I say quite clearly, that YES there is a difference between light and dark, matter and anti-matter, humanism and spirituality, and YES the difference matters. So let's look at the spectrum of religion based on the belief in self:
- Hedonism - self is to be pleasured
- Humanism - self is the means, the mode, and the end
- Christianity - self is selfishness and must be surrendered in order to experience the true pleasure that comes from eternal connection to God
Grey Defined (Link to Artist)
Grey is simply components of black and white. Our belief system, much like this painting, are elements of truth and lies. Muddled together, our belief system can be a confusing mess of do's and don'ts. But what if our lines of truth or lies had eternal significance? Wouldn't it be worth the investment to look a little closer at things and make some objective decisions?
The universe is divided into matter and anti-matter, so even on the macro scale, there is a truth about what is and what opposes what is. As humans on Earth, we are the colourful result of matter, which is what our universe and our existence is made up of. "[T]he observable universe is apparently composed almost entirely of matter" (Wikipedia). We are complex, dynamic, and extraordinary beings.
Yet, no matter how complex we are or how complex the universe is, all things can be whittled down to the basic components of 'yes' and 'no', 'light' and 'dark', 'truth' or 'lie'. I would suggest that who we are and what we believe is matter itself and that faith is an actual assurance; the "evidence of things unseen" (Hebrews 11:1, KJV).
There is a measurable truth to our existence. Our ability to love, to serve, and to choose God, are all evidences that we can deal with the hard realities of black and white. So let's dismantle the grey veil of uncertainty and address the topic of self.
Hedonism & Humanism - Modern Religion
The popular culture of today's philosophies/religions are leaning towards hedonism (pleasure seeking) and humanism (human glory). Both Hedonism and Humanism have very clear intentions of marking their 'modern' truth as light and as right. They define truth as self-fulfillment and one's own glory.
In a world where political correctness is the new gospel, self-awareness, self-entitlement, and indulging in pleasure are easy sells. On the surface, Hedonism and Humanism seem fantastic. Who doesn't like pleasure? Who doesn't like to do good things for oneself?
But is selfishness truth? Is self-fulfillment light? I don't think so... I would argue that what Hedonism says is light, is actually what destroys light; what Humanism says is truth, I would venture to say causes people to lie. And here is why...
To be a Hedonist is to indulge oneself on wants to the detriment of something or someone else (just as indulging on sugar is a detriment to one's body). To be a Humanist, is to believe that human gain is the end, the means, and the goal of everything no matter what it costs (just as gaining the perfect kernel of wheat comes at the cost of its genetic integrity).
But pleasure, once satisfied, is no longer pleasurable. Thus, pleasure is temporary and disposable. Likewise, human glory is short lived because humans die. So where is the hope in that? Where is the life-giving-upon-life-giving system within Hedonism or Humanism? I have not seen it. Instead, I see pleasure as the pathway to compromise, and human glory as the road to envy.
What is true and light, must bear life. Does pleasure seeking and human gratification often come with bearing life? Not usually...
Hedonism & Humanism - Spiritual Consumerism?!?
Consumerism has us hungry for anything that is quick, low-cost, and easy to acquire. We want stuff, we want a lot of stuff, and we want it now. We want it, no matter what the consequence is. That is what consumerism is.
Do most shoppers care that a $5 shirt was made with child labour? Not if it saves them $20. Do most families care that their wheat has been modified with so many chromosomes that the human body doesn't recognize it anymore? Not if that wheat lowers the cost of bread. These are just some of the consequences that occur when consumerism compromises integrity for the sake of obtaining something cheaper or easier.
It is arguable that Hedonism and Humanism are the consumers of the spiritual world. They say, "give me what I want so I feel good, no matter what the cost" or "give me a belief that doesn't require a cost, so that I feel comfortable".
Hedonism and Humanism are like the genetically modified organisms (GMO's) on the shelf of our world's spiritual mega-markets. They are quick, easy, and accessible, but altogether dangerous because they compromise the integrity of the human spirit.
How can Hedonism be light if its goal is selfish? How can Humanism be right if its end goal is human gain? I don't see the truth nor the light in compromise and selfishness.
After all, pleasures change, humans die, and there is still a Universe and an eternity of consequence to follow. Our choices today, create and matter tomorrow!
Christianity as Selflessness - What about Pleasure?
Christians and Hedonists/Humanists are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Christians believe that to be human is to err and to become a Christian is to give up one's selfishness. It is really that simple.Does that means Christians give up all pleasure? In some ways yes, in some ways no. Christians are called to be pure, blameless etc. But there is such a thing as a pure-pleasure. In fact, some Christians experience God's goodness, love, and joy to such extents that they are called "Ecstatics": people who experience fits of delights or pleasure (Dictionary.com).
So yes, Christians have and practice pleasure, it is just that Christians believe in untainted and self-less pleasures rather than polluted or selfish pleasures.
Spiritual Banking
Anyone who tells you that there isn't a cost and a gain associated with an eternal choice is lying.Jesus made it clear--you either choose him or you don't (John 14:6). Either way, we live with Him in Paradise or without Him in the absence of anything good (Hell). To choose Jesus is to reject Humanism; to choose Humanism is to reject Jesus. There is always a clear choice of spiritual debit and credit. It is black or white (how very unpopular of me to say so).
In Christianity, Jesus is the ultimate account holder for souls. He is the only point of entry to eternity because he made the debit to gain eternal access (cost) so that we could have the credit (gain). To 'bank on Jesus' as our eternal gatekeeper to heaven is to put all of our spiritual investment in Him. This is what is means to refer to Jesus as your "Saviour"--he holds they key to saving you from yourself and saving you for eternity.
Is such a faith venture a 'high risk investment'? Yes. Your entire eternity is riding on it. You are 'all in'. Jesus is the only name given to us to be saved (Acts 4:12), so he is also your only ticket to eternal life.
Eternal banking has a cost. The buy-in is your soul and the payout is immortality. We make the choice how to bank, where to place our faith, either actively or by default. We are either for ourselves (humanist) or for God (selflessness), but we can't be both.
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