By Billy Ashworth
Let the inspired writers tell us who these blatant atheists are. “The fool has said in his heart, There is no God” (Psa. 14:1 a). Why are they fools? Answer: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world” (Psa. 19:1-4).
The Lord labels atheists as fools. Why? Because of the universal language of evidences of God’s being and handiwork in creating this universe with all of its order and design, indicating supernatural intelligence the Supreme Designer! Only fools would deny this evidence and spend millions of dollars on space exploration, seeking to find the origin of the universe as they now seek to do by the Collider System! Also, they seem to think if they can find life on another planet that such would make the Bible null and void, banishing God from the universe. They have been seriously disappointed in their failure to find any sign of life on any other planet. (I feel sure that some of my brethren will think I am unbalanced by these statements, but I am not. I have reached these conclusions from observation and listening to news reports, both on TV and in print.)
Now, hear Paul as he described these humanists as fools: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in (or by) unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within (or among) them; for God made it evident to them. 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. 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. Professing to be wise they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures” (Rom. 1:18-23; NASB, emphasis mine, BA).
Notice Paul’s description of the fools of his day, how it harmonizes perfectly with the Psalmist’s description. These people reject God by spurning every evidence in the world of nature of God’s existence and creation of “the world and all things therein … and made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:24a, 26). “Professing to be wise, they became fools.” There is a graphic description of the secular humanists. They are arrogant and contemptuous of those of us who believe in “the prayer hearing God.”
Hear them: “As in 1933, humanists believe that traditional theism, especially faith in the prayer-hearing God, assumed to love and care for persons, to hear and under-stand their prayers, and to be able to do something about them, in an unproved and outmoded faith. Salvationism, based on mere affirmation, still appears as harmful, diverting people with false hopes of heaven hereafter. Reasonable minds look to other means for survival “(Humanist Manifesto II, Preface, p. 13; emphasis mind, BA).
What brazen infidels! Those of us who believe in “the prayer-hearing God” are not reasonable! “Reasonable minds (that is the humanist who professes himself to be wise) look to other means for survival.” Now what do they mean by “survival”? Let them answer: “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. As non-theists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity . . . But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species . . . No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.” (This is the key to definition of the humanist he has tried to dethrone God and enthrone himself, man.) “Rather, science affirms that the human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary forces.” (There it is their answer to the existence of the world and all things therein, including man, is evolution! Herein lies the damnable effects these infidels have had on the present generation who have been brainwashed with their rotten God-denying, faith-destroying doctrines that man is only an animal; there is no God; all behavior is situational; no absolutes as to right and wrong; ad infinitum, ad nauseum!)
I continue: “There is no credible evidence that life survives the death of the body. We continue to exist in our progeny and in the way that our lives have influenced others in our culture” (Humanist Manifesto II, pp. 16, 17; emphasis mine, BA).
Hear them on ethics: “We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological sanction. To deny this distorts the whole basis of life. Human life has meaning because we create and develop our “futures.” (Notice the egocentric attitude: “Human life has meaning because we create and develop our futures.” Contrast this with the attitude of the Christian: If there is no God, life has no meaning. If God is, nothing else really matters. If there is no God, nothing matters.)
I continue: “Reason and intelligence are the most effective instruments that humankind possesses.” (It is interesting and significant that these arrogant atheists don’t try to explain how “humankind possesses these most effective instruments.” The reason they don’t is that “humankind is made in the image of man’s maker, God. It is the intellect in which man alone is endowed with these attributes intelligence and reason! The humanist stripped himself of true intelligence and reason when he sought to banish God from His universe, and enthrone finite man [H.M.II, p. 17]).
Under the part headed, The Individual, I quote: “Fifth: The preciousness and dignity of the individual person in a central humanist value. We reject all religious, ideological, or moral codes that denigrate the individual, suppress freedom, dull intellect, dehumanize person ability. Sixth: In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized. While we do not approve of exploitive, denigrating forms of sexual expression, neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction, sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered ‘evil.’ . . . a civilized society should be a tolerant one . . . individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their life-styles as they desire . . . Moral education for children and adults is an important way of developing awareness and sexual maturity” [H.M. II, pp. 18, 19; emphasis mine, BA).
Under the part headed “Democratic Society,” we read: “Seventh: To enhance freedom and dignity the individual must experience a full range of civil liberties in all societies. This includes freedom of speech and the press, political democracy, the legal right of opposition to governmental policies, fair judicial process, religious liberty, freedom of association, and artistic, scientific and cultural freedom. It also includes a recognition of an individual’s right to die with dignity, euthanasia, and the right to suicide.
“Ninth; the separation of church and state and the separation of ideology and state are imperatives. The state should encourage maximum freedom for different moral, political, religious, and social values in society. It should not favor any particular religious bodies through the use of public monies, nor espouse a single ideology and function thereby as an instrument of propaganda or oppression, particularly against dissenters” (H.M. II, pp 19, 20). (This all may sound good to a person who is not aware of the subtle but strong implementation of their “separation of church and state and of ideology and state imperatives” through their control of decisions rendered by the U.S. Supreme Court. This pressure has been brought to bear on the Court through the legal arm of the humanists the ACLU which is basically atheistic in its approach. Actually, if one reads all these rambling assertions by the humanists with knowledge of what they really mean by the way they act and attack, the object of their rage is theism the religion concerning Jehovah God as revealed through the Bible.
Humanists themselves affirm that humanism is a religion. In the Preface to the volume, Humanist Manifestos I and 11, edited by Paul Kurtz, he wrote: “Humanism is a philosophical, religious and moral point of view as old as human civilization itself.” Yet, when they seek to banish God, Christ and the Bible from public school systems because that is teaching a particular religious belief, they teach humanism in the school systems which they admit is a religion. Their basic dogma is organic evolution which is atheism. Through their strangle-hold on the Supreme Court, they succeeded in getting the Court to rule that “God cannot be mentioned in commencement exercises in public schools.” Also, the teaching of creation is outlawed by the august Supreme Court of the U.S. at the demand of the ACLU.
“Eleventh: The principle of moral equality must be furthered through elimination of all discrimination based upon race, religion, sex, age, or national origin . . . We believe in the right to universal education. We deplore racial, religious, ethnic, or class antagonisms” (H.M. II, pp. 19, 20).
Under the paragraph, world community, we read: “Twelfth: We deplore the division of humankind on nationalistic grounds. We have reached a turning point in human history where the best option is to transcend the limits of national sovereignty and to move toward the building of a world community in which all sectors of the human family can participate. Thus we look to a system of world law and a world order based upon transactional federal government. This would appreciate cultural plural-ism and diversity” (H.M. II, p. 21)
I realize that what I have to say now will seem to many readers that I am an extremist, ignorant, a hopeless reactionary. But I feel strongly about what I believe in view of the last segment, World Community.
As I view the whole tenor of the arrogant assertions and contemptuous references toward God and those of us who believe in him and have an unshakable faith and hope in Christ Jesus, I make the following observations: First, these arrogant atheists have “professed themselves to be wise and become fools” (Rom. 1:22). They have arrayed their human, fallible, and depraved minds against the infinite, infallible and omniscient mind of God. They have decided what is wrong with the human race and assume to tell us what must be done to correct all the problems. By banishing God from our conscience, and living in abandonment in sin, we can live happy lives and reach our full potential. By indulging our lusts to the fullest, and living without the restraint of God, we can be free! How foolish!
Second: Humanists affirm that “the separation of church continued on next page and state and of ideology and state are imperatives.” Why is this so! Not because they said it. It is imperative for this to be done in order to brainwash Americans against the existence of Jehovah God. This is their mandate! Third: Their mandate concerning “world law and world order” seems to me a repetition of the account in Genesis 11 of the people who said: “Come now, let us made brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime (bitumen, ASV) had they for mortar. And they said, Come now, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach into heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (11:3,4). Notice the first person plural pronoun “us” is used five times and the personal pronoun “we” is used once in these two verses. They were egocentric, leaving God out completely. And God broke up their sinful plans to keep all the people under their control. Now, notice how many times the humanists used the personal pronoun “we” in all their arrogant assertions in the Humanist Manifestos. Now, who do you suppose will be in command of this new “world law and world order”? Obviously the secular humanists will be if they can succeed in their atheistic scheme. But I know God still rules in the kingdom of men, and he will intervene when he sees fit. I hope it will not be long!
Now we have the kind of society that these atheistic wiseacres must take “credit” for its rotten existence a stygian cesspool of generations who have tried to satisfy every vice to which they are addicted. The liberal news media and atheistic writers and directors of the evil movies which spew out their profanity and give graphic scenes of adulterous and perverted sex scenes, must be “awarded Oscars” for their conspiracy in the destruction of a once-great nation.
These words may seems harsh to some people who are unaware of what is going on here. They probably will seem too harsh for some of my brethren and sisters who have been ensnared in the web woven by these godless “intellectuals” who thought they had the answers to all of the “human species” (their way of referring to mankind) problems. Their atheistic assumptions of pretending God is the figment of superstitious ignoramuses’ imaginations a “prayer hearing God, assumed to love and care for persons, to hear and understand their prayers, and to do something about them, is an unproved and outmoded faith,” only proves that the humanists are fools.
Consider the society in which we live: The atheists have, in effect, rid the world of sin, since in their view, there really is no such thing! Their foolish “Situation Ethics” and “Values Clarification” combined with their embracing organic evolution have, in their “foolish hearts,” replaced sin and immorality with a non-sensical amorality. They have simply reduced man to animal status! Have you heard Christians assert that “man is an animal”? Yes, my beloved, humanism has made dangerous in-roads among us, while too many slept.
“My God” has become the national by-word of this once-great nation. It is an affront to God, and a blatant violation of the third of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exod. 20:7a). Of course this principle has been recommended by the Lord himself in the sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:33-37; cf. Jas. 5:12). Nine of the Ten Commandments have been recommended in principle (the 4th commandment is the only exception), and in each case the principle is made stronger as it goes beyond the condemnation of the overt act and condemns the wrong desire in the heart from which evil acts spring.
The profane expression, “Oh my God” has been written into movie scripts and has been uttered so often by glib young actresses, that I do believe that many of our own young people in the church do not seem to realize how sinful it is to take God’s name in vain. I heard a young actress on a talk show recently take God’s name in vain at least three times in as many sentences. It infuriates me to hear such blatant contempt shown toward my God and Father.
The conspiracy between the humanist-dominated news media and movie directors has never been more apparent than the crucifixion of Vice President Dan Quayle when he made an excellent observation concerning the movie industry’s setting the wrong example in the Murphy Brown series in which she, a great, single “career woman” conceived a baby out of wedlock. Quayle’s real statement was promptly twisted to have him condemning single mothers, which was not what he said or meant. But intentional misrepresentation is dishonest, which the news media often are. I heard a report on TV recently that one out of four births in certain conditions are to single mothers, usually minors. Dan Quayle was on target.
The humanists are not for “the family” as we hear that expression. They affirm the “right” of consenting adults to engage in sexual behavior.” The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered ‘evil.’ Again: “The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognize” (H.M. II, p. 18).
We deplore the atrocious acts of Adolph Hitler and his henchmen for murdering an estimated six million Jews. But in our humanistic society there have been an estimated thirty-odd million babies aborted (murdered) in this country. These atrocities have, in most cases, been legalized by a God-less government at the vicious demand of humanists. In the last Presidential election, the humanist “ethics” of the right to birth control, abortion, divorce, sexual behavior between consenting adults, etc. was written into the party platform at its convention. The new President ran on that platform and was elected to the highest office in the world. This is another alarming evidence of the moral decay of America!
Another proof of the humanists’ damnable influence with the law of our land is the anti-family policies now rampant in this country. Not only does the Federal government uphold the “right” of a woman to have her baby in her womb aborted (killed), but it has allowed unwed, pregnant teen-age girls to have babies aborted without the knowledge or consent of parents. If this is not taking the child out of control of his/her parents, I do not know how it could be done.
Another proof of the humanists’ influence in the highest level of federal government is the teaching of evolution in the public schools of this once-great nation as “scientific,” while banishing God from the student’s mind by prohibiting by law the teaching of Creationism God as the Creator! Now we hear, “Man is an animal.” This brings us to another point:
We now have a “no conscience generation.” After all, if there is no God, no right nor wrong, no respect for God nor mankind, regardless of age, and man is only an animal, then why should there be room for conscience? After all, animals have no conscience. The secular humanists don’t either! Murders have been committed by many protégés of these infidels without showing any remorse whatever their conscience had been seared (1 Tim. 4:2)
Several years ago, Life Magazine published an article on gambling. It stated that the United States was the gamblingest nation on the face of the earth. Yet in our humanistic, covetous society, many people have been caught up in gambling, even some “members” of the church! Some members do not see a raffle, or lottery as wrong. They do not seem to know what gambling is, or they seek to “justify” betting a small amount as of no consequence. They miss what gambling is. They also seem to be unaware that gambling is often addictive.
Of course, the liberal news media promote gambling in a very insidious way: they simply report the multi-million dollars a person has won in state-run lotteries. People get excited that they can be instant millionaires by gambling “a few dollars” without any pangs of conscience. The media promote “legalized liquor, liquor-by-the-drink and happy hours” at social/business gatherings, etc. It is appalling how many members of the Lord’s church have become drug addicts, including “alcoholics,” as well as gambling addicts.
The feminist movement in the country has been ably supported by the liberal news media. The promotion of women to every high position of “authority” has been detrimental to the home as God ordained it as well as to the church of our Lord. Movies place women in “power” positions.
Hear Isaiah: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. 0 my people, they who lead these cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isa. 3:12). This is the liberal, morally bankrupt society the humanists have produced in their godless goals. Children can hold their parents hostage now by threatening to take them to court if parents try to discipline them. The charge: child abuse. Mothers have left their children “home alone” or in care of sitters, as they pursue “professional careers.” Now we have a radical feminist as de facto President!
What Can I/You Do?
I have been told, there is no use for you to get so upset over the moral decay of this world. There is nothing you can do about it.” But, there is something that I can, and have done and intend to keep doing as long as I live. I have blasted publicly and privately the damnable doctrine and influence of secular humanists on the Lord’s church and my own beloved, once-great America!
I have been warned about condemning the humanist/ morally bankrupt world around us, particularly when I plainly attacked over the radio for years. I was warned, “They will sue you.” I replied: No, they will not. I have my rights, too? They did not even try!
I urge every reader of this article to consider seriously what I have to say. To preachers/public teachers: I challenge those of you who have not been in this death-struggle to save a remnant of the church, as well as your own family, to unsheathe the sword and attack now. It is already later than many think. Get a copy of Humanist Manifestos I & II, study it and compare its godless aberrant mandates with the moral decay in this society. This is a responsibility one must not shirk!
I am reminded of Jeremiah’s warning in his day of a similar situation. “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). Result: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (5:30) I believe the attitude of many preachers, elders and worldly-minded people in the church today is very similar!
To all my brethren and sisters I plead: Heed the admonition of John: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world . . . For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”(1 John 2:15a, 16, 17), Paul admonished: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). To parents: “Provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Remember: “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (I Cor. 15:33).
Jesus said: “Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13), “Ye are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14), and “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (5:16). “Salt” is a figure of speech indicating preservative power. The “light of the world” indicates preaching of truth (the gospel) to guide humanity to Christ, “the Light of the world.”
I believe the Bible teaches that as long as there are faithful disciples in this evil world, and hope for repentance in humanity, God will let it stand (2 Pet. 3:9, 10; cf. Gen. 18:23-32, Abraham’s plea for Sodom). But when the professed people of God have so corrupted themselves with the world that they no longer are reflectors of the light, no longer examples of godliness to the world, why should God let it stand? Consider with me the second stanza of the song:
The World’s Bible
“We are the only bible, The careless world will read, We are the sinner’s gospel, We are the scoffer’s creed: We are the Lord’s last message, Given in deed and word, What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?”
Annie J. Flint
Guardian of Truth XXXVII: No 21, p. 10-13
November 4, 1993