Humanism Defined

Humanism Defined

Humanism's godless teachings are as follows:

1. Evolution: Man gradually emerged by chance from lower forms of life over millions of years.

2. Self Authority (Individual Autonomy): Man is his own authority and is not accountable to any higher power. This "self sufficiency" generates self-interest, self-gratification, self-indulgence, and self-righteousness.

3. Situation Ethics: There are no absolute rules by which to live. Thus, man is the final authority for his actions, based on existing circumstances.

4. Distorted Realism: All should be exposed to diverse "realistic" viewpoints, including emphasis on profanity, immorality, and perversions as acceptable modes of "self-expression." In practice this includes children of any age.

5. Sexual Permissiveness: All forms of sexual expression are acceptable. Public sex education is considered necessary provided it is taught without Christian morals.

6. Anti-Biblical Bias: Man creates God out of his own experiences.

7. Anti-Free Enterprise: Government ownership or control of the economy would replace private ownership of property and the free market economy. This economic "collectivism" is known as "Big Brother Government," "Cradle-to-Grave" welfare, or outright socialism.

8. One-World Government: "Global citizenship" would replace national self-determination.

9. Death Education: There is no hope of existence beyond the grave–no heaven or hell. Euthanasia and suicide are endorsed.

All nine of these points are in direct opposition to what the Word of God teaches. God's people must be aware of these beliefs and how they contradict Scripture. The world wants our children, and they will appeal to the sinful nature to draw well meaning people away from God. It is so important that God's people be activily involved in a true New Testament Baptist church that teaches God's Word as it is to people as they are, and to train Christians how to combat the Humanism that so pervades our society.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DEPRESSION

I. The depressed person must recognize their responsibility for depression.

A. From time to time all of us get down. (2Cor. 4:8)
1. But this is not depression.
2. Depression is ceasing to function in our daily chores and interests (giving up on responsibilities).
B. When we get down we do not need to be out.
C. Depression is when one is both down and out.

II. Depression results from handling a down period sinfully.

A. We get down (blue, discouraged, etc.) for both sinful causes (guilt), and non-sinful causes (sickness, financial problems, etc.)
B. But when we give in to down feelings...
1. We let chores and interests slide;
2. We then “feel” even less like doing them and brood instead,
3. Thus increasing our guilt from failure to achieve,
4. And this makes us “feel” less like doing things, and we spiral downward into a depression.

III. Depressed people may spiral up out of depression.

A. By confession.
B. By doing chores and assuming responsibilities;
C. And by similarly dealing with any other matter of guilt/sin.

IV. People can stay out of depression.

A. By following God’s commands when down, rather than following their “feelings”;
B. By carefully scheduling and following the schedule no matter how they “feel”;
C. By avoiding pity parties and refusing to engage in brooding;
D. By repenting of any sin immediately;
E. By immediately straightening out any relationship to God or man that goes wrong;
F. And by changing all erroneous vocabulary (by which they convince themselves that “things are hopeless” or “I can’t take it any more,” etc.).

Guide for Overcoming Anxiety

You can be peaceful.—Philippians 4:6-9

1. Study the following verses and then write down everything they indicate about anxiety or worry. (Remember that the words "care" and "careful" are often synonyms for worry.)
Luke 10:38-42; Proverbs 28:1; Ezekiel 4:16, 17; Luke 8:14; Luke 21:34; Proverbs 15:15; Psalm 38:6; Genesis 45:3; I Samuel 28:20-23; II Thessalonians 1:7; Psalm 77:4, 8, 9.

2. If you did not do this when you studied the previously mentioned verses, go back over them and write down the effects of anxiety on the person who worries (e.g., the anxious person often becomes critical, a complainer, jealous, or envious, depressed, fearful, timid, insecure, etc.).

3. Study Philippians 4:6-9 and note God’s threefold program for overcoming worry.

a. Verse 6—To overcome worry God says I must PRAY PROPERLY. Note at least four or five facts about the kind of prayer that overcomes worry.

b. Verse 8—I must THINK PROPERLY. Note the kind of things you must think about if you are to become a peaceful person. Make a specific list of what some of these things are for you. Consider Romans 12:2; I Peter 3:14, 15; and Matthew 6:25-32. Plan specific things you can do to make sure you think properly. How can you change your negative, pessimistic thinking to Biblical thinking?

c. Verse 9—I must LIVE PROPERLY. Consider Proverbs 28:1 and Proverbs 1:33 and notice how anxiety is often connected with wrong living. Notice also the effect of fulfilling your God-given responsibilities. For example, some people are worried about losing their jobs because they are not fulfilling Colossians 3:22-24 or Ephesians 6:5-8. Some people are worried about finances because they are not good stewards of their finances. Look over your life and note where you are not fulfilling your God-given responsibilities. Then plan to make changes and focus on doing what God wants you to do today.

4. Think back over the past two weeks and reflect on those times when you were tempted to be anxious. Write down what you were doing at the time, what was happening, where you were, what you were thinking about, whom you were with, what was the time of day, what you did, what you would have done according to Philippians 4:6-9.

5. If you want to overcome anxiety and become a peaceful person, discipline yourself to put God’s threefold program (Phil. 4:6-9) for overcoming worry into practice, regardless of how you feel. If you are a Christian and do this consistently, you can and will overcome anxiety and become a peaceful person.

6. Write Philippians 4:6-9 out on a card and memorize it. Reflect on it and implement it regularly.

Welcome To PBI

Welcome to PBI (Practical, Biblical Insight)! I came up with this idea years ago and placed some practical, Biblical insights on my church web site. I thought I would implement this into a blog. Some of the content is based on principles that I was taught by my pastor(s), other content is gleaned from various sources, not necessarily original with me. I hope the posts are encouraging and helpful to those who read them.