There is a war going on. This war is far bigger and more important than the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. It is the war between secular humanism and Creationism…….Christianity. This war is a spiritual war. It is not fought on a battlefield. It is fought on terrain that is both physical and spiritual. It is fought in a realm that is both temporal and spiritual. It is fought in the hearts of mankind. More importantly, it is a war for the hearts of mankind. It is a war for my heart…… and for yours.
Let me begin by identifying the combatants. They are not physical armies. Rather, they are ideologies. Both of these ideologies are religions, though secular humanism camoflages itself with science. A religion is a belief system that explains who we are, how we came to be, why we are here, and where we are going. Science tries to do the same thing. The difference is subtle but critical. In its pure form……which is rare, science confines itself to measurable observations…….facts. The problem arises when science encounters a gap in its observations that cannot be bridged with current knowledge acting on measurable data. Some examples: the first 400 million years after the ” big bang”, the universe before and at the instant of the big bang, dark matter, and dark energy, the phenomenon we call “Hubble tension”. These are phenomena that scientists simply cannot explain based on the laws of science. Science fills in these gaps with theories. A theory is a possible explanation that cannot be proven based on current understanding. When you get down to it, a theory isn’t very much different from a myth. Greek mythology is a collection of theories. The big bang itself is a theory. There are multiple theories that try to deal with dark energy and dark matter. Science is completely befuddled by Hubble tension. Christianity, on the other hand, cannot explain the mechanics of creation, the virgin birth, or the resurrection. Both science and Christianity require us to accept, on faith, explanations that cannot be proved by current knowledge.
Both secular humanism and Christianity answer the really big questions with a combination of fact and faith. As such, both are religions. But, that is where the similarity ends. Christianity, creationism, posits a creator…..an active, intelligent force that operates both outside and inside our physical/temporal world. Christianity posits an eternal spiritual world governed by a sovereign creator, a creator who has expectations. The creator has a plan and he is working his way through that plan. Secular humanism accepts no such creator. Secular humanism rejects the idea that an outside being has expectations of us. Secular humanism rejects the existence of an eternal spiritual realm.
The reason that these two great religions are important, the reason why they are at war, is very basic. Secular humanism and Christianity are mutually exclusive. One is right…….and one is wrong. We must choose. But, the table is tilted. Secular humanism is the default. To not actively choose Christianity is to choose secular humanism by default.
So……how do we choose? I would like to tell you that we study the situation and reach an ordered, logical conclusion. For better or worse, that is just not the case. Both Christians and humanists choose based on a simple diagnostic.
Appetites
We choose between these two great religions based on what we want. We choose based on what they promise us. And what is that?
Secular humanism promises us control. Mankind is in charge of everything. The environment, the rules of social behaviour, our recreation, sex, drugs, even our sexual identity. We butt heads, we even have wars, when we disagree among ourselves as to which appetite to pursue. Christianity is much simpler. Christianity promises us a relationship with the sovereign creator. That relationship is founded on love. It ultimately requires obedience. We are no longer in control. Just as the two religions are mutually exclusive, so are the two appetites.
And there it is.
Mankind divides itself between the two great religions based on appetites.
Either
We take control of the universe in order to satisfy our appetites.
Or
We seek out a relationship with our creator.
It comes down to this:
Which is more important to us.
Control of everything…….or……..relationship with God.
So…….choose.
“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus struggling with the choice between control and relationship, Matthew, 26: 38-39, ESV