2. Beliefs Have Consequences

3. Beliefs Have Consequences
Mass Suicide of “Heaven’s Gate” cult
Prophets of Baal self-mutilation
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

4. Beliefs Have Consequences
What we believe leads to how we act
& the results, Mk. 7:21-23
Moral behavior
Language
Worship
Baptism

5. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
Beliefs Have Consequences
Which Is Right?

6. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#1 Judeo-Christian
Founding moral code of USA
God is Creator, Gen. 1:1
Man made in God’s image, Gen. 1:26, 27
God’s will in the Bible, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21
Man judged by Bible, Jn. 12:48, 2 Cor. 5:10
Eternity in heaven or hell, Rom. 2:5-10

7. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#2 Secular-Humanism
Significant gains in 1960s

8. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#2 Secular-Humanism
No God
“As non-theists,
we begin with humans not God,
nature not deity”
- Humanist Manifesto II
Romans 1:20-23

9. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#2 Secular-Humanism
Universe is an accident
“Our universe is simply one of those things which happens from time to time”
E.P. Tryon quoted in - The Case For The Existence of God
Hebrews 3:4

10. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#2 Secular-Humanism
Man is a random development
“Humanism believes that man is part of nature and that he has emerged as the result of a continuous process”
- Humanist Manifesto I
James 3:9

11. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#2 Secular-Humanism
Ethics are self-derived
“…moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational…”
- Humanist Manifesto II
Proverbs 14:12

12. Beliefs Have Consequences
Two Major Belief Systems
#2 Secular-Humanism
No life after death
“There is no credible evidence that life survives the death of the body”
- Humanist Manifesto II
John 20:24-29

13. Beliefs Have Consequences
Our view of life
J-C: life is precious, Gen. 9:5, 6; Ex. 21:22-25
S-H: man like an animal
“Involved in the right to birth control is the right to voluntary… abortion”
- The Humanist, Jan/Feb 1976

14. Beliefs Have Consequences
Our view of morals
J-C: fornication, intoxication… sin, Gal. 5:19-21
S-H: fornication, intoxication… okay
“express sexual desires… as they see fit”
- The Humanist, Jan/Feb 1976

15. Beliefs Have Consequences
Rights afforded to man
J-C: rights granted by God, Acts 17:26-28
S-H: rights defined by man
“As non-theists,
we begin with humans not God”
- Humanist Manifesto II

16. Beliefs Have Consequences
Which Is Right?
Is there a way to determine?
Is one demonstrably superior?
Can the two be combined?

17. Beliefs Have Consequences
Which Is Right?
Our position: Judeo-Christian system is right
God is Creator, Gen. 1:1
Man made in God’s image, Gen. 1:26, 27
God’s will in the Bible, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21
Man judged by Bible, Jn. 12:48, 2 Cor. 5:10
Eternity in heaven or hell, Rom. 2:5-10

18. Beliefs Have Consequences
Mass Suicide of “Heaven’s Gate” cult
Prophets of Baal self-mutilation
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego