"Christian" Humanism

The Churches' Dance With The Devil

• Rev 2:4; Rev 3:20 From Ephesus to Laodicea...
• Gen 10:32ff; II Tim 4:1-4 From The Tower of Babel To The Crystal Cathedral...
• From The Second Chance (flood) To The Last Chance (little season)
• "Christian" Or "Religious" Humanism Is Nothing New!  It started in the Garden with the first Adam and will be ended after the "little season" by the Second Adam...

What Is "Christian Humanism"?

I Cor 1:17-31

• Gen 3:5 Secular Humanism is nothing more than the ancient rebellion of Nimrod and his followers against God, making themselves god...
• Humanist Manifesto II: We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species. 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.
• Gen 3:1-6 The Serpent The Worlds First Humanist...
• "Religious Humanism" is but "secular" humanism in religious garb...

Some Remove The Landmarks

Job 24:2

Lesson 2

• Col 2:8 Christian Humanism is a "religious" system of philosophy.  It has worldly wisdom as its source, "the elements of the kosmos"
• It is a "vain deceit", for it costumes itself in "biblical" vocabulary but is really the philosophy of Nimrod... (rebellion)
• I Cor 1:20 The crux of the error is the substitution of revealed Biblical truth with satanic deception called the wisdom of this world
• Ps 2:1-4 Central to the error of Christian Humanism is the belief that man is autonomous and possesses free will. As we shall see, this is a devastating error which blinds the minds of the lost, creating much of the confusion in the "church world" today...  As at the tower of Babel, people today band themselves together in "churches". Ignorant of and ignoring the Word of God they say now as then "let us make a name" (rebel); "lest we be scattered" (obey)

The Truth Shall Make You Free

Jn 8:31-45

Lesson 3

• Jn 8:32 Free from who or what?
• Jn 8:34 Sin="doulos"= "slave, bondman"
• Jn 8:43 Why could they not understand?
• I Cor 2:14 The natural or "animal" man or mind cannot apprehend or judge the things of God because they are outside the realm of his understanding...
• I Cor 2:6-8 The worldly wisdom of even the greatest fallen minds of this age cannot know God, His Plans, or His Purpose
• So we see then that the great danger of "religious humanism" is its attempt to know and judge the things of God with the mind and philosophies of this world
• Prov 8:1-9 The matter is plain to he who has understanding... But how to get understanding? Be born again and receive the Mind of Christ

What Will This Babbler Say?

Acts 17:18-21

The Renewing of Your Mind

Rom 12:2

• Why is a renewing necessary? Because the old is conformed to the corruption of this present age; the kosmos...
• Transformed = "metamorphoo"
• Renewing; Tit 3:5; new birth, new mind
• II Cor 2:11 If we be ignorant of Satan's devices he can get advantage? If we think with our fleshly minds we can but use the template of the kosmos... A worldly world view? Lukewarmness?

From The Pope To Pelagius

Semi-Pelagianism

• More properly, an attempted compromise between Pelagius and Augustine (who would later influence Calvin) (third way, synthesis)
• Note especially well that this was not an attempt to return to Biblical revelation, but was an attempt to reconcile two humanistic philosophies.
• Semi-Pelagianism teaches that Adam's fall did render his offspring sinners, but that man still possessed innate goodness and free will  (a change of degree rather than character)
• Semi-Pelagianism condemned at Council of Orange AD 529. Excerpts:
  • CANON 1. "If anyone denies that it is the whole man, that is, both body and soul, that was "changed for the worse" through the offense of Adam's sin, but believes that the freedom of the soul remains unimpaired and that only the body is subject to corruption, he is deceived by the error of Pelagius"
  • CANON 2. "If anyone asserts that Adam's sin affected him alone and not his descendants also, or at least if he declares that it is only the death of the body which is the punishment for sin, and not also that sin, which is the death of the soul, passed through one man to the whole human race, he does injustice to God"
  • CANON 7. "If anyone affirms that we can form any right opinion or make any right choice which relates to the salvation of eternal life, as is expedient for us, or that we can be saved, that is, assent to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the illumination and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who makes all men gladly assent to and believe in the truth, he is led astray by a heretical spirit"

Pelagianism Condemned/Reaffirmed

• Though Semi-Pelagianism was condemned by the then embryonic Church of Rome, (Thyatira) it had sufficient humanistic appeal to be affirmed by the Council of Trent (1547 AD)
• While the Council of Orange heaped anathemas on those holding to Semi-Pelagianism, the Council of Trent heaped anathemas on those holding to Augustinianism
  • CANON IX. "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema."
  • CANON XVIII. "If any one saith, that the commandments of God are, even for one that is justified and constituted in grace, impossible to keep; let him be anathema."
  • CANON V. "If any one saith, that, since Adam's sin, the free will of man is lost and extinguished; or, that it is a thing with only a name, yea a name without a reality, a figment, in fine, introduced into the Church by Satan; let him be anathema."

Those Monolithic Thyatirans

• The Church of Rome's flip-flop from Augustinian/Covenant/Calvinism to Semi-Pelagian/Arminian/Charismaticism has confused many Catholics...  The Church of Rome is anything but monolithic...
• Divisions within Catholicism:
• Traditional; Holding to Latin Mass, Councils, Regard Vatican II as rank heresy, claim Chair Of Peter is vacant...
• Liberal Catholics; Infused with same modernism which destroyed the Protestants (Sardians?) , Pro abortion, Easy divorce, Liberation Theology (social gospel), New age mysticism,  In short many American Catholics and their Priests and Bishops...
• Cultural Catholics; Church-State mentality, Nominals, Sense of family obligation; same as most Protestants...
• Eclectic Catholics; Syncretistic blend of Catholic teaching with spiritism/animism/voodoo/idolatry...

Arminianism

Arminianism II

• The five points of Arminianism continued:
  • Conditional Election: (You might make it if you don't weaken) The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation. (Jn 15:16, Gal 1:15-16, Jer 1:5, Jn 15:19)
  • Unlimited Atonement: The Finished Work Of Christ made it possible for anyone to be saved, but did not actually secure salvation to anyone (Man must will to believe); Christ's Redemption only becomes effective if one chooses to accept it. (I Jn 2:2, II Pet 2:1)
  • Resistible Grace; Refusal Of Holy Spirit: (Man can overrule God and His Grace) (Jer 20:7-9)
  • Falling From Grace: (careful,, you might lose it)  Since you decided out of your own free will to exercise your own faith in Christ, you could also decide to allow your faith to lapse... (Rom 8:1, 31-39, Php 1:6, Eph 1:13-14)

Arminian Failure

• The cardinal failure of Arminianism is its' emphasis on the sovereignty and goodness of man.  God exists for the pleasure and use of man.  Pr 19:21
• Man attains salvation through the "work" of faith (his), and it is man's gift to God. Mk 8:37
• Since salvation was man's decision, he is free to lose or renounce it at will. Jn 15:16
• Man's innate goodness allows him to make his boast of the law before God...  Leading to holiness doctrine, sinless perfection, etc... Isa 64:6
• The natural man is by nature Arminian because he is by nature a humanist... 
• Epicurean/Pelagian/Ariminian/Charismatic/word of faith/frank hucksterism/ religious humanism opens the door to the Church for far worse, as we shall see...

Epicureans to Charismatics

• By a process of "Christianization" Epicureanism gave way to Pelagianism, then Semi-Pelagianism, then Catholicism, Methodism, Pentecostalism...
• The original humanistic philosophy of pagan Epicureanism is successfully brought into the Church with disastrous results.  A little leaven...
• This Arminianism, which began as a heresy on the lunatic fringe of the Church has become the guiding light of many major denominations and movements today...  Roman Catholics, Methodists, Assembly of God, Nazarene, Pentecostal, Charismatics, and many Baptists ...
• Today almost all truly Born Again believers start their Christian walk as Arminians.  They are lifted up with pride in their "free will", and self centered life as they "work for Jesus, fight the devil, and keep all the rules"  How wonderful that in the love and patience of God they come to see that they have really been working for their own self aggrandizement, have been accomplices of the devil, and have broken all the rules...  It is only at this point that the Romans seven experience and true spiritual growth can occur...

Plato To Augustine

• Plato, pagan philosopher of stoick bent, student of Socrates, author of "Republic"; Taught that the state was the "highest embodiment of virtue" was an advocate of state absolutism as it then existed in Sparta; the father of modern fascist/Marxist elitism...
• Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, North Africa 354-430 AD
• Pagan Father, Christian Mother; early adherent of Manicheism (mystery religion combining Christianity and Zoroastrianism), then turned to Platonism, then to Christianity He becomes an apologist of Christian doctrine, but tends to interpret it through his previously pagan/philosophical world view...
• As with most of the even early "Church Fathers", he embraces galatianism and holds the view that the Church replaces Israel...
• Since Israel was a Theocracy, the Church and the civil magistrate should also be one...
• History has two trajectories, secular and religious (two cities), and the city of man exists solely for the advancement of the city of God.  Hence the city of man should be ruled by the city of God... Church-State government
• Calvin eagerly adopts this idea, and as the Popes before him tries to turn the Swiss cantons into the "city of God"

Calvin's Clique

• John Calvin 1509-1564 Descended from middle class French family, studied for priesthood (Catholic) in Paris. His father became disaffected with the Roman clergy, influencing his son. 
• Strong anti reformation sentiment in France forces him to flee to Geneva...
• Calvin rapidly becomes more influential in Geneva than Zwingli, and proceeds to turn the cantons into the "city of God" (after Augustine)
• Once at the levers of power Calvin quickly becomes every bit and worse the autocrat and despot than the Pope he despises...

The Five Points Of Calvinism

Lesson 12, Lesson 13

• Total Inability (Depravity): Their "proof text", Eph 2:1; Their explanation: Dead means cannot hear or see, or act...  But death in the Scriptures always means separation, never nirvana... I Tim 5:6, Jn 5:25. Therefore (they say) it takes the regenerating work of the Spirit to enable one to believe  (regeneration before belief and repentance) (one must get saved in order to get saved???) Rom 10:17, Eph 2:8-9: Total inability?   Mk 1:15, Acts 17:30, Rom 16:25-26, Acts 2:36-41  How unreasonable of the Calvinist God to demand something He made impossible!               
• Unconditional Election: God elects (capriciously) some for Heaven, the rest are allowed to go to hell (reprobation)  This idea is not from Scripture but from Plato via Augustine, then Calvin.  II Pet 3:9, Rom 2:4, I Tim 2:3-4.  Its standing is based on the acceptance of the idea of total inability... If the "t" of the tulip is accepted, then logic dictates that he "u" must follow

"If, as the Scriptures and experience tell us, all men are by nature in a state of guilt and depravity from which they are totally unable to deliver themselves and have no claim whatever on God for deliverance, it follows that if any are saved God must choose out those who shall be the objects of His grace." (L. Boettner). So much for the poor 3-point Calvinist!

"All things turn out according to divine predestination; not only the works we do outwardly, but even the thoughts we think inwardly." (Boettner). This logic makes God the author and causative agent of sin! James 1:13

The Five Points Of Calvinism

• Limited Atonement: Again a product of logic based upon humanistic philosophy not Scripture...   Man's inability necessitates God's capricious selection, so it's only logical that Christ only died for those God predetermined to save...  Right?  Jn 3:16  Heb 2:9, I Jn 2:2, Jn 12:32

"The doctrine of Limited atonement is simply that the cross of Christ provides a sure, secure and real salvation for everyone God intended it to save and for them alone." "The cross could save everyone if God had only intended it to do so."  (G.E. Gunn)  II Pet 3:9

• Irresistible Grace: Calvinism sells so well to pseudo-intellectuals because of its' fleshly-mind logic...  God is going to save the elect and take them to Heaven whether they like it or not, kicking and screaming through the portals...

"In fact, the sinner is of himself neither capable nor willing to receive salvation... The saving grace of God, changing the heart of the sinners, precedes the will to come to Christ." (Hoekeysma)  Again, the Calvinist puts salvation before belief.

"A man is not saved because he believes in Christ; he believes in Christ because he is saved." (Boettner). Acts 16:31, Jn 3:18

The Five Points Of Calvinism

• Perseverance Of The Saints: (not "preservation of the Saints) "If you can just hold on till the end you'll make it". This is not the eternal security of the Scripture (Eph 1:13-14, Eph 4:30) If the Calvinist philosophy were true, God would have had Noah on the outside of the Ark hanging on for dear life!    "There is a deadly and damnable heresy being widely propagated today to the effect that, if a sinner truly accepts Christ as his personal Savior, no matter how he lives afterwards, he cannot perish. That is a satanic lie ... something more than believing in Christ is necessary to ensure the soul's reaching Heaven",

"But let us appreciate the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints and recognize that we may entertain the faith of our security in Christ only as we persevere in faith and holiness to the end." (Murray)

• Well, well, seems the Arminians and Calvinists agree on this point!  If you fall off the ark you're toast...

"A doctrine full of blasphemy, representing our Lord as a hypocrite, a deceiver of the people, a man void of common sincerity, as mocking His helpless creatures by offering what He never intends to give, by saying one thing and meaning another. It destroys all the attributes of God, His justice, mercy, and truth, yea, it represents the most holy God as worse than the devil, as both more false, more cruel, and more unjust." (John Wesley)

The "pope" Of Geneva

• Calvin proved to be as great a persecutor of those who disagreed with him as the Catholic Popes...
• Calvin abandons Luther's cry "Sola Scriptura" and sets up his "institutes" as the only rule of faith and practice (under pain of death)
• Calvin teaches (by fire and sword) that no one can be saved outside his teachings...
• Calvin perpetuated the Church-State model so successfully used by the papists in the inquisition to mass murder off all opposition...
• Calvin had Christians put to death for disagreeing with his teachings even though they professed faith in Christ... Michael Servetus' last cry from the flames was "Jesus, Son of the Eternal God; have mercy on me!" 

"We shall always find it hard to love the man, John Calvin, who darkened the human soul with the most absurd and blasphemous conception of God in all the long and honored history of nonsense." But then Calvin was a pope. (Will Durant)

Calvin's "Reign Of Terror"

• Michael Servetus disagrees with Calvin's "institutes"  and is burned at the stake for his pains... The main charges against him? Pedobaptism and anti-trinitarianism
• Calvin also burns and beheads many Ana-Baptists for rejecting his pedobaptism and sacramentalism...
• Calvin is proud and unrepentant in his mass murder, encouraging others to emulate his model of Church-State tyranny, a matter not lost on our Founding Fathers (The "Establishment Clause")
• Calvin's murderous spirit is exported to America in the theology of the "Puritans" who burned and banished all who did not agree with them...  Roger Williams is banished and forms the colony of Rhode Island and the first (Ana)Baptist churches in America...
• Why any Baptist would call himself a Calvinist gives one pause... (Most are clever enough to use the term "doctrines of grace" to distance themselves from their murderous mentor)
• Would you like John Calvin to be your child's Sunday School teacher?

Covenant Calvinism

• Gen 6:17-18, Heb 13:20, Eph 1:4  Not Covenants as found in Scripture, but two "supposed" or "inferred" covenants...
• A covenant of works between God and Adam before the fall
• A covenant of grace substituted after the fall
• Covenant theologians are virulently anti-dispensational and give little attention to the true covenants of God found in Scripture...
• Introduced after Calvin's death by Zwingli, this theology became inextricably linked with Calvinism...
• Without benefit of Scripture, this "covenant of grace" is supposed to contain all the covenants of Israel and is applied to the Church.
• Rom 11:26-29. The Church is "spiritual Israel", the true Israel having been put aside...  (Not unless it is possible for God to lie)
• The Church is the "continuing covenanted community"; "Paul is asserting that the Church is now the Kingdom; that what the Jewish nation was in the Old Testament the Church is now." (Martin Lloyd Jones) Rev 19:5-9 The Bride of Christ has no covenant but the greatest of all, that of marriage...

Covenant Calvinism II

• Rom 7:4, Gal 4:21-31 The hinge on which all Arminianism and Calvinism turns is the law; both are earth centered and law bound.  (Here are the two covenants which refute the entire foundation of covenant Calvinism)
• II Tim 2:15, Eph 1:3-14 Covenant Calvinism is virulently anti-dispensational and amillennial; this present age is claimed to be the millennial kingdom...  (Supposedly began AD 70 with the "spiritual" return of Christ and the destruction of Israel and Jerusalem)
• Rom 10:1-13 Covenant Calvinism has for it's foundation the Old Testament and the Sermon on the Mount, and is therefore law oriented. 
• Prophetic Scripture is allegorized (preterism) resulting in virtual denial of the resurrection of the body and the literal, bodily second coming...
• Arminianism's love of experience omits truth; Covenant Calvinism's legality chokes truth; Cross centered Christianity is truth...
• Like the Arminian, the Covenant believer is anti-dispensational. While this lack causes the former to err regarding the Holy Spirit, it causes the latter to err concerning the law. As a result the Calvinist is not able to keep the law in its scriptural place (pre-Cross), but seeks to incorporate it into the Christian's walk as his "rule of life."

From Arminianism To Kenneth Hagin

• Since God is a cosmic bellhop, why not give Him some orders?