Webster's International Unabridged Dictionary defines ISM as: a "doctrine,system,theory or practice."  We live in a world that seems to be dedicated to, and dominated by, all sorts of ISM`s. They cover a wide area of the world in which we live: ranging from the political to the religious to the social . ISM`s are nothing more than the philosophies of men. Just look at some of the ISM`s with which we are familiar: Communism, Fascism, Nazism, Mormonism, Exorcism, Catholicism, Gnosticism, Sophism, Rationalism, Humanism and Denominationalism, to name a few.   ISM's  are the single most challenge facing the Christian today because God's teachings are replaced by those fabricated by man.

If we examine ISM`s more closely we discover that all are the result of man's reasoning and construction;. All share three(3) basic characteristics: they are divisive, derisive, and dogmatic. That is, they sow disunity, ridicule and engender hard line opinion. Moreover, at the heart of each is man's ability to reason-,rationalism. Rationalism is simply a doctrine or philosophy that makes man's reason the principle source of knowledge. Consequently, it will make man's reason  the sole source of religious knowledge and reject divine revelation.

There has always has been a tendency on man's part to think that our society is unique, This has created a plethora of philosophies through which man has attempted to analyze his existence, his thoughts, his emotions, his relationship to God. The net result of all of these profound thoughts has resulted in fallacious reasoning. This is the same reasoning that was the cause of man falling from God's grace. It was fallacious reasoning on man's part that he used to circumvent the truth of his actions in the Garden of Eden. Look at Genesis 3:12, Adam blames God for his sin saying: " The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." In fact, not only does Adam blame God but he also blames his mate for his disobedience. Following this, we read ,in Genesis 3:13 :"And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." So it is that Eve blames the serpent for her sin: In both instances, we find an example of the rationalization that is prevalent today in our society,-that is shirking responsibility for one's actions by blaming others for our sins.  We also find another example in Genesis 3:4, that shows how ISM's thrive by denying truth in a way that makes wrong seem right. The serpent replies:: "ye shall not surely die", thereby disputing what God had told Adam and Eve.

Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul, were acutely aware of the ISM`S prevalent in their day and both spoke out against false doctrines and philosophies. In Matthew 7: 15, Jesus issued this warning:" Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Likewise, Paul, in Eph. 4:14,warned against deceivers who would pervert the Gospel, saying: "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." In Matt 15:9 and 16:12, Jesus again warned against those who were teaching man-made doctrines, rather than the commandments of God.

Paul was always on the alert to expose false doctrines. In Romans 16:17,he wrote:" Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." He also urged the church at Jerusalem :" Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." (Heb 13:19). Again, he said: "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith:"  (Timothy 1:4).

There is much more that can said on the subject of ISM`S because it is at the root of many of the ills in our society today. Rationalism and Humanism are but two of the current doctrines which permit people to fulfill their pleasures while denying any responsibility for their actions. In this man-made world of theirs, there is never any mention of judgment or punishment. God is not in their vocabulary. Neither do they hear or heed God's warnings against the false doctrines that bring pleasure while rejecting the ways ordained by God.

If there is any doubt about God's rejection of the false doctrines of man, one simply has to look at Rev. 2:14,15 to see what the church at Pergamum was told. In admonishing the Christians there, He said: "But I have a few things against you, because you have some who hold the teachings of Baalam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality. Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teachings of the Nicolatians."

Times may change but the world does not. The Christian today needs to evaluate all ISM's of this world. Most are a philosophy or doctrine that is devoid of God.  or worse yet, are those that purport to follow God and have formulated doctrines intermingled with traditions, liberalism, and apostasy errors. As such they are an enemy of the Lord's Church because it  places man at the center rather than God. ISM's are at the base of  many slogans that we hear today in our society:  "if it feels good do it."; "I've got a right to......"  These and others such phrase  that we hear almost everyday are the reason for the decay in our moral values and the increase in the moral and ethical corruption that permeates not only our society but also that of most of the world.    We find all in use to justify the wrong behavior, wrong thinking, and wrong speech that has become acceptable in our society.  Christian today needs to be especially wary of man-made teachings and pay especial heed to Paul 's warning to the Christians at Colossae:

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Col. 2:8)

It is therefore the Christian's responsibility to be the naysayer and spokesman against these man-made standards at every opportunity, and in particular by using their voting power to insure the type of God-fearing leadership that was the intent of our nation's founders.

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Page last updated: July 12, 2005