Humanism, at its core, is a worldview that values human interests, values, wellbeing and dignity above all else.  It manifests in many ways, especially in a concern for the poor that leads to various forms of systematic social service.  Judas Iscariot, though no humanist by modern standards, made an attempt to use the humanist banner as a means for personal gain.

“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.  There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,  “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”  This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.  But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.  For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” John 12:1-8

How many today use humanism as a means for personal gain?  Supposing that service to the poor is what God wants from us, that it is the manifestation of love that He calls for, how many attempt to give to Him what they think He wants so they can get what they want?  Sadly, many professed followers of Christ have fallen prey to the snare of humanism.  God the Father is not a humanist and neither is His Son.  He does what He does for His Name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 – “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Psalm 106:8 – “Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power known.”

Isaiah 48:11 – “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.”

Certainly, anyone who aligns himself under the banner of humanism, even in the “name of God”, is doing it for personal gain, not according to His will.  But someone will surely say, “Jesus said that the poor we will always have with us and in saying so, that we ought to take care of them now that He is gone.”  And also, “But scripture says that we ought to strengthen the hand of the poor, and so on.”  All true, but there is a time, and a place and even a certain way.  This is the point of our Lord in His rebuke to Judas.  Many churches and well intended persons start soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and various other 501c3 social service organizations supposing that now is the time, theirs’ is the place, and that is the way.  That is not the way.

Jesus instructs us not to do our charitable deeds before men.  It is impossible to do this as a social service organization.  No glory is had for the one who gives out of his abundance, and definitely none is had for the one who starts a non-profit to receive the abundance of others for a charitable distribution.  Honor is given to the one who privately gives out of her poverty.  The sacrifice that God wants from each of us is a personal sacrifice, our lives as a living sacrifice in service to His people.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6-7

God does not want us to start non-profits.  He wants you to share the bread from your own table.  God doesn’t want us to start homeless shelters.  He wants you to open your house to the cast out.  He does not want you to start a free clothing store, unless it is out of your closet of spare tunics.  Though the thought of incorporating, streamlining, and systematizing the process of aiding the impoverished may seem like a good one in that it is apparently more efficient, giving the greatest benefit to the most, it is not how God told us to do it.  If anything, the creation of such organizations does not bring us closer to one another and to God, it distances us further from one another, giving to one the impression that they are doing some good deed while really enabling them to not have to make personal sacrifice.  If you really want to help your neighbor, instead of sending them to an unavoidably poorly kept homeless shelter, open up your spare room.

With all of the how-to aside, the even bigger issue is that we have not even been called by God to a relentless pursuit of humanitarian aid.  He is not in the business of trying to save everyone at all times.  According to His wisdom, He pursues certain ones at certain times and even at that, He is not out to save every single individual.  This is a hard truth, but even Jesus said much the same and they tried to kill Him for it.

Then He [Jesus] said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.  But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land;  but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” Luke 4:24-30

There is a time and a place to serve in certain capacities, and we must obey His voice to serve Him and others as we ought.  At all times, the Lord desires that we listen to His voice, not scheming things to do “for Him” but just doing what we are told.  Though the gospel and even the power of God could and would be beneficial for all mankind, Jesus gave His disciples specific commands as to its distribution.

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,  nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.  “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Matthew 10:5-15

Even a well intended attempt to preach the gospel was stopped short by the wisdom of God when Paul desired to preach in Asia.

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. Acts 16:6

The reason for this?  God had different things in mind at the time, things like Macedonia.

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.  So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:7-10

The thing is, from our perspective down here, we don’t know where or what He is working and if we should attempt some great work where He is not, certainly our work will benefit His kingdom none.   If He is preparing hearts in Macedonia, we have no business in Asia.

“But what about love?” the humanist cries.  “Is that not His command to us, to love everyone at all times?”  But what is His command?  Did He say, “Love everyone at all times, especially the poor, for this is how the world will know that you are My disciples.”?  That is not what He said.  He says to His disciples,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

We ought to first love the household of God, for this is His command to us.  The world will know that we are His disciples not by our love for the poor, but by our love for one another.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

Especially to those who are of the household of faith, but as we have opportunity, let us do good to all.  Certainly the humanist will rally around this point, to do good to all, but let us be sober and put all things in their place.  First, we must be certain to have our own house in order, to see first that the needs of the children of God are met.  Our Lord gives us example.

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”  But He answered her not a word.   And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”  But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”  But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”  Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:22-28

But what does it mean when Paul writes, “as we have opportunity”?  Certainly it does not mean that we go out in search of the poor, or even our enemies, though we are instructed to provide for them in their need.  The Good Samaritan, a model for loving our enemies and our neighbors (Samaritans and Jews were both enemies and neighbors), did not go out in search of men, beaten and left for dead.  He, as all of the children of God, was journeying on his way when he encountered the unfortunate victim.  The Samaritan was not prowling the streets, looking for social service opportunities, but when he encountered one he didn’t hesitate to do what was necessary.  Such practice is not humanism, it is righteousness in action.  The Lord gives us a mission, to seek the kingdom and His righteousness, and as we stay the course, we may have opportunity to serve others on the way (and so we should), but their service is not our mission.  God gave us a certain pattern to follow and we must be diligent to do so, not being deceived by the humanist plea nor using the humanist banner as a means of personal gain for certainly by it we gain nothing.

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