Who Hacked This Animal? The Transhuman-Calvinist Connection

I have been critiquing Calvinism in prior posts but I want to take a moment to clarify that I do not count Reform Baptists and Protestants influenced by John Calvin as enemies, but rather I am trying to admonish them as brothers like the Bible instructs us to do. There is a danger in denying free will that we need to be aware of and by exposing it I will attempt to show you where Calvinist doctrine and scientific atheism seem to converge.

We know that there is no room for the atoning power of Jesus Christ in the secular humanist worldview pushed by prominent atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Noah Yuval Harari. I’m disturbed by Calvinism because their view of salvation actually fits hand and glove with the deterministic, godless worldview promoted by scientific atheists.

The Bible tells us to put a difference between holy and unholy, and to be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. So why should our beliefs in any way support a doctrine that denies Christ? Christianity is unique, and a Biblical view of the world is not conformable to worldly wisdom.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about the fact that where Calvinists and atheists can all agree is on the nature of free will. They both consider it an illusion to some degree. Calvinists will teach that we cannot choose to believe the gospel and be saved, that God has to thrust salvation upon us against our will. On the surface this seems very pious, because yes, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and we are by nature fallen sinners and there is none that doeth good and sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Similarly the scientific atheist believes that the entire universe, including us, operate according to certain absolute laws and principles ungoverned by our will or consent.

Psalm 14 tells us that “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” Ps 14:2 and the Lord found that the answer was no, no one seeks out or understands God’s wisdom on their own. “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Ps 14:3

The Calvinists know all of these verses and I commend anyone for searching the scriptures and diligently studying the Bible. But in their zeal they have forgotten some of the most basic and fundamental teaching the Bible gives us about our own nature and how God created us. Free will is a fundamental component of our being made in the image of God. By denying man’s free will you make God unjust for punishing us for our sins, since we weren’t free to choose our own actions or thoughts.

Most Calvinists won’t say that out loud, and will try to blunt the argument by saying that our free will is limited only in regards to our ability to receive Christ or not, but that we can choose our behaviors otherwise. But this is grasping at straws and impossible to support with scripture since every great hero and prophet of the Bible had struggles and faults and sins except for Jesus Christ (“There is none good but one, that is, God” -Matthew 19:17).

The Bible says to give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Denying free will in any way, shape, or form leaves the door wide open to devilish doctrines such as transhumanism, which teaches that human beings are just “hackable animals” with no free will, and we have to overcome our shortcomings through technology.

If we say that human beings don’t really have free will, we are conforming to will of a devilish cabal that despises us. Take a listen to this series of interviews with Yuval Noah Harari, a “philosopher” and darling of the World Economic Forum:

"Free will, that's over." -Yuval Harari

Notice how he has to talk out of both sides of his mouth. On the one hand, human beings have no free will, but on the other hand “elites” who control data will “decide” the course of the humanity’s future. How can one “decide” anything if free will does not exist?

If human beings are just hackable animals then who hacked this animal?

The atheistic snobs never want to answer that question. They will deny that the average person has free will or capacity to think for themselves but assume that they with their superior intelligence are somehow above these limitations.

We must reconcile God’s ultimate foreknowledge and sovereignty with our free will in a way that doesn’t violate scripture or give place to devilish doctrines. What is more glorifying to God? Forcing us to conform to the image of his Son, or using each and every decision we make, good or bad, to advance his ultimate victory over the Devil?

“Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Proverbs 3: 34-35

Amen.

The Great Debate That’s no Debate at All

There is an ongoing debate among Christian denominations about how salvation is obtained: Is it through faith or through works?

There are many verses in the bible that clearly answer this question, but I’ll point to the popular Ephesians 2:8-9 for simplicity:

“For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Salvation comes through faith alone and that is the answer that should end the great debate, however this subject often requires clarification. Simply saying you have faith is not evidence of salvation.

This would be the same as a Jew claiming to be saved through the mark of circumcision, but then he goes on to disregard the prophets and God’s laws.

We can say we have faith by physically altering our flesh or receiving the Catholic sacraments, but doing these things is not what saves our souls. Salvation starts with faith alone and then becomes evidenced in our works, the intentions of which only God can know.

This concept is clarified, not contradicted, in James Chapter 2:

Verses 17-19: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James points out here, that believing in God is a good start, but lots of people believe this, even devils! We would not say these devils’ souls are saved, would we?

So, what is the evidence of salvation?

Verses 20-24: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Would Abraham have offered his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice if he did not have faith in the Lord? What would faith be worth if we did not obey the commands of the Lord? It would be toothless!

Verses 25-26: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Rahab the harlot could have easily given up Joshua’s messengers to the king of Jericho, but she proclaims to them, “…for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11) and through her faith, she protects them.

So the confusion about James 2 comes from misunderstanding in WHOSE eyes you are trying to be justified in. Paul says that “by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh justified in his sight...” Romans 3:20. But in the eyes of other people, like the Hebrew spies in the book of Joshua, Rahab’s statement that she believes that their God is the true God does them no good if she betrays them to their enemies in Jericho.

Yes, faith is meaningless and dead if works do not follow, but there are no works you can do to save your own soul. That comes by faith alone.

Why Fourth Watch?

The title of our little operation comes from a story in Mark chapter 6:

“[45] And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. [46] And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. [47] And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. [48] And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. [49] But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: [50] For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. [51] And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.”

This story is an allegory of us in the New Testament. Jesus has departed for a short time. His ascension to the right hand of the father is pictured by the mountain he ventured to alone while the disciples rowed. Try as we might, we find ourselves caught at a very late hour with all the winds of this world buffeting against us.

The Bible says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except It abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

We know that the Lord sees us even when we do not see him. We know that he could easily pass us by and let us keep struggling, but out of his love and compassion he comes to us and calms the winds. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

We created this place as a way to abide in him and meditate on the word of God day and night. Our mission is to evangelize the lost and edify the children of God. We hope that with God’s blessing we can grow in the grace and knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ together with you. It is the fourth watch of the night and while we still have breath we will declare the glory of our God. Amen.