Can You Discern the Spirit Behind the Gospel of Reason?
While many politicians—including President Obama—are embracing the National Day of Prayer, at least two members of Congress, as well as state and local officials, are swinging their support to the atheistic camp in the name of reason.
Indeed, Congressman Michael Honda, D-Calif., and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., are celebrating the National Day of Reason, which bills itself as an “observance promoting a more inclusive alternative to the religiously focused, government-sponsored National Day of Prayer.”
It doesn’t take a lot of spiritual discernment to figure out what group is behind this one. You guessed it: the American Humanist Association. This irreverent institution has worked hard to encourage elected officials to proclaim May 1 as the National Day of Reason, flying in the face of the political correctness for which they typically strive.
Listen to Honda’s “reason” and discern the spirit behind this:
“Our Founding Fathers based the Constitution of the United States upon philosophical principles that have their origins in the historical Age of Reason. On the National Day of Reason, we remember and celebrate this history, including the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion and freedom from the imposition of religion by the state.”
I guess he read the rewritten history books that so many Christians are opposing. What a warped view of our Founding Fathers and their intentions! Yes, of course, freedom of religion was part of the First Amendment, but attacking Christianity—and specifically targeting our National Day of Prayer—was not. What spirit do you discern in Honda’s reasoning? Clearly, it’s anti-Christ.
Now listen to Holmes Norton’s “reason” and discern the spirit:
“I hope that all Americans—religious, nonreligious and secular alike—will join in observing the National Day of Reason. This day provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the positive impacts on humanity of reason, critical thought and the scientific method, which have always been acknowledged to be consistent with religious faith, and to reaffirm that the line between religion and government must remain indelible.”
What spirit is operating here? You got it—it’s the spirit of compromise. But make no mistake, when you start compromising your faith to “get along” with secularists, it doesn’t lead anybody to Christ. God gave us the ability to reason, but not at the expense of choosing to celebrate reason while hundreds of thousands of others are unifying in prayer for a nation whose foundations are crumbling before our eyes.
Finally, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee has issued a proclamation declaring May 1 as the National Day of Reason. Ironically, in an age where Christian liberty is being suppressed from coast to coast, he’s suggesting the National Day of Reason can help prevent government intrusion into the private sphere of worship. His reasoning almost sounds right, until you realize this is the same Lincoln Chafee who opposes Christmas trees, preferring to call them “holiday trees.”
Saints, as you head into prayer on this, the National Day of Prayer, ask God to increase your discernment. The enemy is sly as a serpent but hardly harmless as a dove. And know this: If you are compromising your faith in any way, such compromise will hinder your ability to rightly divide the Word of truth—you will water down your spiritual discernment with tolerance. Walk in love, absolutely, but don’t walk in compromise with people who believe that man is his own god. Don’t buy into the gospel of reason!
Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including The Making of a Prophet. You can email Jennifer at [email protected] or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
