Paul Vaughn
One of the most dangerous teaching affecting the church of Christ today is Humanism. Humanism is a system of doctrines based on mankind’s interests and ideals of humanity. They reject God, Jesus, and the Bible. Their basic doctrine is rationalism, the teaching that knowledge is acquired by reason rather than divine revelation; yet, the truth comes only from God. “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). Humanists are not the first “who exchanged the truth of God for a lie”(1:25).
In the Lord’s church today most of our young people have abandoned their faith by the time they get out of college. This is a designed effect of humanism. Dr. C.F.Potter, the author of the book Humanism: A New Religion, said:
Education is thus a most power ally of Humanism, and every American public school is a school of Humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school’s meeting, for an hour once a week, and teaching only a fraction of children, do to stem the tide of five-day program of humanistic teaching (Hightower).
Dr. Potter wrote those words over 50 years ago and Christian parents have been witnessing the results of Humanism as their children by legions leave the church. What must be done to stop this assault on the lives of all Christians? First, it must begin in the Christian home. Parents have the main responsibility for their children. That means Bible study along with a good study of Christian Evidences. Paul said: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Dr. Potter was right, an hour a week in Bible school will not stop the attack of Humanism.
Second, the church must take the education of all Christians extremely seriously. Congregations must develop the education programs to combat the enemies around us. Jude said: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning ourcommon salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude3).
There should be a plan of education covering basic Christian doctrine, a study of the church, morality, ethics of Jesus, Biblical inspiration, inerrancy of the Bible, plan of salvation, Christian evidences, and verse by verse study of God’s Word. This will take one, five, and ten years plan of course of instruction. It is written:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Eph. 6:10-13).
Putting on the armor of God will not just happen. It takes work and a lot of it. Is the church in which you are a member planning for success or just drifting with the wind? Humanists are more than willing to take our young people.
Work Cited
Hightower, Terry. “Who Really Wrote The Bible?” Biblical Inerrancy. Ed. Jerry Moffitt. Gulf Coast Lectures, 1993.
