What is Postmodernism?
Postmodernism means after
Modernism. Modernism is the period of time from approximately 1890-1945. This
period covered from before World War I to the end of World War II. Modernism is the ideology that human philosophy is king. In other words, we can understand humanity and life apart from divine revelation through human reason and the sciences - the rejection of Biblical truth. Postmodernism the spawn of modernism says that truth is relative and
subjective. In other words, a common phrase postmodernists use is, “that may be
true for you, but not for me!” The reason for this mindest is they say data is ever-changing, so no absolute conclusions can be drawn. As a result, the postmodernist concludes there are no absolute conclusions because absolute truth and knowledge are unknowable. What is the tragic result of this mindset? Everyone decides for themselves what is true. In non-essential areas such as food, fashion,
movies, music, etc relativity is fine. Each can have his or her own opinion for
there are no absolutes or one truth. But, when it comes to Biblical truth, it
is absolute. Any philosophy or ideology that deviates from Holy Scripture is
false.
Some philosophers who contributed
to this line of thinking were Renee Descartes, Frederick Nietzsche, and Immanuel
Kant. Descartes was the one that used that very famous phrase, “I think
therefore I am." Nietzsche declared that God was dead and that Christianity was
a “religion of pity” [1]
Kant said that knowledge of God was impossible. Kant declared that spiritual
matters were merely opinions, and only the empirical sciences were truth. Kant
separated facts from faith saying, “facts have nothing to do with religion." These
elite thinkers and several others influenced western culture and thought in the
19th century up until the present. These philosophies planted the
seeds of the postmodernist worldview. Postmodernism is very dangerous for
several reasons:
1.
It
promotes pluralism – Pluralism is the idea that every philosophy is
acceptable. Since there is no absolute truth in this view, then there can be no
one religion that is true and all the others false. Remember in this view truth
is subjective, not objective. So in essence truth is determined by man and not
God. This, in essence, is Atheism.
2.
It’s
a philosophy of deconstruction - Postmodernism is a modern tradition that
attempts to make the word of God of no effect. For many, this false belief has
been unfortunately successful. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for undercutting the
word of God in favor of their tradition (Matt 15:1-8).
3.
It
attempts to deify man and kill God – If man is calling all the shots and
can create his own religion(s), then he becomes his own sovereign, and thus
will glorify himself – praise that should go to God alone (Isa 42:8; 48:11).
4.
Postmodernism
is contradictory – This view actually deconstructs itself because if there
is no absolute truth, then we cannot believe their worldviews either. One thing
postmodernists must believe – to declare there is no absolute truth is in their
mind is an absolutely true statement. So, in the final analysis, they believe in
absolute truth.
It makes absolutely no sense to
declare absolute truth does not exist. What is the point for postmodernists to
write books or to make any declaration whatsoever if truth is relative to the
reader or listener? No one wants someone to misrepresent what they have said.
When one speaks or writes, your goal is for the reader or listener to comprehend
what you are communicating to them – not twist your words and give a meaning
other than what you originally intended. Saying it another way, you do not want
anyone to put words in your mouth that you did not mean. This is precisely what
happens when people twist scripture.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs
30:6, “Add not to His word lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar”. A lie
can never be of the truth. Ancient philosophers and modern day thinkers that
deny the existence of God and the exclusivity of His word are all liars which
will have their part of in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8).
It's arrogant to say that Christianity is the only true religion
Christianity claims to be
absolutely true so for most that is an unfair and conceited position. Truth is never arrogant or unfair. What is
actually conceited are those that dishonor God and declare there are numerous
ways to get to God. This way one does not have to believe in Jesus Christ and
His vicarious death on the cross for the sins of the world. It’s too narrow of a way for all to believe in
Jesus for their salvation. The main reason? Most do not want to admit they are
an unworthy sinner headed for hell. Most people will declare their own goodness
(Proverbs 20:6). The Bible is too harsh and inflexible most would say. Also,
how do we know the Bible is the only true word of God anyway? Aren’t there many
religious books? There are several: The Book of Mormon, the Hindu Vedas, the
Quran, the Pearl of Great Price, Morals and Dogma, the Apocrypha, the New World
Translation, the Mishna, the Talmud, et
al.
The Holy Bible is the only
volume(s) that contains accurate Biblical Prophecy. As a matter of fact, twenty
seven percent of all scripture is prophetic with hundreds of prophecies already
been fulfilled. Over 300 prophecies in scripture are regarding Jesus alone! No
other book can make that claim. Also, the Bible has internal consistency because
it has one author, the Holy Spirit. At this point, many would disagree and say
that is not true, the Bible was written by men. That is true. The Holy Spirit
the invisible author moved the human authors on what to write – using their
personalities and lives to say through them what needed to be said so they
could accurately record the words of the Lord – not their own. Remember the
words of the apostle Peter, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of
Scripture
is not of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21).
Those who are textual critics have to be amazed at the preservation of
the word of God. There are 66 books, written by at least 40 different authors
over a period of over 1500 years on 3 continents and they are saying the same
thing – no collusion. Yes, there is
absolute truth when it comes to religion. The Bible, God’s word declares that
truth to all men. Everything else is a lie, and that is the absolute truth.
Concluding, just as there are
immutable truths such as the law of gravity, the earth orbiting the sun, the
moon orbiting the earth, the second law of thermodynamics – the law of entropy,
matter is breaking down, 2+2=4, there is absolute truth when it comes to God,
and things pertaining to the Spirit. To deny these realities is evil, willfully
ignorant, prideful and blasphemous. This type of person is headed for eternal
destruction unless they repent.
[1] Christianity
is called the religion of pity. Pity stands opposed to the tonic emotions which
heighten our vitality: it has a depressing effect. We are deprived of strength
when we feel pity. That loss of strength which suffering as such inflicts on
life is still further increased and multiplied by pity. Pity makes suffering
contagious – Nietzsche.
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