Seven Reasons Why Christianity is Better
INTRODUCTION
There is a belief system that is spreading across the world today called Secular Humanism. Humanism is not a religion, but it is replacing religions. In 1973 a list of Humanist beliefs was published and has been accepted by the United Nations. Humanism claims to have the answer to life - but it is not working.
Saint Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy chapter 4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables."
Humanism is not working in schools, Humanism is not working in the workplace, and Humanism is not working throughout all of society because they have turned aside from the truth, and have embraced fairy tales.
It is easy to stand and say Humanism doesn't work, but how is my belief system any better? Christianity is better than Humanism in seven ways (and many more for which there is not enough space).
I. IMAGE
The first factor to consider in the significance of a person is origin. Where do we come from? Genesis 1:27 says "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." We are made in the image of God. That does something for a person's significance. There is no better image than the image of God. Whether that image is physical, spiritual, emotional, or moral, it makes no difference. It is still the best image that there is. No better image exists. In God exists a perfect balance of purity, justice, mercy, grace, and love, and we are made in that image - the best image we can get.
What image does Humanism offer? Their closest image is a monkey! and the spontaneous origin of life from the primeval soup is a complicated way of saying that we are just a bunch of chemicals that came together by chance. You and I are just a cosmic mistake. In fact we are not just one mistake but a continuous progression of mistakes until we reached our present form.
I know which I believe and prefer. I was created by the loving hands of God in His perfect image.
II. VALUE
The second factor to consider is value. How do we value something? Usually the price we pay is the value, or the price that would be paid. I Corinthians 6:20 says of Christians, "For you were brought at a price." What is that price? I Peter 1:18,19 says "You were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
In the Old Testament a perfect lamb without blemish or spot was required to be killed to pay for the sin of people. Over the years many lambs were thus killed to continue to pay for sin, which never did the job, according to the writer of Hebrews. However, 2000 years ago came Jesus, the only one Son of God, who redeemed us. That is, He bought us at a price with His life and His blood. The greatest price that was ever paid was the life of the Son of God, and that payment was made to buy us back to God.
Therefore our value is the life of God the Son. There is nothing more valuable than us, for the greatest price ever paid was paid for us.
In contrast, Humanists generally agree that a person's value is established by what he or she does. A man or woman who accomplishes a lot is very valuable but a person who accomplishes little or nothing is not worth much. In fact Humanists generally believe that an unborn child has no value at all and may be aborted at will. Isn't it good news that our value as Christians is not subject to our performance, or any other changing circumstance? Our value remains at the highest level regardless of what we think, say, or do.
III. POWER
The third factor to consider is power. God has provided power for Christians. Acts 1:8 tells us, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." God knew that we human beings do not have the spiritual power to live the type of lives He wants us to live. The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for Christian service, but for quality of life. Ephesians 5:18,19 exhorts us "And do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. Here the power of the Holy Spirit brings joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Humanism believes in the power of the mind. Man is left to his own devices. There is no outside source of power.
There is no comparison. The word of God tells us that when we are weak then we are strong. When we stop relying on our own power, then we can allow the Holy power of God to operate. When the Humanist is weak he has no help, but when the Christian has the greatest need, he also has the greatest power.
IV. ASSISTANCE
The fourth consideration is Helper assistance. John 14:13,14 proclaims "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name I will do it."As Christians we not only have power but we also have assistance. We have a loving God who cares so much that He put Himself on call all the time to all who ask of Him.
Humanism has no assistance. For Humanists there is no spiritual reality, and nothing can happen unless you make it happen or you are lucky (providence).
The availability of prayer is always there to everyone. We have the promise that if we ask God anything according to His will, and we know He hears us, then we have what we ask for. And we know that God often answers the prayers of unbelievers and skeptics - otherwise none of us would be saved.
V. TRUTH
The fifth consideration is truth. John 8:31, 32 reads, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word you are My diciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." And in John 17:17 Jesus says to the Father, "Your word is truth".
Christians have the sure foundation of truth, absolute truth. God's word never changes or varies because it is truth. That's what truth is, an unchanging fact. When we work from the Bible we are working with truth and the results are assured. .
But the Humanist is not so blessed. Humanists believe that truth changes, and this is demonstrated by centuries of truths that have been superceded by new truths. Humanists say man cannot know Truth, but only theories, because truth is irrelevant. Christianity has a sure foundation which is unchanging. It is the truth that sets you free.
VI. HOPE
The sixth consideration is hope. I John 5:11-13 says, "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His son. He who has the Son has life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
Our hope is based on the truth of God's word. There is eternal life for God's people, an eternal life that is a utopia. Revelations 21:4,5,18-27 reads "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' Then He who sat on the throne said, 'behold I make all things new."
Christians have a god and a guarantee. Humanists have nothing but the grave and the worms to eat their decaying corpses. Christians are promised new bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). Humanists can only hope that they will do something to be remembered for. Christians have a guarantee of eternity in the presence of a loving and caring God.
VII. PURPOSE
Finally Christians have purpose in their lives. We are not just living to die and go to heaven. We have a fourfold purpose. We have a biological purpose, a technological purpose, an ecological purpose, and a spiritual purpose.
A. Biological Purpose
Genesis gives us our first three purposes. Genesis 1:28 gives us our biological purpose. "Be fruitful, multiply; fill the earth." Simply stated it means to have lots of kids. Psalm 127 says children are a heritage of the Lord, a reward from God, and happiness is having lots of them.
In contrast, Humanism says we are overpopulated and should only have one child as in China today. God says increase in number while Humanism says decrease. The reason given is lack of food. But the truth is there is plenty of food. There is enough wheat in the world to feed every man, woman and child at their minimum level of nutrition, and that does not include vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and birds. The problem is not quantity of food but distribution. There is no reason for famine if we share. Statistics say that 80% of the people eat 20% of the food, and the remaining 20% of the people eat 80% of the food! There is no reason not to multiply and fill the earth. When the earth is full God will have a plan.
B. Technological purpose
The second half of verse 28 gives us our technological purpose. Subdue the earth, have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. In this context 'subdue' means to wisely manage and administer. We are to subdue the earth. We are to develop ways in which we can use the resources of earth for the good of mankind.
C. Ecological purpose
Our ecological purpose is in Genesis 2:15."Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend it and keep it." God wants us to look after the earth and all the plants and the animals. God wants us to use the resources of the earth, but we are also to look after it.
D. Spiritual purpose
Finally God gives us a spiritual purpose in Matthew 28:19,20 saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
CONCLUSION
Christianity is a better belief system because: - We were created in the image of God. - We were redeemed by the life of Jesus the Son of God. - We have power from the Holy Spirit. - We have the help of prayer always available. - We have the foundation of unchanging truth. - We have the promised hope of heaven. - And we have a job to do while we are still on earth.