It's probably no surprise to you that we're living in a post-Christian society. More and more, we're seeing a rejection of Christian values all over the western world. But where does that put our culture now? If we've turned away from Christian values, what has our society turned towards instead?
Great question!
Here's the answer: it's Humanism!
In short, Humanism is a worldview that says we alone can make the world a better place through virtuous behavior, without relying on religious belief. It promotes the idea that we can achieve fulfillment and solve problems on our own, apart from the help of God.
Sadly, because this worldview is so pervasive, our kids can't escape it's influence. It's in their schools, their movies, and on social media. We even see it in some of our most popular expressions. Expressions like:
You are enough
Believe in yourself
Live your truth
Follow your heart
Do you see what all of those sayings have in common?
You, you, you, you!
In Humanism, YOU are at the center of the universe. (Or should I say, the YOU-niverse.) But that's not Biblical! In John 15:5, Jesus said, "...apart from me, you can do nothing." That's why we should put CHRIST at the center of our lives, not ourselves. If we're going to help kids do that, though, we must combat the humanistic messages they're hearing on a daily basis.
With that said, let's look more closely at some of those messages and consider how you can counter them in your children's ministry:
You are enough!
At the heart of this message is self-sufficiency. Humanism promotes the idea that we alone have the power to improve our lives and make the world a better place. In contrast, the Bible teaches us to rely on God, not ourselves. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
A counter-cultural message: You are NOT enough! But God is!
Believe in yourself!
Humanism holds an optimistic view of human potential and progress. Rather than belief in God, it promotes belief in individual power. It tells us, "You are good enough! You can do it!" But the Bible says otherwise. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." We are inherently sinful and it's through Christ alone that the human condition is sanctified and redeemed.
A counter-cultural message: Believe in Jesus!
Live your truth!
Humanism often leads to moral relativism, where right and wrong are subjective. To a humanist, what's true to you is TRUE. The Bible, however, provides absolute moral truths that don't change based on experience or emotion (Exodus 20:1-17). Moreover, John 14:14 says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." Scripture is God-breathed and is the unshifting bedrock of truth.
A counter-cultural message: God's Word is truth!
Follow your heart!
Humanism prioritizes human experiences, feelings, and emotions as important guides in life. Proverbs 14:12 warns about this, though. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." Instead, Jesus teaches that the way to life is to deny ourselves and to follow Him. He says in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
A counter-cultural message: Follow Jesus!
In Romans 12:2, Paul implores us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
When I started GO! Curriculum, one of our primary goals was to help leaders like you raise up "counter-cultural" kids. If you want to see how our curriculum does that, join me for a GO! demo. I'd love to show you how we equip kids to combat the patterns of this world through Biblical education, practical application, and spiritual transformation.
So let's team up! Together, we can help kids conform to the WORD rather than the world!
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