Articles
Good Without God
Good Without God?
In New York subway stations this sign has recently appeared. BigAppleCoR.org provides a listing of local groups affiliated with the Coalition of Reason, the organization that coordinated the campaign, according to the New York Times. The subway campaign is timed to the release of a new book called “Good Without God” by Greg Epstein, a Harvard University humanist chaplain.
It is a shame that it be seen anywhere, but our first reaction might be, “Oh well, that is New York City.” But this view is rampant on campuses and is being infused into classrooms and textbooks at all grade levels, all around our country. There is a growing momentum of the humanist viewpoint in the world – infiltrating education, politics, and even many churches. If you have not seen it, you will.
Humanism is the philosophy that man is the pinnacle of evolution, and there is nothing higher. Everything must be judged by the standard of man. Man’s reason is supreme in the universe. Consciousness and rational thought are the achievements of evolution, and they give rise to our culture.
Now most of these humanists want very much to believe in a morality – at least of some kind. They cannot bring themselves to declare that there are no moral values. They cannot live with the consequence of their own origin – evolution, survival of the fittest, might makes right. They cannot accept that. They must rise above their own philosophy. They are grappling with their own consciences. [If they come to understand that conscience is real and active, and continue to struggle in honesty with it, God will dawn upon them]. But they cannot as yet acknowledge a God who judges between good and evil. So their solution is to insist that they have a system of morality, based on human reason – they can be “good without God”. Man can determine what is moral. Culture, society can judge what is moral. Man is his own god.
What IS good? By “good”, humanists do not mean what is opposed to evil, for they cannot admit that there is such a thing as evil. They do not speak of sin vs. righteousness, of good vs. evil, or even of right vs. wrong [in absolute terms]. There is no such concept as “sin”. When they speak of “good”, they mean simply what is accepted as decent behavior by society. They mean that if the accepted society norm is against stealing, then you are a “good chap” if you don’t commit armed robbery. But if society can tolerate your “alternate lifestyle”, you are “good” there also. Society is the standard – man is the final judge.
What a contrast is presented by Jesus Christ! The Lamb of God who TAKES AWAY the SIN of the world! He saw sin as slavery and death, and evil as staking its claim in the heart of men. He spoke of only one that is good – his Heavenly Father. And He would show that the way from death to life, from evil to good, is by access to the Father through Him.
Christianity does not just promote “decent behavior”, as do many religions, including humanism. We can be grateful for whatever wholesome things might be encouraged – no matter where it comes from. But Christianity is different. Not necessarily what the world presents as Christianity. Perhaps some “Christians” have been guilty of trying to be “good without God”. But true Christianity – that of the Bible - is unique, demanding and commanding from the authority of heaven. It is humbling, redeeming. The gospel is the good news of deliverance from evil, of spiritual transformation, the gospel of repentance, the gospel of justification by faith in Jesus Christ. It is the gospel of the cross, of the reconciliation of man to God by his own blood in the atoning sacrifice of His SON. It is the calling of self-sacrifice, of self-denial, of taking up our cross, of surrender to the will of the Father. Christians are the purchase of blood, they belong to righteousness, they stand in horror of even the appearance of sin – if they are true to their Master and His word. And they stand in the face of death to condemn evil by the purity of their lives, derived from the righteousness of their Redeemer.
Where we have failed in our calling as Christians – God forgive us! Have we put before the world just a “decent” religion? Let us repent and pray, and be crucified with our Lord, and give them the good news of the cross, and of the ultimate righting of all wrongs, the triumphant victory of good over evil.
“Good without God?” Not really. Not a chance!
Larry Walker, October 2009