Concepts of Authority The Effect of Postmodern Thought

Postmodernism: A Definition A cultural and intellectual trend of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries characterized by emphasis on the ideas of the decenteredness of meaning, the value and autonomy of the local and the particular, the infinite possibilities of the human existence, and the coexistence, in a kind of collage or pastiche, of different cultures, perspectives, time periods, and ways of thinking. Postmodernism claims to address the sense of despair and fragmentation of modernism through its efforts at reconfiguring the broken pieces of the modern world into a multiplicity of new social, political, and cultural arrangements.

The Implications of Postmodern Thought Truth is relative, and each “version” of truth has equal validity. The standard for Christian faith is subjective, rather than objective. The only thing not acceptable is intolerance of another’s viewpoint. Though a logical absurdity, the only thing I am to be critical of, is criticism!

Postmodernism Documenting the Trend

Mystical Experience, Not Truth “Recently, sociologists have shown that 95% of adults believe in God or a Universal Spirit. Books on angels, near death experiences, New Age, Christianity and the occult top the best seller lists. While people are still interested in spiritual things today, the kind of spirituality commanding interest has changed vastly in recent years. “Today spirituality means mystical experience, not truth. We can seek and savor any experience we please, as long as we remain inclusive and tolerant.” Postmodernism and You: Religion By Jim Leffel & Dennis McCallum

The “Sin” of Intolerance “Not too long ago, intolerance meant rejecting or even persecuting practitioners of other religions. Not any more. Now, intolerance means questioning the validity of any aspect of another’s religion. To the majority of Americans below fifty today, questioning the truthfulness of another’s religious views is intolerant and morally offensive. This prohibition against differing with other’s viewpoints is postmodern. Postmodernism and You: Religion By Jim Leffel & Dennis McCallum

An Example of Postmodern thought “The danger… is not error but intolerance. Relativism is necessary to openness; and this is the virtue, the only virtue, which all primary education for more than fifty years has dedicated itself to [teaching]. Openness – and the relativism that makes it the only plausible stance in the face of various claims to truth and the various ways of life and kinds of human beings – is the great insight of our times. The true believer is the real danger. The study of history and of culture teaches that all the world was mad in the past; men always thought they were right, and that led to wars, persecutions, slavery, xenophobia, racism and chauvinism. The point is not to correct the mistakes and really be right; rather it is not to think that you are right at all.” The Closing of the American Mind, Allan Bloom

What Does the Bible Say about... The relativity of Truth? 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3

2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

What Does the Bible Say about... The relativity of Truth? 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3 The Concept of a Subjective Standard? John 17:1-8, 17 (Read); 2 Peter 3:14-16

2 Peter 3:14-16 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

What Does the Bible Say about... The relativity of Truth? 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3 The Concept of a Subjective Standard? John 17:1-8, 17 (Read); 2 Peter 3:14-16 The Judging of Others? John 12:48; 2 John 9-11; Jude 3

John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

2 John 9-11 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Conclusion Real, objective truth exists. That truth is knowable, and is contained in God’s word alone. To please God, we must accept that truth, and reject those who will not receive it.