Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type.1
So if a normal life is one which conforms to a norm or standard of living, then who or what establishes the norms and standards?
Our culture here in the United States, in a vigorously unconstrained manner has rapidly moved towards a secularist humanist society. Dr. Norman Geisler describes secular humanism as “the de facto established religion of the land.”2 This was the result of a Supreme Court decision that struck down a Louisiana Law requiring balanced treatment for Creation when evolution was taught.3 Humanism was an established religion from its inception.4 The following are a few of its points which are relevant to this subject:
Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created; Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process; Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values.5
We now live in a society that repudiates all Godly influence, a society that repudiates, disavows and rejects any and all Christian influence of morals and values. These secularists are subversive anarchists. They will not be satisfied until the God of the universe is wiped out of the minds and memories of every man, woman and child. The Apostle Paul mentions these individuals as those “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”6 For that is exactly what they are doing, suppressing the truth about the God of this universe and the normal life which He provides.
Christians demonstrate their lack of Biblical knowledge by taking the attitude that we should “live and let live”; they truly don’t know what they are allowing to happen in our culture. For believers to think, as the secularist does, that they have the ‘right’ to destroy the principles of our nation’s foundation so that they can ‘do their thing’ without any moral restraints, is dangerously foolish.
But the most devastating failure is that a clear and united Christian refutation has not emerged. It is why it was asserted by Dr. Francis Schaeffer that the Christian consensus in our culture has become a memory. He warned,
As the memory of the Christian consensus which gave us freedom within the biblical form increasingly is forgotten, a manipulating authoritarianism will tend to fill the vacuum.7
This “manipulating
authoritarianism” has instigated a determined effort in our culture to
accept what they call alternative lifestyles as normal. By this is meant that
if a person is homosexual, lesbian, transgender, or anything other than
heterosexual, then these alternate lifestyles are to be considered normal, and
are no longer to be referred to as “alternative” lifestyles. They are normal,
period! And those who refuse to acknowledge this as “normal” will encounter social
and legal consequences. It
is why many Christian denominations have capitulated to this authoritarian
secularism in order to gain acceptance within the culture—serving man instead
of God.
The motivation behind this authoritarianism is based purely upon a subjective belief that one should be allowed to do whatever they feel like doing; or to be whatever they want to be. And no one should advise against what they want or (heaven forbid) say that it is wrong, sinful or immoral. The Bible warns against subjective thinking:
There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
Now consider the objective truth based on Scripture, any lifestyle that is devoid of Christ as the center of a person’s life that truly is an alternative lifestyle. It is not the life which God has intended for all of mankind.
In contrast, the normal life which God intended is the Divine ideal lifestyle designed for each man, woman and child—a life with God, our Creator at the center of our lives. It is an eternal life, one that begins with belief in Jesus Christ, the One who eliminated the barrier of sin between us and God, by His bearing of our sins on the cross. It is a relationship based on our love for God, as Jesus proclaimed:
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5)
A relationship bonded by peace,
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
A harmonious rapport with God, with others and within oneself. It is what the Apostle Paul meant when he exhorted the Philippians to be of the same mind:
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Philippians 2:1–2)
Our one purpose at this time in history should be to proclaim and demonstrate this Divine ideal lifestyle which is offered to “whoever believes in Him” (John 3:16). Therefore we need to speak up loud and clear about the ultimate benefit that those who believe in Christ “shall not perish, but have eternal life.”8 And that His ideal/normal life, this eternal life which He bestows does not begin after death, but it begins at the moment of faith in Jesus Christ. We can experience this ideal life today, for Jesus Christ stated that “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b).
We dare not as Christians stand by idly and allow the secularists to define a normal life as a life without God, without Christ, without eternal life, that ultimately dooms men for all eternity.
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
So what should be our course of action?
Take up signs and protest on the street corners? No!
Burn down and destroy the opposition? No!
We must return to the basics: With much prayer and increasing our knowledge of Bible Doctrine; living exemplary lives with Christ at the center; trusting in the God who controls the universe and history; relying on the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and fellow believers to become effectual witnesses for the gospel of salvation. For only the salvation of the opposition will reverse this evil trend in our culture. It may not be totally stamped out, but by the grace of God, the religion of secular humanism could itself become a memory.
[1] The American Heritage College Dictionary, p.948
[2] Geisler, Norman & Turek, Frank (1998). Legislating Morality, Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, p.91.
[3] See: Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987), https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/482/578/ [Retrieved January 18, 2023]
[4] https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto1/ [Retrieved January 18, 2023]
[5] Geisler & Turek, p.77
[6] Romans 1:18
[7] Schaeffer, Francis A. (1985). The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 5.243
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