By Dennis Grimski
Exposing the Marxists Roots of the
American Left (Article V)
Article Focus: Worldview
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Introduction
I am writing a series for Blue Water Healthy Living on: “Exposing the Marxist Roots of the American Left.” This article is #5 in the series, and is a direct follow-up to my last article on Progressivism. Today, I continue to explore the progressive movement; a movement that changed both our politics and our nation. A movement that is still playing out today through the liberal left.
In today’s article, I want to explore the concept of a worldview, and how it relates to the progressive movement. In this regard, I will: (1) Have you look through the “lens” of my own worldview on how I view Progressivism; and (2) Ask you to then assess your own worldview on this topic, and see if your own worldview changes or remains the same as a result of this article.
What is a Worldview?
The term, “worldview” is used frequently today. But what does it actually mean, and what does it matter? A worldview is ultimately one’s explanation of reality: “Where do we come from?” “What is our purpose in life?” “What has gone wrong with the world?” “What accounts for the problem of evil and suffering? And, “What are the answers to these questions?” In the end everyone has a worldview whether they realize it or not. Atheists, Deists, Christians, agnostics, and religions of all kinds have a worldview. It is the way each of us understands the nature of humanity and the world around us.
As my earlier article on “Civility” discussed, there is a major divide in America. Most Americans believe we have never been more divided (or divisive) as a nation since the Civil War. Today, there is a struggle underway in our American society, and, ultimately, it is a war between two competing worldviews, or two competing explanations of reality.
The two competing worldviews in America are: the biblical (or Natural Law) perspective; and the secular humanist explanation of reality. The former is God-centered while the latter is man-centered. Our Founders’ had a God-centered worldview. The Progressives, which emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, have a “man-centered” worldview. Over the past 100 years, the Progressives have attempted to remove God from America’s landscape; and have attempted to replace Him with a “man-centric” worldview; a cognitive orientation that depends on man and his “wisdom” through his “government” for solutions to all of mankind’s problems.
As a Christian, I believe these two worldviews (God-centric or man-centric) can be traced back to two root sources: God and Satan. For me, the worldview battle in America is both a physical and spiritual war. The Bible tells us that GOD is the source of all truth, justice, mercy and moral absolutes. It is God who has ordained the institution of “government”; and it is God that allows rulers (including Presidents) to govern. Conversely, SATAN is the source of all evil in the world, including lies and distortions of truth (or false messages) men tell themselves and others. It is Satan’s plan to get you to trust in anything but God. Satan’s desire is to have you deny the existence of God (or at least allow Him to be removed from the public square), and to have you place your trust in “man” to address all of your needs and society’s woes. For me, this is the real fight America is waging: A war for your soul!
Sadly, in America today, Christianity is losing this war. Because of numerous lost battles (i.e. Court decisions; progressive laws, secular liberals wanting to remove God from everything, and an overall malaise (apathy) on the part of conservatives, especially Christian conservatives), secular humanism has emerged as the dominant worldview in our schools, universities, media, business and government. It is a subtle philosophy, such that people who nominally believe in Christian values can forfeit them without realizing it. Secular humanism seeks to undermine all other beliefs, labeling them pejoratively as prejudiced uninformed, unacademic, unenlightened, and anti-intellectual.
Secular Humanists (i.e. Progressives, Liberals, Atheists, etc.) seek to slowly erase Christianity from our American culture, including its language, history, landmarks, and influence. You can see this war taking place over the past 100 years, or since Progressivism emerged as the new socio-political philosophy endorsed by our intellectual elites.
Progressives (liberals) seek to appear “rational”, logical, up-to-date, fair, balanced, and just, while keeping their real agenda out of view of the public square. As a postmodern philosophy, Progressivism recognizes no absolutes, but demands that people find out the answers to life for themselves; answers that they are comfortable with, despite traditional or “natural law” beliefs. In other words, secularists want you to depend upon your own “rational self” for life’s answers. This is secular humanism at its core. It appeals to “rational reason” while seeking to erode traditional values, morality, marriage, family, ethics and even God. In the media and public policy it does not tolerate criticism; students and the public are expected to hear their leaders and educators uncritically, and then follow their beliefs unabashedly. Look how a black person like Kanye West, gets treated by liberals when he breaks out of the expected mode and speaks out against Democrat policies hurting black families and minorities in America. This man has been severely chastised over the past several weeks in the media as an “Uncle Tom” by the liberal community. The message: “Don’t speak out against liberalism, especially if you are a minority, or else you will get our wrath.”
Secular humanism is a way of looking at the world that emphasizes the centrality of human beings — their nature and place in the universe. There are many varieties of secular humanism, both religious and non-religious. In terms of the former, there are many different strains that have distorted religions. Secular Humanism teaches that every person has dignity and worth, and should command the respect of others. The underlying assumption is the exclusion of God.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that all liberals are atheists. Many may be religious. Some may even be self-proclaimed Christians. But, when it comes to their liberal beliefs (i.e. support for abortion, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, etc.) their socio-beliefs take precedence in their “hierarchy of values” over God’s Word. It is why a religious person can support abortion or homosexuality, for example, even though both are an abomination to God. They see no “conflict of interest” because they are “righting the world of wrongs” or “allowing others to live as they want,” as they impose (consciously or tacitly) their liberal social agenda on America. This is clearly a “worldly wisdom” because they are not following “God’s Word” on these subjects. Instead, they are looking to themselves to determine what is right and wrong, and then living accordingly. Such self-professing Christians are able to step back and let God be removed from the public square, because they truly believe that “separation of church and state” should (and must) exist, because as people, they are able to separate God from their public and personal lives. In their liberal worldview, God can be placed in a corner, and only allowed to come out on Sunday mornings, or in the privacy of your own home, as long as we don’t impose His values on society, especially upon those who don’t believe in Him. This progressive philosophy is radically different to how people, including non-believers, lived under the Founders’ philosophy of “natural law.” With a progressive belief system, there is a true disconnect between a liberal’s public and Christian life, because their governmental/socio-beliefs are in conflict with, and always win out over their Christian beliefs.
In light of the above discussion, please ponder the following question:
“Are you following ‘man’s wisdom’ (worldly logic) on how you live, including how make your political and socio decisions; or are you following God’s Word for all aspects of your life, including your public or societal beliefs?”
What is Your Worldview?
Why am I covering the topic of worldview? I think it is very important, because as you read future articles in this series, you will find these two competing worldviews at play. The battle is for our American culture; the battle is for your soul!
The Founding Fathers built our nation upon a God-centered worldview. Our founding values, principles and beliefs were based upon “Natural Law.” Natural Law maintains that certain moral laws transcend time, culture, and government. There are universal standards that apply to all mankind throughout all time. These universal moral standards are inherent in and discoverable by all of us, and form the basis of a just society. Although America has never been perfect (because it was founded by imperfect people), it has strived to live in accordance with “natural law” standards that have been effectual throughout history. It was these standards (or guiding principles) that has made America exceptional for most of our history.
Conversely, Progressivism has at its core belief “secular humanism” which is a total rejection of God, and Natural Law. Progressivism stems from post-modernism philosophers as Kant, Hegel and Marx. All these men were atheists. These philosophers believed God should be removed from society; and that man, through self-reason and government, can achieve the answers to all of society’s questions. These philosophers believed that government was the responsible entity to provide for all of society’s needs. Progressives in America adopted this post-modern philosophy; and for the past 100 years have attempted to remove God and Christian influence from our society and culture, while imposing a larger and more intrusive government on our nation.
In the American culture today you see these two worldviews at play. Under a biblical worldview, we obtain our assurance from God alone; and we obtain our salvation from the person of Jesus Christ, and His sacrificial work. Under a biblical worldview, all government is God ordained, and exists to protect our rights both at home and abroad. Under a biblical worldview, you cannot separate God and His standards from your daily living, and your overall decision making.
Conversely, and as discussed earlier, Progressives believe we can separate God from government and our own personal actions. Under this paradigm people can look to themselves to determine what is right and wrong, because there are no moral absolutes. Within a progressive society, people should only look to the government to meet their needs, and to right the wrongs of society. Liberals also believe as long as Christianity exists in America, there must be a strong “separation” between Christianity and our government. There are no absolutes under this worldview. If you reason it is right, you can do it. This progressive philosophy has led to “moral hedonism” in America, and across the world.
My point is that you cannot remove God from your life, or from any society, without consequences. We see those consequences being played out today, as the majority of American’s believe we have regressed over the past several decades because we have “lost our moral compass.” God alone tells us the benefits of turning to Him to address not just our needs, but the needs of our Nation:
Psalm 9: 9-10
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Equally, God tells us the consequences if we remove Him from our lives, and from our nation:
Psalm 9:15-17
“The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.”
My caution in this article is that you not be fooled my man’s logic, man’s reasoning, or man’s wisdom. All will deceive you and misguide you. Man’s “logic” has nothing to do with how we should live our lives. For example, we read in the Gospel of Luke, about those who think themselves to be wise and intelligent:
Luke 10:21,
“At that time, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned…”
Oftentimes, a secular humanist thinks their intelligence or their own self-reasoning enables them to understand the world; or to erroneously take God’s Word and apply it to the world as they want it. These kinds of people have faith in their own abilities, instead of faith and trust in the spiritual guidance that God’s Word alone provides. This progressive belief system leads all secular humanists into an undue pride, because they are depending upon themselves and their own self-reasoning; and in the wisdom of others (worldly wisdom). For me, they are like clouds without rain. They boast of things God didn’t give them. Therefore, such man-made decisions, in the long-term, are always worthless and prove to be disastrous for society, especially the family. This belligerence gives people a “false hope” that things will get better. The Progressives believe all we need to do is just implement more liberal (government imposed) social policies; a role the Constitution does not bequeath to the federal government.
Have you noticed under the progressive model that the “end zone” is constantly moving? When society accepts one liberal premise (or standard of living), some small group comes along and says, “We haven’t gone far enough yet,” and we’re bigots, racists, homophobes, etc., if we don’t allow this new group (usually a very small minority) to do what they want. It is why homosexuality, transgenderism, or bi-gender bathrooms are now the societal norm. Our societal values keep getting pushed more to the liberal left, because the goal line is always being moved in that direction. In a progressive society, we must accommodate the desires of any marginalized group. Progressivism is truly “worldly wisdom.”
A secular humanist either denies the existence of God, or does not turn to God’s Word for direction in their decision making, especially their political/socio decision making. Moreover, many people who claim to be Christians (but are not), make the Bible look illogical by their actions. In this context, I ask you three questions to ponder:
- “Do you take your thinking from current progressive politicians, college professors, media celebrities, or other progressive elites who tell you “what to think,” “what is “right and wrong in this world,” and “what must be done to solve the world’s problems?” and/or…
- “Does your own ‘self-logic’ and “self interests” determine your political, social and personal decisions?” or…
- “Does God’s Word truly guide your life and your daily decisions?”
How you answer these questions is important to determining your worldview. Whose “logic” are you truly following? Please note, any reference to “logic” always means “man’s wisdom” or “worldly wisdom,” and not “Godly wisdom.” In this regard, what does God say about “man’s wisdom” and/or “the wisdom of the world?”
1 Corinthians 2:4
“And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of (God’s) power.”
1 Corinthians 2:5
“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
I can testify that surely “man’s logic” did not convince me of the reality of God, or His direction for my life. It was simply a broken heart crying out to God and God revealing Himself to me, that poor wretched creature I was. I have come to the conclusion for my life that I don’t need the “world’s wisdom,” let alone the progressives’ wisdom for anything in my life. This type of wisdom God just calls “foolishness”:
1 Corinthians 3:19
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their own craftiness.”
