Altruistic Hedonism

Altruism is an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others. Hedonism makes personal pleasure the principal good and proper aim of behavior. A strange marriage of these two ethics, by which many modems order their lives, may be called altruistic hedonism.

A good example is Hawkeye Pierce, character from the long-running television series, M.A.S.H. On the one hand, Hawkeye is an altruist. As an extremely talented and totally unselfish surgeon, he tirelessly volunteers his healing hands to aid helpless wartime victims. In this regard, Hawkeye is the consummate humanitarian. On the other hand, back in his tent between crises, he is equally devoted to getting drunk, seducing women, and sharpening his irreverent wit at the expense of Frank Burns (who, in the movie version especially, is portrayed as a hypocritical Christian). Hawkeye is an altruistic hedonist who outdoes his fellows in both tenderhearted succor of the needy and unbridled indulgence in victimless" sins.

Due largely to the influence of a philosophy called secular humanism, our world is full of real-life Hawkeyes who double-major in virtue and vice. Humanism bases ethics purely on human need and interest, apart from any sanctions from God. It defends the works of the flesh, while at the same time indicting Christian traditions because they "often impede the will to serve others" (Humanist Manifesto II, under "Religion," "First").

It is important to point out the errors of altruistic hedonism because of the inherent attractiveness and persuasive power of its humanitarian spirit. Self-sacrificing humanists do exist. Consider, for example, Albert Schweitzer. Early in this century, Schweitzer earned a doctorate in theology as he struggled with, and chronicled his loss of faith in, the historical Jesus. Nevertheless, he went on to earn another doctorate in medicine and devote the rest of his days to healing the tribesmen of Africa. Schweitzer laid down his life for unknown "friends," and his altruism, as such, is to be appreciated (John 15:13). But no resume of "wonderful works" can hide the glaring fallacies of altruistic hedonism and humanism (Matt. 7:22).

1. "Altruistic hedonism" (humanism) has no philosophic base for any "values " whatsoever. If the theory of evolution is true, then man is of the same nature as an insect, and there is no logical ground for it to be more of a crime to kill one than the other. If not, why not? In 1980, brother Thomas B. Warren pressed humanist author, Dr. Joe Barnhart of North Texas State University, to prove philosophically why it was wrong for a child-molester, recently featured in the news, to rape a 4-year-old girl. Barnhart could not answer, and no humanist alive can. In fact, the humanist is typically a self-righteous snob who is too arrogant even to attempt to answer such well taken questions. For humanism offers no standard whatsoever by which it is one whit more moral to die for a friend than to betray one.

The hedonist who feigns himself an altruist will be undone come Judgment Day (Acts 24:25), because devoted hedonists will be sentenced to hell as murderers, seeing they revel in that which brought all death and suffering into God's creation - namely, sin itself (John 8:44; Rom. 5:12).

2. "Altruistic hedonism" (humanism) destroys human beings, i.e. hedonists themselves. Various sins destroy the physical man. "He that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Cor. 6:18). Drug addicts sin against the brain; drunkards sin against the liver; smokers sin against the lungs; and pinchers and dippers sin against the cheek and gums.

But the hedonist not only destroys his own body, he also sets an example that encourages others to be self-destructive. In fact, one of the most precious virtues the hedonist tramples under foot is his leverage to persuade others (even loved ones and children) not to engage in self-destructive behaviors! Many a drug user has been awakened to the viciousness of his sin only after seeing the hedonism with which he has infected a friend, cost the friend's life. Altruistic hedonists should see themselves mirrored in the self-destructive neighbors they sacrifice to help (Matt. 7:3-5; Rom. 2:21).

3. "Altruistic hedonism" (humanism) destroys souls. Sin always destroys the spiritual man. Even 44 victimless" sin is exceeding sinful, because it negates the very purpose for which man was created, namely, to enjoy the Father's fellowship (Gen. 2:15; 3:8; John 4:23; 1 John 1:5-7; Rev. 21:3-8). Dear reader, it is criminal to tell a Gospel messenger, "Oh, don't worry about me," when God has "worried" enough about you to send his only begotten Son to die for you (John 3:16)! It is no mark of humility nor act of "altruism" toward God to judge oneself "unworthy of eternal life" by rejecting the Gospel (Acts 13:44-48).

True selflessness involves self-denial of those behaviors that the Scriptures term "works of the flesh ' " based on a realization that such deeds barricade fellowship between God and man (Gal. 5:1921, 24; cf. Matt. 5:29-30; 18:8-9; Mark 9:43; Rom. 6:12-13; 8:13; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:5; Heb. 11:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:11; 4:2-3). Hedonists make pastime of the following: (1) nurtured sexual lust ("uncleanness, lasciviousness"), (2) nurtured anger ("wrath," "envyings"), (3) drug abuse (pharmakeia, Gk.), and (4) drinking ("drunkenness, revelings, and such like"). But Paul forewarns that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21). Because these sins are never truly "victimless," the true altruist will always stop and ask, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9).

4. "Altruistic hedonism " (humanism) does not practice altruism toward Jesus Christ. Living, not for self, but for Christ is the only "altruism" worthy of the name. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:23-24; cf. 14:26; John 12:25-26). "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:14-15). Christianity does not "impede the will to serve others" (Matt. 20:27-28; Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Cor. 10:24 with Gen. 13:9; Phil. 2:3-5). But infidelic humanism does "impede the will to serve" the risen Lord. The acid test of altruism is whether one will be a friend to the Son of God (John 15:14).

They tried my Lord and Master
With no one to defend
Within the halls of Pilate
He stood without a friend.
I'll be a friend to Jesus
My life for him I'll spend.
I'll be a friend to Jesus
Until my years shall end.

5. "Altruistic hedonism" (humanism) is based on factual falsehood. Ultimately, Christianity and humanism struggle to the death over questions, not of "right and wrong," but of "true or false." Is man a unique, miraculous creation of God? Was Jesus of Nazareth resurrected bodily from the dead? Did the central event of Christianity occur? These are the questions which underlie the worth of present-day behaviors. Either Jesus is the risen Lord and his ethics are right, or he is not Lord and his ethics are groundless lies. Yet humanists generally steer clear of a head-on factual confrontation against the God-given, rationally-compelling evidences of the truth of Christianity, lest it demolish the very premise of their hedonism (John 3:19-21).

Let us remember that as Jesus walked to the cross, sympathetic bystanders "bewailed and lamented him" (Luke 23:26). Jesus, however, did not stop to commend their "social conscience." Instead, he rebuked them, saying, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves, and for your children" (Luke 23:27-28). Only self-conscious tears could impress these Jewish bystanders with their plight, as they faced the Roman invasion of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and eternal punishment in hell after death (Matt. 21:43; 25:46; Luke 23:29-3 1). On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, those who had learned to weep for themselves were 64 pricked in their heart" as Peter convicted them for their wicked deeds (Acts 2:23, 37). Thankfully, their tears moved them to repent and obey Christ in baptism, at which point they received eternity's greatest blessing, "the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38, 41).

We plead with the "altruistic hedonists" of the 20th century to do likewise. Hear Christ speaking, and even if it does not come naturally, weep "for yourselves" (Luke 23:28). Take your eyes off others; stand for a moment alone before God. Turn that wonderful compassion upward and inward, and while you may yet "sorrow to repentance," weep for your sins and yourself (2 Cor. 7:9).