Everything we believe, the way we live, the choices we make--it is all encompassed by our worldview. What do we believe? What is truth? Do we even believe there is truth?
Among Christians today, there is an all out attack on absolute truth. It's an attack against fundamental Christianity, and what our spiritual forefathers have believed throughout history. Those who claim that the Word of God is, indeed the inerrant Word of God, are labeled "dogmatic", legalist, and worse.
The "enlightened ones", the intellectual ones have embraced a "new kind of Christianity". Much of what is hereafter discussed on this blog will be better understood if you have some sort of idea of the terms that distinguish these groups.
Fundamentalism (Bible-believing Christians):
"In Christianity, most fundamentalists are those who support a strict reading and following of Biblical texts. Churches considered to practice fundamentalism are those that tend to read most biblical texts as the undisputed word of God, which cannot be negotiated or watered down, as they claim many modern versions of Christianity do. Such churches exist in most Christian sects and may be promoted as “back to the basic” or “bible-based” churches."
(Tricia Ellis-Christensen )
Postmodernism (akin to "Emerging" and "Emergent" churches, and "free-grace" theology)
Rejecting objective truth is the cornerstone of postmodernism. In essence, postmodern ideology declares an end to all ideology and all claims to truth.
Postmodernists hold that the pretense of objective truth always does violence by excluding other voices (regarding other world views to be invalid), and marginalizing the vulnerable by scripting them out of the story. Truth claims, we are told, are essentially tools to legitimate power. That's why in postmodern culture, the person to be feared is the one who believes that we can discover ultimate truth.
Openness without the restraint of reason, and tolerance without moral appraisal are the new postmodern mandates.
(Jeff Leffel)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Amen and Amen!
Here are some quotes that have helped to instruct and encourage me in countering post-modernism:
“Stay on the road of objective truth.”-p.18, Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
“…newness is no virtue and oldness is no vice. Truth and beauty and goodness are not determined by when they exist.”-p. 19, Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
“Unlike many of their consumer-oriented neighbors, the Amish do not assemble their spirituality piecemeal by personal preference. Rather, Amish spirituality is a precious heirloom, woven together over the centuries and passed down with care.” -p.175, Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
By Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher
“It is not possible to separate art from instruction. Great literature will teach and instruct in a way that is not heavy-handed, but it will teach and instruct. Lousy fiction will preach away like a bad toothache.” -Douglas Wilson
Omnibus III, p.446
Thank you for starting a much needed blog!
Kelly,
I am so glad to see this emphasis on the postmodern church! I think many of us are attending churches who are already steeped in strange new practices and are oblivious of what is happening!
You might appreciate the Lighthouse Trails Research website (lighthousetrailsresearch.com) for more in depth information of the "postmodern" church. What is especially interesting to me on that website is their reference to the National Pastors Convention and the things being taught to young Christian youth pastors. Keep up the good work!
Julie Perry
Post a Comment