Rejecting the Influence of Secular Humanism

1. A WORLD WAR of WORLDVIEWS
Rejecting the Influence of
Secular Humanism
A presentation by Dr. Peter Hammond

3. “Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
Psalm 1:

4. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,
and on His Law he meditates day and night.

5. He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.

6. Whatever he does prospers.

7. Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

8. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the Judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1

9. “My people are destroyed from
lack of knowledge. ‘Because you
have rejected knowledge,
I will also reject you as My priests;
because you have ignored the
Law of your God,
I will also ignore your children.’”
Hosea 4:6

10. German Reformer, Professor Martin Luther, warned:
"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be wide gates to hell,
unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures,
engraving them in the hearts of youth.

11. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures
do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not
constantly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt."

13. We are warned that satan
"…will go out to deceive the nations…" Revelation 20:8
Deceiving the Nations

14. The Bible continually warns us:
"lest satan should take
advantage of us; for we are
not ignorant of his devices."
2 Corinthians 2:11

15. "But I fear, lest somehow,
as the serpent deceived Eve
by his craftiness,
so your minds may be
corrupted
from the simplicity that is in
Christ."
2 Corinthians 11:3

16. trivialising the main issues,

17. ignoring key issues,

18. focussing on side issues

19. and reinforcing deceit
with manufactured versions of the past.

20. selective focus,

21. half-truths,

22. distractions,

23. We need to understand the context of our history
and rediscover the real facts, the real people and the real history
- so that we might counter satan's deceptions of the nations.
Facts are Stubborn Things

24. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Our highest
priority on earth is the fulfilment of the Great Commission.

25. It is impossible to fulfil the Great Commission without
understanding the times and knowing what God's people must do.

26. For us to teach the nations to obey all things
that the Lord has commanded,

27. we need to understand how satan is
deceiving the nations.

28. “Why do the nations rage and the people plot in
vain? The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together against the Lord
and against His Anointed One.
‘Let us break their chains’, they say,
‘and throw off their fetters.’
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies
them in His wrath, saying, ‘I have installed My
King on Zion, My holy hill’ … Therefore you
kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the
earth. Serve the Lord with fear …”
Psalm 2: 1-11

29. The Scripture
warns us of
"The lawless one,…
according to the
working of satan,
with all power,
Signs
and lying wonders.“
2 Thessalonians 2:9

30. "…the Prince of the
power of the air,
the spirit who now
works in the sons
of disobedience."
Ephesians 2:2

31. "Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine on them." 2 Corinthians 4:4

32. We are called "to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness
to light, from the power of satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those who are sanctified by Faith in Me." Acts 26:18
Spiritual Warfare

34. "Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.

35. 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."
Ephesians 6:11-12

36. Defeating Deceit
The Church of Ephesus is commended by God: "You have tested those
who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars."
Revelation 2:2

37. Deceiving Nations
In the book of Revelation we are told that at the end God will
send an Angel to bind satan “So that he should
deceive the nations no more …” Revelation 20:3.

38. "The truthful lip shall be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Proverbs 12:19

39. "Remove falsehood and lies far from me…" Proverbs 30:8

40. "These are the things you shall do: speak each man
the truth to his neighbour; give judgement in your
gates for truth, justice and peace." Zechariah 8:16

41. Truth does not fear investigation.

42. A WORLD WAR of
WORLDVIEWS
by Dr. Peter Hammond

43. Everyone (consciously or subconsciously)
is influenced (consistently or inconsistently)
by a worldview – a set of presuppositions/
assumptions (which may be true, or partially true,
or false).
Our worldview:
– determines our values,
– influences how we think, and therefore
– guides how we live.
Our worldview consists of those sets of beliefs and
presuppositions which we hold about basic realities of
our world.

44. Our worldview needs to answer the basic
questions of life:
1. What is reality?
2. What is our basis of knowledge?
3. How can we know what is right or
wrong?
4. What is man?
5. What happens to a person after death?
6. What is the meaning of history?
7. Why is there suffering and evil?
8. What is the purpose for our existence?
9. How should we live?

45. The Bible makes clear that:
1. God is ultimate reality (Ps 90:2; Gen 1:1).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God and the Word was God.” John 1:1
2. Our basis for knowledge is God’s revelation
(2 Peter 1:19-21).
“In the past God spoke . . . through the prophets .
. . but in these last days He has spoken to us by
His Son . . .” Hebrews 1:1-2
3. We can know what is right and what is wrong
from the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2).
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

46. 4. Man is created by God but human nature is sinful
(totally depraved) (Gen 1:27, 28; 3:6-12;
Rom 3:10; 5:12; Eph 2:1-3).
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works . . .”
Ephesians 2:10
5. After death each one of us shall face eternal
judgement and shall either enjoy God’s gracious
rewards in heaven or endure just punishment in
hell (John 5:28-29; Dan 12:2; 2 Thess 1:8-9).
“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face
judgement.” Hebrews 9:27

47. 8. The purpose of our existence is to glorify
God and to worship Him forever (John 4:24).
“. . . Whatever you do, do it all for the glory
of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
7. Suffering and evil are the result of man’s
rebellion against God since the Fall
(Rom 1:18-32).
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7
6. History is His - story. God is sovereign over
history (see Lev 26, Deut 28 and 32; Jer
18:7-10; 2 Chron 7:14).
“The most High is sovereign over the
kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He
wishes.” Daniel 4:25

48. 9. We should
therefore live in
obedience to the Bible
(1 Sam 15:22;
Matt 7:21).
“The Lord your God
commands you
this day to follow
these decrees and laws,
carefully observe them
with all your heart
and with all your soul”
Deuteronomy 26:16

49. “He who is not with Me is against Me,
and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
Matthew 12:30

53. WHY WE THINK AS WE DO:
HEREDITY – the genetic makeup received
from our parents.
CULTURE – the system of moral and
aesthetic values in the society in
which we live.
FAMILY – upbringing, events and
relationships.
NATIONAL – political developments
and crisis situations that affect
each one of us.

54. EDUCATION – at school and at home.
ENTERTAINMENT – music listened to, the
films we watch, the books we
read, the things we do.
RELATIONSHIPS – friendships, people
we work with, neighbours and
marriage partner.
PERSONAL CHOICES – or the lack of them.
REVELATION – God’s acts of Grace in
communicating to us through His Word
and in His works.

61. Some humanist worldviews
RATIONALISM – seeks to discover the
structure of reality guided by human reason
alone.
EMPIRICISM – declares that reason alone is not
sufficient. All our knowledge must be based
upon information provided by our senses.
MATERIALISM – maintains that there is no
reality beyond the physical.
EXISTENTIALISM – evaluates everything from
subjective personal experience.
AGNOSTICISM – maintains that it is
impossible to settle the primary questions of life
because of the limitations of human knowledge.

62. Evaluating Anyone’s Worldview
General questions to ask about an author,
lecturer, speaker, journalist or anyone else:
1. What is he using to interpret the facts?
2. What are his fundamental beliefs about
life?
3. How consistent is his worldview?
4. What are the practical implications of
his worldview?
5. What will it mean for me personally?
6. What will it mean for the world in
general?

63. Specific questions:
1. INTELLECTUALLY – What does he
believe is true about himself and his place in
history?
2. PHYSICALLY – How does he treat, or
mistreat, his body by eating, sleeping and
exercising?
3. SOCIALLY – How does he interact with
friends and enemies, the rich and the poor, the
strong and the weak?
4. ECONOMICALLY – What is his motivation
in work and how does he spend his wages?
5. ETHICALLY – What moral guidelines and
obligations directs his thinking about justice
and righteousness?

64. “You adulterous people,
do you not know that friendship
with the world is hatred towards God?
Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world
becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4

66. “See to it that no one takes you captive through
hollow and deceptive philosophy, which
depends on human tradition and the basic
principles of the world rather than on Christ.”
Colossians 2:8

67. Mind Siege
Lies of our age:
•Man is good by nature but corrupted by society
•Every man possesses an innate moral
goodness
•Happiness is the measure and goal of our
lives
•Only fools restrain their desires
•Everything is relative
•All you need is love
•Only material and economic changes can
produce social change

68. Secular Humanism says:
"There is no God to save us; we must
save ourselves!"
Postmodernism says:
"There is no absolute truth; we must
create our own!"
New Age thought says:
"There is no God; I am my own god!"

69.  "At first the temptation is to see
mankind as God.
 Then it becomes us as God.
 And finally its me as God.
 So the progression moves from the
worship of man,
 to the worship of us,
 to the worship of me.
 In the end all anthropolaters become
I-dolaters. "I am God".
 Like little antichrists, they exalt and
magnify themselves up in the
temple of their minds." David Noebel

70. General Choices Each
generation has to decide:
 Is Christ superior to Nietzche?
 Is God smarter than Karl Marx?
 Is freedom better than totalitarianism?
 Is private ownership of property better
than socialism?
 Is Creation better than evolution?
 Is purpose and design superior to
random chance?
 Is Truth better than falsehood?

71.  Is love better than falsehood?
 Is good better than evil?
 Is right better than wrong?
 Are moral absolutes better than
moral relativism?
 Is adoption better than abortion?
 Is marital love better than
pornography?
 Is self control better than loose
living?
 Is personal responsibility better than
victimization?

72. “Elijah went before the people and said,
‘How long will you waver between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow Him,
but if Baal is God, follow him.’”
1 Kings 18:21

73. “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15

74. “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1

75. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind;
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is
– His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12: 2

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86. Dr. Peter Hammond
Reformation Society
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