When my wife commented on last week’s thoughts on secular humanism, I told her I was continuing this week on the worldview called nihilism. Her response, “What is nihilism?” I imagine some of you are asking the same question. So bear with me.
Imagine for a moment you’ve been driving down a road named, Secular Humanism. On this journey, you have learned there is no God, thus no Ten Commandments; there are no absolutes and all truth is relative to scientific discoveries based on logic and reason, however, this changes with almost every new discovery. You realize it’s up to you to determine our own morality because no standards exist through which you can establish right and wrong. You must even construct your own truth. You conclude life is hopeless, meaningless, and nothing matters. You have now reached the end of this road with two options. You can park at this point and maybe survive by ignoring your dilemma and filling your life with distractions. The other option, which more and more individuals are taking, is to turn on a street named Nihilism. Problem is, it quickly leads to a dead-end, but this time there are no side roads, no place to park, or even a barrier to stop you—only a deep chasm with no visible bottom. You clinch your fist and scream, “What’s the use?” and drive off the edge.
The word nihilism comes from nihil, a Latin root meaning nothing or does not exist. Although the devil had been working for hundreds of years unconsciously embedding this thought into cultures, Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher in the 19th century thrust nihilism to the forefront with his declaration, “God Is Dead.” If God is dead or He does not exist, the nihilist surmised there is no higher purpose and life is futile. The Urban Dictionary under its definition of nihilism succinctly sums it up: It’s useless to define it. It’s useless to give an example.
This thought began when I was pondering why all the senseless killings in schools around America by fellow students or those who kill for no other motive than an irrational desire for destruction. The answer seems almost too obvious. If a person, young or old, believes no God exists resulting in no meaning to life with no right or wrong then anything is permissible. With humans reduced to a biological organism produced by random chance, having no purpose and each person creating their own truth, then killing other biological organisms whether human or animal, they are all the same, then, it is right if they believe it is right and they think it might lessen their pain. God created man a little lower than angels. Secular humanism has reduced man to one step above the ape, the pig, or the rat. Little wonder it has produced an emptiness it cannot fill. This is an elementary overview of nihilism.
Hopefully, you are still with me. The good news, even for the person about to drive over the edge into the abyss of hopelessness, hope remains. Another option does exist. They can make a U-turn and return to God. King Solomon was on this road. “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecc.1:2 NIV). So I hated life . . . All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind (2:17). Thankfully, at some point he realized the problem was man without God has no meaning. Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Ecc 12:13).
No matter how rooted a nihilist’s belief that there is no God or no meaning to life, and despite the fact, they would deny they have a spiritual side, their soul continues crying out to be filled. As believers we should conduct ourselves in a manner that constantly exhibits hope. However, I have known too many Christians who live and function like a nihilist. Their demeanor, their expressions, and their speech say, “Woe is me. No hope exist.” Yes, we live in a chaotic world today with our nation heading towards biblical judgment, with Islamic terrorists slaughtering Christians by the thousands and advancing toward America, and with egomaniac leaders who on a whim could fire off their nuclear weapons, to mention only a few. So where is the hope? All this, confirms the truth of the Bible, which recorded prophecies warning us this would take place. At the end of His discourse on His second coming, Jesus proclaimed when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near (Luk 21:31).
We probably live and work around more nihilist than we realize. When we live with hope, we can know the Holy Spirit is working even in the most hopeless. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (Joh 16:8). We know that God’s Word, which we speak, is powerful. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . (Heb 4:12). Peter tells us to live such a life that it causes people to ask us to give the reason for the hope that we have (1Pet 3:15).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Seize the hope set before you. It will keep you sure and firm as an anchor for your soul. Display this hope in every aspect of your life; someone on the edge may see and make a U-turn.