Christmas Wars
The November 15, 2008 edition of The Gadsden Times Worship page featured an article titled “Humanist Yule” by Associated Press writer Eric Gorski. The article describes an ad campaign by The American Humanist Association. The group is displaying ads on Washington, D.C. buses that read “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake.”
Why Believe in God?
There are several problems with this ad and the response of some Christians. Let’s address the first point, the question “Why believe in a god?”
To properly address all the reasons to believe in God is beyond the scope of this article. The bottom line is that the existence of God is self-evident. Every theory man invents to the contrary is irrational, illogical, and down right absurd. Yet, Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group said, “We are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people’s minds.”
Man’s best alternative to the existence of God is the theory of evolution. If one examines this theory with the “rational thought and critical thinking” that Mr. Edwords suggests believers lack, the basis of the theory clearly becomes preposterous. It is “rational thought and critical thinking” that demands there be a Creator despite the reasonable fact that we cannot completely understand Him.
Here is some of what the Creator says on the subject:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. …
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised." (Romans 1:18-22, 25)
You will note here that God says “they claimed to be wise,” just as Mr. Edwords claims he and his colleagues are. But God says “they became fools.” Mr. Edwords believes the humanists have “rational thought and critical thinking.” But God says “their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Mr. Edwords implies that believers are naïvely ignorant and that the rational humanists know the truth. But God says “they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.”
“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:28)
This is the state of mankind today. Humanity’s failure to glorify God as God, prepared the mind for the blinding power of another being they say does not exist—Satan the Devil. Now that this has happened, God alone can restore sight, truth, and rational thinking to their “foolish thinking and darkened hearts.” The Apostle Paul explains all this in the following passage.
“By setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:2-6)
Why believe in God? Because He is. Denying His existence does not make it so. It is more rational to believe what God, the Creator, says about man, than to believe what man, the created, says about God.
The Creator God says He is going to destroy the universe and judge every individual member of the human race. Those who are in Jesus Christ will inherit the new heaven and earth that God will create for them. Those not in Jesus Christ will be condemned to the lake fire. (see 2 Peter 3 and Revelation 20:11-15)
The British Humanist Association’s version of the ad is even more irrational. “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Probably? They’re saying they are not certain there is no God, but go ahead and gamble on what is in the previous paragraph. Does this sound like “rational thought and critical thinking”?
Believing in God is, as they say, a no-brainer. The real issue is what to do about Jesus Christ. “Whoever believes in him [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)
Why believe in God? Eternal life or condemnation in the lake of fire—you decide.
Just Be Good For Goodness’ Sake?
Next, let’s address the second line of their ad, “Just be good for goodness’ sake.”
First, removing God from the equation leaves humans to determine for themselves what is good and what is not. Each person is entitled to decide for themselves what good, moral, ethical, or otherwise acceptable behavior is. This irrational idea of today’s tolerance movement promotes the relativism of postmodern thinking. The premise of relativism is that there is no absolute truth. If this be the case, then who decides what good is? In relativism there can be no such thing as good or evil but only opinions.
The humanists define humanism as “a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.” While this may sound good on the surface, it is wrought with major flaws. For one, it raises the issue of “responsibility.” With no God, who is to say that we are “responsible” to do anything, let alone “to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity”? One need only respond, “Who are you to dictate my responsibility?”
What they are saying is that this small group of people has agreed that this is a basic human responsibility. It is true that all humans have a “responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity” because God decrees it. One problem is that not all humans agree with this truth. In addition, those who do agree with it do not all agree on what “ethical lives of value to self and humanity” consists of.
These flaws in their philosophy are probably why the humanists call it “a progressive philosophy.” They are subjectively figuring it out as they go. And in so doing, they are free to adjust the standards as they see fit. One who accepts this philosophy becomes his own god. Sounds a lot like what the Devil told Eve in Genesis 3:5.
While the world is under the delusion that mankind is basically good and is progressing toward ever increasing goodness, God says the opposite is true. That is, mankind is sinful at the core of his being and is progressing toward ever increasing wickedness. In some ways the wickedness is more refined and therefore may be less obvious, but that actually makes it even more evil in God’s sight.
Now God has graciously endowed humans with a certain sense of a basic set of common morals and ethics that most agree on. It is enough to get us by for awhile, and enough to make us accountable. But there still remains too much disagreement on what is good to be left to arbitrary opinions.
Unbeknown to the humanists, their awareness of a “responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity” is part of this God endowed sense of morality and ethics. Recognizing this responsibility, but failing to glorify the God who gave it only serves to condemn them.
Now, for another major problem with the humanist philosophy: Besides the issue of knowing what good is, God makes clear that humans are incapable of being perfectly good. Here are just three of many declarations to this fact.
“There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:22-23)
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
The human experience affirms this truth. So, even if we could agree on exactly what is good, we do not have the ability to always carry it out. Our Creator knows this and it is unacceptable. Therefore, He has condemned the whole human race to eternal destruction. Simply doing the best we can at being good as we choose to define it does not cut it with God.
Now for the Good News: In His infinite love, mercy, and grace, our Creator has provided one and only one means of rescuing us from this state of condemnation. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) That name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
But saving us from eternal condemnation is not all Jesus does for us. God also provides us with His absolute standard of good and evil, right and wrong. We do not have to guess or debate it. It is clearly defined in His inspired Word, the Bible. The Bible is the final authority on all truth.
But that’s not all. To those who surrender to Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, God gives grace (divine assistance) through His Holy Spirit to enable us to live righteously in ever increasing degrees.
So what’s wrong with the humanists’ ad “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake”?
Belief in God is the only rational option. God is the only Authority on what is good. And He is the only Source of power to do good consistently and acceptably in His sight. The human race will never be good enough simply for the sake of goodness, for apart from God it cannot.
A Christian Response
Now, let’s address the Christian response to such efforts as this ad campaign, and the Christmas wars that began five years ago over “Merry Christmas” greetings in stores and the right to display Christian decorations.
First, let me say that I understand the need to take a stand to preserve freedom of religion, and to a degree, the free expression thereof in the public arena. Losing ground in this area paves the way for greater intolerance and persecution of Christians. Make no mistake about it, there is a massive satanically inspired movement to remove all mention of God, and especially Jesus Christ, from this nation. But the way in which this war is fought is of utmost importance.
One group mentioned in the Humanist Yule article was Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group. Chairman Mathew Staver said, “It’s the ultimate Grinch to say there is no God at a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ. Certainly, they have the right to believe what they want but this is insulting.”
With all due respect, Mr. Staver and those who would agree with him needs to familiarize themselves with some of what Jesus says.
“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:22)
“All men will hate you because of me.” (Luke 21:17)
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Luke 6:27-29)
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)
Jesus makes clear that those who belong to Him will always be hated, insulted, and rejected by the unbelieving world. Equally clear is Jesus’ command for us, as those who do not belong to this world, to deny our rights, not retaliate, and to love and pray for our enemies.
Jesus further instructs us through our Apostle Peter:
“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:14-19)
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
Paul adds, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
The key to maintaining a godly perspective and attitude is to remember that this is not our real home. As “aliens” here we have few rights. It is not the church’s mission to fight to defend our rights, engage in trivial quarrels over insults and petty offenses, and demand respect from a world that hates our Lord.
On the contrary, our mission is to take the life giving gospel of Jesus Christ to a world headed for condemnation; and Jesus said we should expect far worse treatment than a silly ad campaign, the failure to receive meaningless greetings, or denial of our right to decorate. How petty these things are in comparison with the damnation of those with whom we argue. It’s no wonder they are so unwilling to hear the gospel.
Anyone who teaches God’s people to follow the path of aggression and resistance should carefully consider the following words:
“If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
Jesus expects us to defend the rights of the defenseless and fight for justice. But He certainly does not approve of defending petty personal rights. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
For what are you fighting more, the advancement of the Gospel or your personal rights and the traditions of men?
