A Philosophy Contrary to the World

A philosophy is a sum of beliefs or ideas. A Christian’s beliefs are based on the Word of God, while the world’s system of values is rooted in their own exaggerated intellect and foolish imaginations, inconstant and varying with the whims of society. In the Bible, we read, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools... [they] became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened…[they] changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.” (Romans 1:22, 21b, 23a) Corroboration of this passage is as near as the newspaper on your desk. Saturated by the world’s philosophy—a liberal slant in practically every commentary—it contains hardly any evidence that our nation was founded on Biblical principles.

The Environment and Animal Rights - The environmentalists and animal rights activists are hurting more than helping America. Three decades ago, the population of the country was approximately 200 million. Now, 33 years later, the population is over 300 million. People need places to live; churches, schools, stores, and other facilities must be developed and built to accommodate the growing populace. Yet so often, projects toward this justifiable purpose are inundated with costly requirements relating to the study of endangered animals on the premises or some other superfluous factor. Rather than relocate the animals or determine a reasonable solution regarding their habitation, the world’s philosophy dictates that the families be displaced instead. The world would have us believe that the animal supersedes man or, at least, is his equivalent. Certainly, we should tend to what God has created for man and be aware of how our daily routines might adversely affect or pollute the environment. We should, as we read in the book of Proverbs, regard the life of a beast. Yet I remind our readers that the Lord created man as the most superior in all His creation. Man is to “have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26b) The earth was given to man, not to the animal.

The Sanctity of Human Life - The word is pro-choice, advocating rights for the expectant mother; yet the word deceitfully veils a deed nearly unparalleled in depravity—the murder of unborn babies, numbering in the countless millions. For over thirty-five years, we have witnessed the world’s philosophy ingrain itself into how a people regard life, resulting in a culture of death. Our children are being taught that human life is valueless as they learn of abortion, euthanasia, and suicide—and we wonder why our young people are involved in so many mass murders. If a child is not protected in what should be the safest place in the world (a mother’s womb), then why would it be important for a man or woman, boy or girl to consider the life of another person or even his own?

Psalm 139:13-16 “… thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret…”

Jeremiah 1:5a “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

The Welfare System - We find a number of illustrations in the Bible of people caring for those in need—King David cared for a handicapped Mephibosheth when he could not provide for himself, a good Samaritan assisted a fallen traveler, Stephen and six other men helped the widows, and others. The recipients of these benevolent acts could not help themselves at the time because of one circumstance or another. Thousands of years later, the belief of helping those in need has been distorted by the world’s philosophy. Rather than being a help to others, people want to be helped and believe that they are entitled to that help in whatever form and by whatever avenue. In II Thessalonians 3:10, we read, “…that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” The philosophy of the world nurtures idleness and indolence, resulting in a self-serving people unwilling to work. Why, then, should it come as a surprise when we learn of those considering the financial advantages of having children out of wedlock or participating in multi-million-dollar embezzlement scams?

The Home - In Genesis 5:2, we read, “Male and female created he them.” Before the establishment of kingdoms and government, God had already defined the institution of marriage—one man with one woman (Adam and Eve). The world views homosexual marriage as a matter of personal rights and presses for laws to be passed to allow for those rights; but the right to define what constitutes a marriage belongs not to man or to government but solely to God. The media is strongly pushing the world’s philosophy, proposing that holding the Biblical position of marriage be classified a hate crime.

Wicked Kings - The Bible is clear about not negotiating or collaborating with godless kings, leaders, presidents, and authorities. How foolish it is, then, to think that we can negotiate peace with other countries when the foundation of peace is not there. (A foundation is not a glass of wine or a signed document.) Furthermore, I am sickened as I see our nation apologizing for what we are and what we believe. The God of America is the God Jehovah, not Allah or Buddha. I praise the Lord that our Supreme Court has thrice declared that America is a Christian nation. I certainly do not believe that everyone in our nation is a Christian; but in reading the founding documents and history of our nation, one can arrive at no other conclusion except that America was founded as a Christian nation.

Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

The Answer - The New Testament churches are the answer for our nation. A church that preaches the gospel and warns people of an impending judgment called Hell and a wonderful place called Heaven can bring about only good in a community. A preacher of the gospel is far more important than a new bank, a gas station, a sports team, a restaurant, or any other business or program that can be brought to a city. I believe that the Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church was a great addition in 1951 to the city of Flat Rock, Michigan. Eternity will reveal how many crimes were not committed, how many lives were changed, how many sorrows were avoided, how many homes were salvaged, and how many children’s lives were saved as a result of the preaching of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Oh how many more we need to reach!

The world’s philosophy will continue in its downward spiral, threatening to destroy America at every turn. So much the more ought we to give ourselves to the things of Christ and be prepared for the days that lie ahead.