What is secularism?

Answer

Essentially, secularism asserts that man does not require God. It can be described as “a system of doctrines and practices that ignore or dismiss any form of religious faith and worship. Its main goal is the complete eradication of all religious aspects from society.” Secularism, also referred to as secular humanism, asserts that there are no objective or absolute truths that define right and wrong. Essentially, to secularize something is to make it worldly and non-spiritual. Its purpose is to strip something of its religious nature, its spiritual impact, and significance.

Secularism infiltrates all areas of our society: education, government, the criminal justice system, the news media, the entertainment industry, and more. Secularists argue that man is the standard for all things, that morals are centered on man, not God. Therefore, no one has the authority to determine right from wrong, and morality is best determined by what benefits today’s culture. Secularists do not accept that humanity can possess a set of enduring values as taught in the Bible. Secularism promotes tolerance and diversity in words, yet often secularists show intolerance towards those who view the Bible as God’s moral standard.

When God-related aspects are eliminated from schools, courtrooms, and legislative chambers, it inevitably leads to a decline in personal morality. Embracing situational ethics eliminates moral absolutes and asserts that there are no boundaries, no principles, no genuine standards.

The more our nation embraces secularism, the more it resembles ancient Israel, where “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6;Judges 21:25). When the mindset is “if it feels good, do it!” wickedness, perversion, and sin become the norm. In a fully secularized society, marriage is disintegrated.Rage, morality is mocked, and human life is devalued.

The truth is that, left to his own devices, man always descends to a lower level. Following the Bible’s precepts lifts us to a higher moral plane (Deuteronomy 4:7-8; 10:12-13; Proverbs 14:34). However, man has hardened his heart against God (John 12:40; Romans 1:18-22). We have sown to the wind and are in danger of reaping the whirlwind “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.”, (Hosea 8:7).

Even the church is being impacted by secularism. Many churches are dealing less and less with the moral conduct of their membership for fear of offending them. After all, accommodating a wayward member is much easier than correcting him. However, the church cannot allow itself to become secularized. Jesus taught that, though we are in the world, we’re not of the world (Romans 2:2; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15).

Secularism promotes the idea that religion is nothing but a relic of the past. But the truth is, God exists, and we do need Him. Despite the claims of secular humanism, the Bible is God’s truth “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”, (John 17:17). As believers living in a secular society, we must “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” “that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world; », (Philippians 2:15, NKJV).