Humanistic Christianity

In class for the past few weeks we have been talking about if or if not certain rights and freedoms are natural for humans. The subject of Christianity has come up a few times during these conversations, and although this subject is only loosely connected to class topics, but it is connected.

I want to take a look at what it means to be a Christian.

If you’ve ever been in a church, chances are you’ve heard that the word “Christian” means literally “Little Christ”: That if we are Christians, then we are living like Christ. Acts 11:26 tells us that people were “first called Christians in Antioch.” Note the word “Called”. This indicates that someone else NAMED the Christians. It wasn’t people who decided one day that they wanted to be a Christian; it was when people proved by their lives that they were bought and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

These Christians, as shown to us by not only the New Testament, but other historical documents, were hardcore. They lived for God’s glory and for that alone. But, as years have gone by the religion of Christianity has changed almost completely. It is no longer just about glorifying God, but it’s about making ourselves happy.
There is a certain word that I believe matches modern day Christianity almost perfectly, and that word is “Humanism”.

Now, I know you’re with me so far. You’ve heard all this before. But I’m about to stomp on some toes, and then start jumping a little. Let’s look at the definition of Humanism.

“Humanism: any system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, and dignity predominate.”

In almost all modern day churches, Humanism is prevailing. We build our “worship services” around what makes people comfortable, what people are used to, what people will think looks cool, and generally what will make people happy.

When we pray, our prayers normally consist of thanking God for all that he has done for us, and then asking him to do more for us, or other people.

We’re humanistic even when it comes to the invitation part of our services. First, we ask everyone if they’re going to heaven or if they’re going to hell, because that’s what is really important. Then, we have everyone bow their heads and close their eyes, so that nobody can see that people have decided to pick up their cross, carry it up a hill and die with Christ, because I mean come on, that can be embarrassing. We occasionally have people pray a prayer, either that or we just let them repeat what we say, and as long as they believe what we said, then they get to go to heaven!

Forgive me, but I don’t see anything whatsoever Biblical in this situation. I thought that Scripture painted a picture of DEATH to oneself, and allowing Christ to actually take over. Not just letting him be involved in our lives so that we can go to Heaven when we die.

I want to make something very clear right now. Heaven is not the point of Salvation.
Is God the means to an end, or is He the end Himself? Would you follow Christ if there were no Heaven? Is He worth serving if we don’t get paid for it? Because it seems like we’ve made our happiness and the fulfillment of the things that God has promised us our main motivation for serving him, when that shouldn’t be the case.
Our happiness is just a mere byproduct of our Salvation, NOT the main product, which is the glory of God.

Even in Evangelism, we so often go to other countries or states or wherever it is that we go, because we want to tell the people there about what God has done for them, so that they can get saved and go to Heaven. Sounds noble, but it’s completely humanistic. Why can’t we go tell people about God simply because He’s worth it?
There’s a story about an Island that is LARGELY populated with slaves. These slaves do not know God. The owners of this island have strictly forbidden any Christian from coming to this island and evangelizing these slaves. When two sold out Christians heard about this, they decided to do something radical. They sold themselves as slaves, permanently, to these people. The only price they charged for themselves was the cost for transportation to the island. They left everything and everyone they had ever known to go to this island. Why? When they were sailing way from their families, they shouted one phrase that has penetrated my heart deeply: “Let the Lamb who was slain receive the reward for his suffering!”

The supposed bride of Christ is too focused on the honeymoon. It’s time we come back to the groom. Why have we decided that we need a reward for everything that we do in the name of Jesus? Why can’t we just do these things for him, simply because He is who He is?

I challenge all of you who profess the name of Jesus Christ: When the Bible says to pick up your cross and follow him, do it. He is the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords, who created this massive universe that we’ll never understand, and he has such a deep love for us that he came and died a violent death for us. He’s worth living for. He’s worth dying for. And when I say “He” I mean He Himself, Jesus. Not the things that Jesus has to offer us.

“Let the Lamb who was slain receive the reward for His suffering!”

(PS: I was inspired to write about this after watching a video. The video features many sermons by Leonard Ravenhill, and I’m sure that I have quoted him in this blog.)