Who Makes The Rules?

Posted on: September 4th, 2022

Jeremy Rifkin, American economic and social theorist and activist, and proponent of evolution and “New Age Religion” said: “We no longer feel ourselves to be guests in someone else’s home, and therefore obliged to make our behavior conform with a set of pre-existing cosmic rules. It is our creation now. We make the rules. We establish the parameters of reality. We create the world, and because we do, we no longer feel beholden to outside forces. We no longer have to justify our behavior, for we are now architects of the universe. We are responsible to nothing outside ourselves, for we are the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever.”

I’m sure that when some read Rifkin’s ramblings, they think they are seeing great wisdom, when in actuality they are reading foolishness! It is certainly true that many have never wanted their behavior to conform to pre-existing rules. They want to make the rules and establish the parameters of behavior and reality, and want little or no responsibility to nothing, and no one, outside of themselves.

Romans 1: 21-22 says: “Because although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise they became fools.” Those under consideration did not honor God or give Him thanks. Neither does Jeremy Rifkin. Without God, this world does not make sense. “Where did we come from”; “Why are we here”; and “Where are we going” are questions that go unanswered.

When God is abandoned, we have no standard of reference from which to make sense of things. Consequently, people become misguided and ignorant in their thoughts or reasoning i. e. their reasoning is without reason. Some translations say their thoughts become “complete nonsense.” Their heart becomes “foolish” i. e. without discernment, void of understanding and senseless. Although such a people consider themselves wise, in actuality they are “fools.” This is the sad results when one attempts to explain this world and the things in the world apart from God’s revelation of Himself and His will.

God’s standard, or rules, if you please, are for our good always, (Deut. 6: 24) even though we may not always think so. They are found in His written Word, and we will do well to conform our lives to it (Col. 3: 17), because by it we will be judged (Jn. 12: 48).That is why we should “Fear (respect, honor) God and keep His commandments” with the understanding that “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl.12: 14). Think on these things. <Dennis Abernathy>