APOLOGETICS 2 - LECTURE 2

APOLOGETICS 2

Lecture 2

The Multi-Layered and Destructive Design of Secularism

I. SECULARIZATION AND SECULARISM

A. Definitions:

1. Secularization

a. a preoccupation with the things of this world and the consequent loss of an ultimate concern…. It is man-centred, materialistic, and temporally oriented…. man’s preoccupation with this world over the world to come.

2. Secularism:A philosophy which attempts to achieve human betterment without reference to Godor religion[1]

B. What Is the Relationship Between Secularization and Secularism

1. Ismsare the results of narratives believed

a. Isms= strongholds

b. narratives= framing of reality

2. Secularismis the result of secularization

a. Secularization opens the doorway to secularism….[2]

C. What Does It Look Like When The Narrative (Secularization - The Framing Of Reality) Becomes the Ism (Secularism - The Stronghold)?

1. People live secular lives (they act, value and relate to others) as because they believe this life is ALL that matters.

2. People live according to their thinking, with thinking being understood Biblically: the mind as inseparable from the heart.

3. The separation of mind from heart is a fruit of secularism.

II. THE ORIGINS AND NARRATIVE FRUITS OF SECULARISM

A. The Garden Origen of Secularism

1. The Garden Summarized:

a. The Biblical Origin: “Has God said?”

b. The Narrative Framing: There is another option other than the Lord’s

c. The Belief: I can achieve significance, value, and satisfaction without reference to God OR religion.

2. The Garden As War

a. The enemy has been trying to abortthe mission from the beginning – and his schemes are the same: MindGames through False Narratives

B. The Fruits of Secularism In the Garden

1. Secularism: There is another option other than the Lord’s

2. Relativism: There is YOUR Option (Truth) as opposed to your Husband’s version

3. Narcissism: It is all about YOU (See it your way, dream it YOUR way, etc).

4. Naturalism: It is ONLY about what the serpent says and what you SEE that defines your reality, truth, etc. – not what God says or how He sees (supernatural)

III. THE PROBLEMS OF SECULARISM TO THE SOUL OF MAN

A. Secularism’s Problem #1: Though exiled from Eden significance, value, and satisfaction are found only in Eden.

1. “We are creatures of longing. When we misdiagnose the object of our longing, then we become frustrated and disappointed. Our longings for relationship often get frustrated in conflict. Our longings for satisfaction get frustrated in discontent. Our longings Our longings for significance get frustrated by or own inadequacies. J.R.R. Tolkien diagnosis the roots of our longing: ‘We all long for [Eden], and we are constantly glimpsing at it: our whole nature at its best and least corrupted, its gentlest and most humane, is still soaked with a sense of exile’ ”(G.K. Beale, pg.17).

B. Secularism’s Problem #2: Secularism cultivates divided minds and divided existences.

1. The image of God is not destroyed

a. Remember this definition of Secularism: A philosophy which attempts to achieve human betterment without reference to God OR religion. The problem is that the image of God in us is not destroyed but only distorted; we still have that longing for Eden

2. The desire of man is for mentaland moral autonomy

3. The result is functioning in the dysfunction

a. Comfort in the chaos:

i. The Picture: People may claim religion, but what is true of them is that for which they will give their bodies for and to: Time, Talent, Treasure.

“Secularism takes on a particularly reprehensible aspect when it invades the church. There it asserts, “Religion is a private, not a public matter” and shows its concern to be “this worldly” rather than “other worldly.” It redefines the gospel, the mission of the church, and the manner and sphere of Christian life in terms of social action and human relationships. It is worldliness, fulfilling the old saying, “I looked for the church and I found it in the world; I looked for the world and I found it in the church.”[3]

b. Chaos from the chaos:

i. The Picture: People begin to see the chaos of trying to live opposite of what they were created for. Until people are made to see or see this, they will never turn away from secularism

IV. THE BIBLICAL WORDVIEW AND SECULARISM

A. Creation

1. What is secularism’s view of this

2. How would you engage and oppose this from the Biblical worldview?

B. Fall

1. What is secularism’s view of this

2. How would you engage and oppose this from the Biblical worldview?

C. Redemption

1. What is secularism’s view of this

2. How would you engage and oppose this from the Biblical worldview?

D. Consummation

1. What is secularism’s view of this

2. How would you engage and oppose this from the Biblical worldview?

[1]Cairns, A. (2002). In Dictionary of Theological Terms (p. 410). Ambassador Emerald International. [2]Bloesch, D. G. (2002). The Christian Witness in a Secular Age: An Evaluation of Nine Contemporary Theologians(p. 15). Wipf & Stock. [3]Cairns, A. (2002). In Dictionary of Theological Terms (p. 410). Ambassador Emerald International.