and others who believe, that,

Manifesto: “Promises of immortal salvation or fear of eternal damnation are both illusory and harmful.”

Yet, the Bible says,

Matthew 10:28  “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ¹^bhell.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1Timothy 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Another assertion that has gained wide influence is,

 Manifesto: “Modern science discredits such historic concepts as the “ghost in the machine” and the “separable soul.” Rather, science affirms that the human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary forces.”

Or,

Manifesto: “Personality is a function of the organism in a social and cultural context.”

The “ghost in the machine” is an old phrase meaning the “spirit in the body.” The Bible clearly teaches that man is a creature having a body and a spirit.

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

1 Corinthians 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

One should always remember that not only does the humanist idea above differ from Christianity, but it does not meet the test of science either. Any scientific principle can be tested, and merely to say that “science affirms” does not make it so.[13] Here, as with other topics, the humanist has co-opted the term “science” for his own use with the implied definition that science is limited to material causes.

Again, the opinion that derives from atheistic and humanistic philosophy is that moral values are conventions developed from human beings for human beings. They say,

Manifesto: “We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological sanction.”

Or,

Manifesto: “Ethics stems from human need and interest. To deny this distorts the whole basis of life.”

Jesus of Nazareth delivered the most important message on morals to mankind in the Sermon on the Mount.[14] Those morals derived not from “human experience” but from the Creator. The Maker of man is the One who instructs man, and without instruction in right and wrong mankind lapses into ignorance. The Apostle Paul said to the Romans,

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

The whole thrust of the delivery of the Law of Moses to the children of Israel was that the law had its origin with God. God, speaking through Moses, said to the children of Israel,

Deuteronomy 30:19   “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20   by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”[15]

Situational ethics have arisen from manmade philosophy, and, likewise, values instead of morality. Values are relative, morals are constants.

One of the philosophical underpinnings of humanism is the importance of human reason.

Manifesto: “Reason and intelligence are the most effective instruments that humankind possesses.”

The Bible does not demean man’s power to reason; rather, the Scriptures encourage man to reason with God, and to become wise.[16] However, the Bible does reprove the man who raises his own power of reason above that of God, and, instead, it encourages man to place confidence in God as a wise and effectual guide.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.   

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.

Environmentalism finds support in humanism also, but on different grounds than in the Bible. The Bible depicts man as a steward of the things entrusted to him by the Creator, whereas humanism places emphasis on man as a product of nature who now suffers from overpopulation and over consumption.

Manifesto: “The planet earth must be considered a single ecosystem. Ecological damage, resource depletion, and excessive population growth must be checked by international accord.”

The Bible tells of God’s instructions to Adam and Eve,

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 2:15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

22 “While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

The biblical assurance in the Genesis passage cited above points out that present day hysteria about a runaway greenhouse effect is unfounded.

Social Relationships

Do you believe that premarital sex is acceptable behavior if the people involved profess their love for one another? If you do then you are an adherent of humanism. The Humanist Manifesto says,

Manifesto: “In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct.

The Bible says,

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

 Do you believe the following humanist statement,

Manifesto: “The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized.”

An incident in which Jesus confronted the Pharisees is instructive on this issue,

Matthew 19:3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” 4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 7 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. 9 “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Paul the Apostle wrote to the Romans and told them the consequences of refusal to believe in God,

Romans 1:26  For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural[17],  27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts[18] and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God[19] any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,  29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are  gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving,[20] unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

The humanist philosophy sanctions the abortion of offspring, whereas biblical Christianity places such behavior under moral prohibition, and shows that such unnatural affection results from a refusal to believe in God.

 Manifesto: “Short of harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their life-styles as they desire.”

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Manifesto: “To enhance freedom and dignity the individual must experience a full range of civil liberties in all societies. This includes … a recognition of an individual's right to die with dignity, euthanasia, and the right to suicide.”

The Bible says that as Job suffered with his boils,

Job 2:9  Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job rejected his wife’s suggestion that he accept death as foolishness.

Manifesto: “The principle of moral equality must be furthered through elimination of all discrimination based upon race, religion, sex, age, or national origin.”

Christians also believe that the principle of moral equality should apply to all people, meaning that all should be treated with dignity and respect. However, Christianity does not support the idea that people should be treated as interchangeable parts.

Manifesto: We must extend participatory democracy in its true sense to the economy, the school, the family, the workplace, and voluntary associations.

The Bible teaches that slavery is a result first of servitude to sin, and because of this mankind must first be released from sin and its consequences before true freedom can prevail. The fear of death is the threat that overhangs mankind and keeps man in slavery. (See Hebrews 2:14-18.) Yet, in Christ, the Christian does enjoy the first fruits of freedom (Galatians 5:1, 13). The promise is for all of the creation to be liberated. (Romans 8:18-21;1 Peter 2:16; see also 2 Peter 2:19 for the consequences of following false prophets and false teachers.)

The Bible represents the man and the woman as complementary in their different roles. Children are subordinated to their parents. As wives are subject to their husbands, so husbands are to love their wives. Husbands are to show active good will toward their wives.[21] They are to seek their wives greater good. This type of love is commanded.

Colossians 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.  20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.  21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.  22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.  25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Colossians 4:1 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

1 Peter 3:1   In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands … 7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church…  25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her…

 Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 

It should be obvious by now that the differences between humanism and Christianity are as wide as the separation between the belief in God and atheism. Many people today have attempted to adopt some of the ideology of humanism while telling themselves that they are either believers in God, or are Christians.

You cannot serve two masters. You cannot be both a humanist and a Christian.

Paul’s admonition to the Colossians is still a clear warning for people of the present day, who reassure themselves that they are Christian despite their devotion to the tenets of humanism,

Colossians 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

If you thought you were a Christian, but are in truth a victim of the culture war, it is high time you devoted yourself completely to Christ.