The
Humanism Of Arminianism
Part I
Elder
O. B. Mink
“But
the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually
discerned.” (I Corinthians 2:14)
I know that definition of
terms are generally very boring, but for the sake of clarity and
understanding,
it is necessary that the terms Arminianism and Humanism be defined at
the
outset of this discourse. The distinction between the two terms is in
the far
greater part superficial, and even more so when considered in the light
of true
religion.
The term “Humanism” defined by
Webster:
“A doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or
values;
especially a philosophy that assures the dignity and worth of man and
his
capacity for self realization through reason and often that rejects
supernaturalism.” This definition, as will be shown in the following
consideration of the term, is diametrically opposed to or the very
opposite of
biblical anthropology.
Arminianism defined:
It is a religious system centered in man. According to Arminianism, it
is man
that makes the decrees of God effectual.
It consists of five (5) articles, i.e.,
1.) Conditional election.
2.) Universal atonement; (That is,
Christ in His sacrificial death made atonement for all of mankind).
3.) Regeneration brings good
works.
4.) Divine grace is resistible.
5.) Believers may finally fall
from grace and be eternally lost.
These definitions are concise, and
do not penetrate very deeply into the intense darkness of these man
exalting
and God debasing isms, but we will enlarge upon them as we progress in
the
message. The main or central feature of Arminianism and Humanism is the
idea
that man is superior to God, and that man can, in and of himself, solve
all of
his problems without any supernatural help. An early perpetrator of
Arminianism
and Humanism is third century Pelagianism, which exalted the human will
above
that of the God of the Bible.
Knowing the Holy Spirit inspired
word of God (II Timothy 3:16) is sufficient for reproof and
correction
of every sophism of man, it will be the exclusive criteria I shall
use
in refuting the preposterous frauds referred to in the heading of this
message.
Firstly, let us consider the
HUMANISM OF ARMINIANISM in the light of Scripture revelation concerning
the
absolute sovereignty of God. To say that God is sovereign is to own and
proclaim that He is Almighty, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and
that “He
hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” (Psalms 115:3). It
is the
inescapable obligation of the Adamic family to recognize the
sovereignty of
God, and to ascribe perfect praise unto Him. (Psalms 46:10;
I
Peter 2:9). The God of the Bible has emphatically declared: “I
am the
first and the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah
44:6). Every
other god (?) is conjured up by vain imagination, the figment of which
is the
very ground of both Humanism and Arminianism. The fatal aspect of these
two
nefarious isms is not that they do not have a god, but that their god
is such a
one as their inventors. (Psalms 50:21).
Humanism and Arminianism have a
singular goal, and that is to dethrone God, and enthrone man. In both
systems
the sovereignty and authority of God over man is abrogated; man becomes
the
sovereign and God the suppliant; and man is the exclusive determiner of
his
eternal destiny. The doctrine of the sovereignty of God is so hateful
to
Humanism and Arminianism, they have mustered all the resources of
carnal
sagacity in an effort to find deficiency in the God of the Bible. The
Apostles
of the Lord have warned His churches, saying: “... There should be
mockers
in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lust ... having
not the Spirit” (Jude 18, 19). These vain mockers are shut
up to
degenerate wisdom, and being bound by their finite intellect, cannot
conceive
of God as being any more than themselves, and say in their hearts: “We
will
not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). The term, “this
man”, is a reference to Christ.
“Humanism holds that human beings
shape their own destiny” (Secular Humanism, by Homer Duncan). The
person
who is able to decree his or her own destiny is, and must be a god. So
it is,
Humanism is not a religion without a god, but every person according to
its
premise is a god in and of themselves. The inevitable result of this
satanic
concept is self worship, and the worst form of idolatry, is autolatry,
or full
of devotion to self. It was this very ideology that tripped up Lucifer (Isaiah
14:13).
Arminianism, like Humanism is a
religion without the God of the Bible, but it is not godless, for this
creature
exalting system contends that man is the exclusive determiner of his
own
destiny. Therefore, like Humanism, every man is in and of himself a
god. Oliver
B. Green, recently deceased, but while as yet living was one of the
most
fervent advocates of Arminianism. Speaking of the sovereignty of God,
predestination, election, and irresistible grace, he said: “They are
some of
the rankest and some of the vilest doctrines I have ever heard.”
(PREDESTINATION, Page 1). The doctrines referred to by Mr. Green in the
immediate quote are obnoxious to the supreme (?) intellect of the
natural man,
for the carnal mind is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). However,
the
substitutionary death of Christ has atoned for the hereditary hatred of
His
elect people (Ephesians 2:16), and they will in due season cry
out from
their inmost and redeemed soul: “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth”
(Revelation
19:6).
There is not merely a correlation
between Arminianism and Humanism, but when both systems are carefully
examined,
it will be readily seen they have the same choreographer, and dance to
the
flesh pleasing music of creature invincibility, and that without
missing a
step. Arminianism and Humanism contend that man is an autonomous
entity, and
that God’s decrees may be negated by the vaunted will of man. They have
a form
of godliness, but deny the power thereof. (II Timothy 3:5).
“This know also that in the
last days perilous times shall come” (II Timothy 3:1). The
climax of
this present evil age is imminent, perilous times have come, the
foundation of
the ecumenical church is laid, and the superstructure is going up at an
accelerated pace. The false prophet and the antichrist are waiting in
the
wings, and will in the near future step onto the world stage. The
so-called
Christian Church is utterly permeated with Arminianism, and the
political and
educational world is overrun with secular Humanism. Pseudo Christianity
and
Humanism will soon merge, for it is not difficult for two systems to
merge when
they are so much alike and their goals and ends are the same, and that
is the
glorification of man.
But the struggling saint should
not despair for no man, be he even the personal anti-Christ, is able to
pluck
God’s elect from His all sovereign hand (John 10:27- 29). The
ranting and raving of Arminianism and Humanism is nothing more that the
rattling of their chains of degradation and death with which they are
sovereignly bound. Arminianism says: “Sinners go to hell because God
Almighty
Himself could not save them! He did all He could. He failed” (Noel
Smith - Defender
Magazine). But the Bible doesn’t agree with Noel Smith, for
that
infallible Book says, speaking of God: “What His soul desireth, even
that He
doeth” (Job 23:13). Humanism says: “No Deity shall
save us,
we must save ourselves” (The Humanist Manifesto). The Scripture
says
that Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16),
and
that “He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
Paul says, speaking of Christ:
“According to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). If
man’s
destiny is left to Arminianism or Humanism, God will be defeated and
heaven
deserted. But perish the thought, for the Sovereign and infallible
Architect of
the universe says: “He worketh all things after the counsel of His
own will
...” And. “As I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Ephesians
1:11;
Isaiah 14:24).
Humanism does not recognize the
God of the Bible as an authority in any matter, and Arminianism
disavows the
authority of God in all things. If God is not sovereign in all things,
then He
is not sovereign in anything, for that which He is not sovereign over,
is the
sovereign of all things, including God. However, God denounces His
would-be
detractors, asking: “Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest
against God?
Shall the thing formed say unto Him that formed it, Why hast thou made
me thus?”
(Romans 9:20). The creature has NO right to question his
Creator, for
God’s supreme and all pervading providence redounds to His own glory,
and the
eternal good of His people (Romans 8:28; I Corinthians 1:31).
Arminianism is nothing more than
Humanism with a religious veneer, the combination of which is the
ultimate
subterfuge of the devil. Both systems are an eternal offense unto God,
and it
would be far better to have never been born, than to live and die
trusting
these God scandalizing errors for salvation from sin. So, let us not
limit the
Holy One of Israel. (Psalms 78:41), for His omnipotence is
absolute, and
no satanic ruse can in any wise hinder or disturb Him.
Secondly, let us consider the
HUMANISM OF ARMINIANISM in the light of the Bible doctrine of the total
depravity of man. The Psalmist says: “... Verily
every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Psalms 39:5).
This text refers to man as he is in his Adamic nature, and it plainly
says that
Adam and all of his posterity are in their fallen nature, totally
depraved. The text allows
for no exceptions, and allows for no partial depravity. Every man was
utterly
and spiritually ruined in Adam, for when Adam rebelled against God (Genesis
3:6), his action was not representatively singular, for he was at
the time
the federal head of the family of man, and in his defiance of God, his
posterity became utterly defiled, for they acted in Adam (I
Corinthians
15:21,22).
Arminianism takes exception to the
doctrine of total depravity of fallen nature, and says: “Man is not a
sinner at
birth, but at birth man becomes a potential sinner” (John R. Rice, as
quoted by
John Zens, from The Sword). Religious Humanism calls the Bible
account of the
fall of Adam a fable, and Arminianism has put a
little sugar on their position, so as to satisfy the religious
curiosity of the
natural man. However, if a man takes arsenic coated with sugar, it will
kill
him as readily as the plain or uncoated. Damnable doctrine is just
that, no
matter what flavor it comes in. “Wherefore, as by one man sin
entered into
the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that
all
have sinned.” (Romans 5:12).
Humanism teaches that man as he is
in nature is a moral giant and of infinite worth. Arminianism teaches
the same
thing, saying: “God valued man so highly that He sent His Son to redeem
the
whole family of man.” Conversely, the Scripture says: “They have all
gone
out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none
that doeth
good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12). The word, “unprofitable”,
as used
in this Scripture does not simply mean, no profit, but that man in the
Edenic
transgression suffered an irreparable deficit; and this loss has left
man
without God or hope.
Christ, in explicit and emphatic
words said: “The flesh profiteth nothing.” (John 6:63).
But
no matter how well defined the words of Christ may be, they have never
made a
favorable impression on Arminianism, and this pseudo system says: “God
needs
us, for we are the only feet, hands, and mouth God has”. Poor
handicapped God.
But their god is not the God of the Bible, for He “... taketh not
pleasure
in the legs of a man... “ “... as he has purposed, so shall it
stand
...” “... for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do
of His
good pleasure.” (Psalms 147:10; Isaiah 14:24; Philippians 2:13).
The advocates of Arminianism and
Humanism rebuke all who proclaim the immutable sovereignty of God over
His
universe, and all that is therein. They voice their objection, saying:
“Your
position on depravity dehumanizes man, and makes him as bad as the
beast of the
field”. This objection is not even near the truth of what sovereign
grace believers contend for. Our
position is based squarely on Scripture, therefore we do not dehumanize
man,
but emphasize the fact he is man, and as man he has no God likeness.
Fallen and
unredeemed man is the antithesis of God, for he is ungodly, and is an
unrelenting enemy of God (Romans 4:5; 5:10).
The fallacious charge that we make
man as bad as the beast of the field misses the mark by an infinite
distance.
To say that fallen man is as the beast of the field is to insult the
lower
animal kingdom, and to pay man a highly undue compliment. For, we ask,
“What
beast of the field is it that ever had an evil thought about God?”
Conversely,
where and who is the man in his native state that ever had a good
thought about
God? “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart are only evil
continually.”
(Genesis 6:5). To the natural man, God saith: “Thou
thoughest that I
was altogether such an one as thyself.” (Psalms 50:21). This
is the
ultimate of evil thought, and manifests the utter and awful depravity
of the
human mind, and its fearful disregard for the unimpeachable holiness of
God.
“But these speak evil of those
things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute
beasts, in
those things they corrupt themselves.” (Jude 10. See
also
Ecclesiastes 3:18). This Scripture declares, while man is supposed
to be a
rational creature by nature, he has corrupted the moral principles of
humanity,
and has stooped lower than the irrational beasts of the field. Simply,
sin has
corrupted every fiber and faculty of man’s nature, so much so, he can
neither
know or obey God.
I ask in all seriousness, are we
not in civilized and educational America living according to or below
the code
of the jungle? To answer this question in the negative is to deny
nearly every
newspaper headline that is printed in the USA. Humanism and Arminianism
contend
that the only thing wrong with man is: he needs a little more
education. The
unfavorable query is: Where is it that man can get this cure-all
education? If
we send our children to public school, they are inundated with
humanism. If the
family attends an Arminian church, it is deluged with the pernicious
doctrine
of self salvation. Christ rebuked some of the first century works
mongers,
saying: “Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he
is made,
ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Matthew
23:15). As it was then, so is it now. But as there was hope then,
so it is
now. There is a contemporaneous ray of light shining through the
immense
darkness of Arminianism and Humanism.
Hence, we go to the Holy Spirit
inspired word of God, and when we do, we find that the “manifold wisdom
of God”
is to be known through His church, and “That unto Him be glory in
the church
by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians
3:10, 21). If a person’s membership is in a church that teaches
that the
carnal man may at any time commend himself to the saving favor of God,
he is in
a false church no matter the name it may go by, or the isms it may
teach and
practice. The Scripture says, speaking of regeneration: “... It is
not of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John
1:13).
Christ said to His disciples: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have
chosen
you ...” (John 15:16). The Apostle Paul makes it known
beyond
contradiction that God’s choice of His people antedated time and
creation, and
that it was according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians
1:4-9).
So it is, God in His great love for His people who are caught in the
satanic
snares of Arminianism and or Humanism, admonishes them, saying: “Come
out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean
thing; and I will receive you.” (II Corinthians 6:17).