Last Sunday's message was about Jesus' parable of the farmer who planted seed in his field.  The parable told of some seed falling among the weeds.  Weeds in the parable are whatever comes between God and us - our worries or troubles, or riches or pleasures.  My father once said a weed is any plant that's not where it should be.  A tree in the wrong place can be a weed, and so can a vegetable or a flower.  Weeds cause problems.  If it shouldn't be there, then it needs to be removed so the good plants can grow and flourish.

          In today's parable Jesus makes the point that weeds represent people, people who don't just do wrong, people who are wrong.  That's not popular talk these days.  We're not supposed to judge others, to refer to people as good or bad.  There's a world view that says people today are all the same, no matter what they do.  They're just different, so don't judge them.  Every one has a right to be what they want, no matter if they're totally wrong, such as terrorists who kill the innocent or predators who prey on the innocent.

          But we still must face the truth, that there are good people and there are bad people.  They're made what they are by what they do.  If a person keeps on doing evil, he will become evil.  Just like the plant that chokes out the crop is a weed, so the person who does what's wrong is a weed.  He's not just a victim of circumstances, for he becomes what he does.  If you live like a weed, you will become weed.

          In Jesus' parable, the farmer saw the weeds begin to grow, and he knew this was no accident.  Someone had scattered weeds among the wheat.  In His explanation, Jesus said that person was Satan, the Evil One who spreads corruption in the world, and so the weeds were children of the Evil One.  Part of the corruption that Satan spreads is the idea that there are no weeds.  Like the song says, "There is no black, there is no white, only shades of grey." (from the song by Paul Simon of the same name)

          Some weeds are just irritating, like crabgrass or dandelions, but there is a type of weed that is noxious and terrible that it kills out the good grasses.  That kind is the Napweed we have all over our property field.  It is the Leafy Spurge that destroys crops, or the bindweed that gets so thick it will tangle your feet and make you fall.  This kind is like thistles that draw blood with their thorns.  These kinds of weeds need to be sprayed or they will ruin the crop.  Getting rid of weeds is a permanent part of a farmer's life.

          Sad to say, some people are like weeds.  They're doing the wrong things to others and they're in the wrong place, destroying others around them.  They're not just different plants, they're driven by an evil motivation, and they kill and destroy life.  They do wrong because something inside them is wrong.  Jesus spoke of this when He said, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matthew 12:35)

          When evil is stored up inside, evil will come out.  If we act like weeds long enough, we will become weeds.  And frankly, all of us without Jesus Christ are weeds.  We all need Jesus to be better than what we are.  God can change people, whomever He can.  Like we just sang in the hymn, "The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment a pardon from Jesus receives." (from "To God Be the Glory")  But the ability to become better comes from God, not from the person.  You and I need God's help if we are to change for the better.

          Last week during Bible School, the adults took time to learn about a world view called "Secular Humanism," a philosophy that's sweeping much of the western world and is contrary to Christianity in every way.  Secular Humanism says people are the center of everything.  There is no sin, and people are basically good, and that left alone, they will do the right thing.  I'm okay and you're okay.  Everybody is okay, but some are less okay than others, especially Christians or anyone who says there are moral absolutes.

          Secular humanism is based on the belief that nothing should be accepted on faith, but must be tested by each person.  Only reason, facts, and science can give solutions to human problems.  Secular humanists say there is no God and no heaven or hell.  They constantly search for new truth and new knowledge, with only human reason and tolerance to guide them.  All views are okay except Christianity.  There they become intolerant.

          Secular humanism is at the heart of much of western culture, and its set of beliefs is against God and His Word.  It's based on atheism, naturalism, evolution, and ethical relativism.  This movement is driving the culture of France, Germany and Scandinavia today, and it's moving into the United States through the courts, the entertainment industry and the schools.

          Secular humanism looks good, but it's a weed.  Christ taught that we sinners are responsible for our condition.  He taught the truths of God and that without faith in God we're lost forever.  His Word, the Bible, teaches there's only one true God, and only by faith in His Son can anyone have hope for this life or beyond.  Secular Humanism says human reason is the solution to all things.  It says the Bible is fiction, mankind evolved from the apes, there are no absolutes and that this "cosmos" is all there is to existence.

          This is the view of Isaac Asimov, E. M. Forster, Julian Huxley, Paul Kurtz, Gene Roddenberry, Bertrand Russell, Carl Sagan and Kurt Vonnegut.  This is the belief system that drives our public universities, and that drives many politicians and actors.  And humanists will not dispute this.  They're proud of their beliefs.  They're proud that secular humanism is the basis for the public education system.  And they're winning over many, many Christians to their world view.

          But secular humanism is the weed of humanity.  It's doing the wrong things in the wrong places.  It looks harmless, but it chokes the life out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their words seem harmless, but they are poison.  And they are all around us, so we have to identify them and avoid them.  Jesus' parable says we have to put up with weeds in life.  He tells us it's not possible to pull them now, or we will destroy the good plants.  The weeds will remain with the wheat until the Great Harvest, when God will separate believers from unbelievers.

          One of the mistakes the historical church has made is that it often has taken too much into its own hands.  Instead of leaving the weeds to God, they invented the Crusades.  Instead of trusting God to fix problems, they came up with the Inquisition.  But this world is in God's hands!  He will separate the weeds from the wheat, He will avenge all wrongs, He will settle all accounts.  The Church must not act like it is God.  And it certainly must never become a weed.

          Does God love the secular humanist?  Yes, of course.  He loves all people, and He loves us just the way we are.  He just won't let us stay that way for long.  His love isn't dependent on how lovable we are.  His love changes us.  He makes flowers out of weeds.  He makes believers out of unbelievers, if we just let Him.

          God loves all, including weeds, and we must follow His example.  Love changes people far more than criticism or argument.  Fear makes no one better.  We need faith, and as Ben Stein wrote, "Faith is not believing God can, it is knowing God will."  God changes people, and He will one day make obsolete this "new" set of beliefs.  We must just be careful not to buy into it.

          VBS teaches you about children.  The Bible tells us that after creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.  And the first thing He said was:  "Don't".  "Don't what?" asked Adam.  "Don't eat the forbidden fruit," God said.  "Forbidden fruit?  We got forbidden fruit?" said Adam.  "Hey, Eve, we got forbidden fruit!"  "No way!" she said.  "Yes, way!" he said.  "Don't eat that fruit!" God said.  "Why?"  "Because I am your Father and I said so!" said God.  A few minutes later God saw his kids having an apple break and He got angry.  "Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" the First Parent asked.  "Uh huh," Adam replied.  "Then why'd you do it?"  "I dunno," Eve answered.  "She started it!" Adam said.  "Did not!" said she.  "Did too!" said he.  "DID NOT!"  "DID TOO!"  From that time on, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.  But there is reassurance in this story.  If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give your children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.  If God had trouble handling children, what makes you think it would be easy for you?  So, if you have a lot of tension and get a headache, take two aspirin and stay away from kids, at least for a little while.

          Children have faith, even if they grow like weeds, and we pray they will grow into useful plants, helpful to others, and faithful to Christ.  And I pray all who are here today will remain faithful to the Lord, no matter what "new" ideas may come our way.  Amen

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.