Christian or Deist?
By Buddy Hanson
The Covenant News
December 09, 2009
As the saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words,” so the question each of us needs to answer is: “Does our lifestyle reflect that we are a Christian, or a non-Christian?” For Christians, a more realistic question might be: “Does my daily decisions (whether in the legislature, the courthouse, the home, or other vocation) testify to those around me that I am a Christian or a Deist?
Were I not, by God’s grace, a Christian, I probably would be a deist. From a non-Christian viewpoint, there are a couple of good reasons to be a deist. First, this explains the orderliness in creation that cannot be explained by a totally chance and random “Big Bang” theory. Second, imagining that God created the universe (and us) and is now sitting idly by watching us “do our thing” is comforting because such a view doesn’t hold us accountable for our actions. Since Deists don’t allow for any on-going communications with God, we could make up ways to worship Him one day a week, then push Him completely out of our minds during the remainder of the week, while we attend to our “real world” obligations.
The separation of the church and state takes on a completely new meaning for Deists. According to Christianity, both of these spheres are assigned specific responsibilities by God, and the state should not usurp the responsibilities of the church, and vice-versa. Both spheres, however, are accountable to operate according to biblical ethics. On the other hand, Deists have no such guidelines, so they can live like hell on earth, while imagining that they will go to heaven when they die. Talk about the best of both worlds!
While Deists can’t see that theirs is a false religion, the scales from our eyes have mercifully been removed so we can correctly see the truth (Acts 9.3-19). We know that God is actively involved in His creation, and we know that we have been called to transform our culture into one that reflects His will (Matthew 6.10).
Living and governing ourselves according to biblical ethics brings order out of the chaotic “law of the jungle” that our evolutionary non-Christians believe-in and according to which they legislate.
Do we really need to be reminded of the diabolical differences between a non-Christian’s purpose for life and a Christian’s? Non-Christians, with their self-centered interests, are motivated to amass power and control while bringing honor and esteem to themselves. This was the self-expressed motivation behind the building of the Tower of Babel: “Let us make a name for ourselves (Genesis 11.4). The four examples that follow should help make this clear:
Man’s Ideology Determines His Purpose
Ø Everybody does their own thing. (anarchy)
Ø Man is an economic unit to fund the state’s priorities. (communism/fascism/socialism)
Ø The more that central government expands, bureaucrats usurp the liberties of citizens, forcing them to conform to their regulations, instead of being self-governing.
Ø Law becomes an instrument of social reform, as courts usurp the responsibilities of elected representatives by imposing their ethical agenda upon the populace.
Ø Lawmakers outwardly complain, but inwardly refuse to apply constitutional restraints upon the courts by using rhetoric that the court system is “running away” with our constitutional rights, when the truth is the legislators are “running away” from their responsibilities to police the courts because they agree with the courts’ rulings and are complicit with them in their unconstitutional and anti-American rulings.
While non-Christians are striving to build a name for themselves by serving their interests, we should be striving to build a name for God by serving His interests.God has “written His laws on our hearts and promises to be our God,” so instead of being concerned about the negative consequences that may or may not result by obediently following Him, our focus should be on the sure and certain blessings that He promises to us and to our children and their children. (Exodus 20.5-6) Non-Christians who scoff at our absolute ethics as being archaic, will one day be destroyed by their own wisdom!
Their attempt to remove Christ from His throne is similar to attempting to remove the law of gravity from physics. It simply cannot be done. The Creator of the earth may allow a country, or several countries to live in darkness for a time in order to suit His eternally perfect purposes, but sooner or later Christ will raise His scepter, through the obedient members of His kingdom, and “crush our enemies under our feet.” (Romans 16.20)
As a people who have been rescued from eternal separation from our Creator, we no longer are compelled to have a selfish ambition, but now have Christ’s mind embedded in our hearts. (Philippians 2.3-5) So let us join in taking part in Christ’s victory on earth by making Satan’s worst nightmare come true! May we “stand firm, letting nothing deter us from giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because we have been promised that our labor in the Lord is not in vain!” (1 Corinthians 15.58) As we refuse to be conformed to the non-Christian agenda for our culture (Ephesians 5.7-11), we will be able to say with Joseph:
Buddy Hanson is President of the Christian Policy Network and Director of the Christian Worldview Resources Center and has written several books on the necessity of applying one’s faith to everyday situations, circumstances and decision-making.
Contact:
Buddy Hanson
President
2 Windsor Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
205.454.1442
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
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