In His Service: Chapter 2 The Unseen Enemy: Secular Humanism

In this second chapter Rushdoony points out the real enemy is secular humanism and, in Segerberg's words, man's "Modern Verification of His Wisdom and How It Can Help You" is the teaching of the day. Furthermore, even though "humanist can at times believe in God" they don't see Jesus as the Son of God but as a resource for man. This means that each man looks to himself for sovereignty in building society: determining each for himself what is good and evil. It is no wonder that there are so many conflicts and buildings full of laws and regulations. This is the true unseen enemy of liberty. Rushdoony makes four observations of secular humanism:

1. To take any word from God on faith is held to be irrational and bad religion.
2. It premises that it is possible that man's science, given enough time, will overcome all social and physical problems including death.
3. It follows that disobedience to God is the beginning of wisdom.
4. Every man will be his own source of law and morality instead of God's sovereignty.

These give us a clear understanding of salvation and what is necessary action in order to fight this unseen enemy. It is NOT the coercion of man to live by God's law word. It is regeneration. It is the opposite of the four observation Rushdoony laid out in this chapter:

1. Take every word of God on faith and apply it to our lives. Make it our religion.
2. Only Jesus, the Son of God and our atonement, has, is and will overcome all social and physical problems including death.
3. Obedience to God is the beginning of wisdom.
4. See Jesus as the Son of God, our atonement, Lord and Sovereign. "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matt 4:4

Secular Humanism is suicidal. We are warned:
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev 18:4

William Federer highlights the Roman Empire society before it's fall and it doesn't seem too different from our own:







Rushdoony ends this chapter with the great commission. The LORD requires us to establish His law word in our lives as far as our authority reaches. This means individually spiritually, physically and with our children, in our homes, jobs, businesses and with those under our command, not by coercion but by application on faith. If this is not done then death is our society's end.