How Should I Respond To Humanists Who Play Down The Role Of The Spiritual World?

1. Kindly teach people that Christ’s gospel is supernatural in origin, wisdom and truth. Paul wrote, "I want you to know brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1 :1 1,12)

Illustration:A pastor I know, Stephey Bilynskyj, starts each confirmation class with a jar full of beans. He asks his students to guess how many beans are in the jar, and on a big pad of paper writes down their estimates. Then, next to those estimates, he helps them make another list: Their favorite songs. When the lists are complete, he reveals the actual number of beans in the jar. The whole class looks over their guesses, to see which estimate was closest to being right. Bilynskyj then turns to the list of favorite songs. "And which one of these is closest to being right?" he asks. The students protest that there is no "right answer"; a person’s favorite song is purely a matter of taste. Bilynskyj, who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Notre Dame asks, "When you decide what to believe in terms of your faith, is that more like guessing the number of beans, or more like choosing your favorite song?" Always, Bilynskyj says, from old as well as young, he gets the same answer: Choosing one’s faith is more like choosing a favorite song. When Bilynskyj told me this, it took my breath away. "After they say that, do you confirm them?" I asked him. "Well," smiled Bilynskyj, "First I try to argue them out of it."

Tim Stafford, Christianity Today, September 14, 1992, p. 36.

2. Help people understand that without the Holy Spirit living in their hearts they will not be able to understand all of God’s truth. Paul wrote, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" (I Cor. 2:14-16) Trust in His sovereign wisdom.

3. Ask the Lord for the wisdom to show people that Christ’s wisdom, power and truth is far above anything this world can offer. Paul wrote, "Christ is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Eph. 1:21)

4. Direct people to the apostle Paul’s teaching on grace. Paul wrote, "For by grace we are saved through faith and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph. 2:8,9) Humanists cannot work their way to heaven

5. Help people realize that the human mind is controlled by the sinful human nature until we turn the control of our life over to Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Rom. 8:6-8)

6. Give people examples from your lifestyle how the truth of the scriptures is not just empty words, but life changing. Paul wrote, "Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." (I Thes. 1:5) Demonstrate the truth in the Spirit and power!

7. Explain to people that God’s wisdom is only revealed to those who are obedient to Christ’s will for their life. Paul wrote, "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, nor ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him - but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit." ( I Cor. 2:6-10) People should continue to expect much of the humanistic media to push only their agenda because cannot comprehend God’s truth because it is only revealed through the presence of the Holy Spirit in each person.