Question: Hi Greg!

I’ve been hearing and reading about "Postmodernism" – can you explain what it is and how it affects the church today?

Thanks for your ministry!

Gene

Answer: Hello Gene,

"Postmodernism" is a term used to describe a philosophical position that includes what is called "deconstructionism" – this has to do with how one views reality, the world, God and the Bible. A deconstructionist wishes to reconstruct meaning – the meaning we find in God, the Bible, etc. some of the foundational views include relativism – all meaning is relative to culture and a specific situation. In the 1950’s this view was popularized in the disciplines of philosophy and ethics by Joseph Fletcher in his book Situation Ethics. This impacts the Bible and our view of God by suggesting that there are no absolutes, no concretes, but situation and culture must define meaning, right and wrong.

Another view includes the thought that truth is conditioned by one’s perspective – thus, if I am a middle-aged white heterosexual male living in North America, I may embrace certain values and truths – but these truths may not be true for someone who does not share my perspective. Thus we have the belief today held by many as one of the supreme values – all viewpoints, lifestyles, and behaviors are equally valid. Political correctness is yet one of the outgrowths of this thought.

Postmodernism results from naturalism – the idea that the universe evolved, that there is no sovereign God – which moved to moral relativism – the idea that there is no objective truth or morality, and we are left to subjectively decide for ourselves – to multiculturalism – the idea that all cultures are just as right, good, and proper as another, and that it is intolerant to view one culture as morally superior to another – those thoughts are readily identified in 1999 America.

The term "postmodern" is often used by evangelicals as a symbol for our cultural war (which many believe is over) – a clash of belief systems. The term "post-Christian" is also used to draw attention to the European model, where Christians are definitely a minority, and naturalism, secularism, atheism, agnosticism, etc.

How we got to be as messed up as we are today is a fascinating study – at the very least any study would have to include the ideas and philosophies of the Enlightenment (including nihilism and existentialism) – and such men as Darwin, Hegel, Kant, to name a few.

I could go on and on – but other tasks await. Hope this helps.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht