Nathaniel | The Christian Advocate

Postmodernism and the Church

Since the mid 20th century (1950-60’s), a system that denies absolutes and

objectivity has emerged into our society. It has brought every established tradition and metanarrative into subject. It has cast doubt on everything that has been believed as solid foundational truth, and every institutional belief, including the church. This system is known as postmodernism.

In this article I will address postmodernism and the church.

What is Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a relativistic system of observation and thought that denies absolutes and objectivity. Postmodernism has become an influence across the board: theology, art, culture, architecture, society, film, technology, and economics. Traditional, social, art, and cultural beliefs are discarded and reinterpreted in relativistic terms. Unfortunately this includes the traditional teachings of the church based on Scripture.

Now I mentioned relativistic terms. This means that everything is relative and there are no absolutes. This practice is called relativism.

Relativism is the philosophical position that all points of view are valid equally and that all truth is relative to the individual. This means that all moral positions, all religious systems, all art forms, all political movements, etc., are truths that are relative to the individual. Under the umbrella of relativism, whole groups of perspectives are categorized. In obvious terms, some are:

Cognitive relativism (truth)- Cognitive relativism affirms that all truth is relative. This would mean that no system of truth is more valid than another one, and that there is no objective standard of truth. It would, naturally, deny that there is a God of absolute truth.
Moral/ethical relativism – All morals are relative to the social group within which they are constructed.
Situational relativism – Ethics (right and wrong) are dependent upon the situation.

Some typical expressions that reveal an underlying presupposition of relativism are comments such as: It is true for you, but not for me; That is your truth, not mine; and There are no absolute truths.

Unfortunately, the philosophy of relativism is pervasive in our culture today. With the rejection of God, and Christianity in particular, absolute truth is being abandoned.

An example of postmodern thought would be the validation of homosexuality as an equally legitimate sexual expression over and against the Judeo-Christian ethic of heterosexuality. Also, that gay marriage is an equally legitimate union over and against the Judeo-Christian ethic of marriage between a man and woman. In other words, practices and beliefs that were previously taboo are given equal validity to traditional values and norms often to the point of superseding the latter. This equalization and displacement is not restricted to religious realms but affect all circles of human interaction.

This is a worldwide movement but predominantly here in America where pluralism and relativism are rampant. The only thing by the postmodernist not tolerated is intolerance. Tolerance is king to the postmodernist who says,My truth is different from your truth so don’t judge me with your outdated morals. Such thought process by the spiritually dead is all too common.

We in America live in an increasingly pluralistic society. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We are a nation of diverse people and we all need to get along and some
tolerance is necessary—even healthy. But, as I like to say, too much of a good thing, is a bad thing and the tearing down of our moral fiber to get along is a detriment rather than a benefit to society. Therefore, there should be borders to our tolerance.

Our increasingly tolerant society wants to avoid the idea that there really is a right and wrong. This is evidenced in our deteriorating judicial system that has more and more trouble punishing criminals (e.g. decriminalization), in our entertainment media which continues to push the envelope of immorality and indecency, in our schools which teach evolution and social tolerance, etc. In addition, the plague of moral relativism is encouraging everyone to accept, pornography, fornication, homosexuality and a host of other sins that were once considered wrong but are now being accepted and even promoted in society. It is becoming so pervasive that if we speak out against moral relativism and its anything goes philosophy, you’re labeled as an intolerant bigot. Of course, this is incredibly hypocritical of those who profess that all points of view are true, but reject those who profess absolutes in morality. It seems that what is really meant by the moral relativists is that all points of view are true except for the views that teach moral absolutes, an absolute God, or absolute right and wrong.

Postmodernism in the Church

I’m sure it is clear to see by now that the church hasn’t escaped from postmodernism. In America, apostasy has reared its ugly head in the church. The church is under attack and one of the enemy’s weapons is postmodernism. The worldly thinking of the postmodernists has infiltrated the church making it more and more worldlier. Church leaders should be led by the Holy Spirit. But He (the Holy Spirit) is slowly being replaced by a different spirit.

Understanding the influence of postmodernism in the church may be easier if we view it as an extension of or a reaction to some of the key ideas held during the period of modernism that began in the 1600s.

The chart below illustrates the breakdown of the modernism periods.

Premodernism (up to 1650)	Modernism (1650-1950s	Postmodernism (1960s – present)
*God/the supernatural realm* furnishes the basis for morality, human dignity, truth, and reason.	Morality, human dignity, truth, and reason rest on foundations *other than God* (reason, science, race, etc.).	All metanarratives (systems or grand stories) are suspect-whether religious or not. No universal foundation for truth, morality, human dignity exists.
French Revolution (1789)	Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

As you can see, modernists attempted to create metanarratives or grand stories without reference to God-to ground human dignity, freedom, morality, and progress. But at the least, modernism held high regard for reason, rationalism, and authority. However, postmodernism carried the ball even further by responding with subjectivity, relativism, and assertions that absolute truth is not knowable. You see, once we allow the enemy to gain a toehold, it gains a foothold.

Generally speaking, we are experiencing postmodernism’s influence in our local churches when we see church attendees wrestling with issues related to relativism, truth and authority. Many members and people attending our churches have grown up and been influenced by a postmodern culture. So the question becomes: how do relativism, views concerning truth, and views concerning authority influence our churches, and what are the implications of those realities? Well …read on.

A main area of focus goes back to the postmodern concept of relativism. In a day when debates are raging over sexual orientation, the definition of marriage, abortion, and many other moral and ethical issues, we see our church attendees influenced by postmodernism when they tend to base views more upon personal preferences and experiences rather than on absolute truths taught in God’s Word. Modernism was characterized by a majority of people holding firmly to a foundational Judeo-Christian worldview — but in a pluralistic and relative postmodern period, morality is driven by a desire to let individuals determine right and wrong based on personal preferences and a spirit of freedom for individual choices. In open discussions, we may see trends where issues regarding right and wrong are no longer determined to be black and white but instead are left as some shade of gray. The so-called gray areas have increased dramatically. Sadly it may not be uncommon to witness a group of church attendees coming to the conclusion that although a matter is clearly addressed in Scripture, it should simply be left up to the individual to determine what was right and wrong. This is a way of gently kicking the Bible to the curb. This is an illustration of how a postmodern culture has influenced church attendees toward a relativistic mindset. But the fact of the matter is, when it comes to God and His Word, personal feelings—simply doesn’t count.

It simply astounds me that the church; including church leaders no less, can be divided on issues of homosexuality and gay marriage—issues that are clearly addressed in the Scriptures. There is no gray there. [Lev.18:22,20:13,1 Cor.6:9,1 Tim 1:10] Gay priests…? Churches performing gay marriages…? They say: It doesn’t matter; God is a God of love. Really? Where is the Scriptural justification of that?

Another important consideration that involves the influence of the postmodern movement in the church is the denial of authority. This is evident in churches when members are more concerned with tradition and personal preferences than with being guided by the authoritative Word of God (e.g. marriage, authority) and the Spirit of God. In other words, they are being led by their feelings. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard in response to Scripture: Yes, but I just feel… But feelings by themselves are led by the flesh and can carry us down a path we shouldn’t travel. God’s Word says:thou shall and Thou shall not It is not conditional and it never mentions: according to your feelings.

Postmodernism says that language and words are always open to various interpretations and that coming to an authoritative conclusion about the meaning of teachings in an ancient text such as the Bible is not possible. But the discarded difference is the Bible is inspired by God. In my article https://thechristianadvocate.org/thehistoryofourbible I mention the argument that the Bible was written by men. This is one of the excuses postmodernists to discredit the Bible.

This type of thinking has resulted in the devaluation of the authority of the Bible. The basic tenets of accurate biblical interpretation are pushed aside, and the meaning of a text is left up to the individual. Failure to turn to the Scriptures to determine a path that should be taken or blatant disregard for clear teachings in the Scriptures are examples of denial of biblical authority in the local church.

How Should the Church Respond

How should a church respond to these postmodern influences? One way is to teach, model and equip families to instill a biblical worldview in the lives of their children. Parents, children and church members in general must promote a healthy respect for the authority of the Scriptures. The regular reading and application of God’s Word in everyday life will help tremendously in countering the postmodern denial of authority.

Unfortunately, some leaders of the church have fallen victim to postmodernism. However, for church leaders to focus on the reality of truth and hold a high regard for the authority of God’s Word is a key element in helping church attendees battle the relativistic view. Christians must stand firm on doctrinal truths that are truly objective based on an accurate understanding of the Scriptures.

Messages spread through media have blurred the lines for some individuals, and they may no longer be willing to stand firm on biblical objective truth. Effective ministry will teach and model the idea that the Bible is full of objective truth, and that by not compromising in areas of truth, Christians will be equipped for faithful service in kingdom work. With this in mind, we return to Paul’s encouragement to Timothy:Preach the Word[2 Tim 4:2]

Postmodernism continues to have a strong influence on the family, individuals and churches. Leaders in local churches will make great strides in combating this negative influence by faithfully applying Paul’s exhortation to again,Preach the Word. Whether it is relativism, denying the knowable truths of the Bible, or denying the authority of the Scriptures, we must remember that All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.(2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV). A commitment with prayer to faithfully preach this Word in our homes and our churches can minimize the negative influence of the postmodern culture in the lives of individuals as well as in the corporate life of the local church. We must stand firm.

The Danger of Postmodernism

As world history has shown, superpowers are destroyed from within, not without. The danger of postmodernism and the resulting relativism is overall weakness. It tears away at the foundation of civilization.

Relativism is invading our society, our homes, our economy, and our schools. Society cannot flourish nor survive in an environment where everyone does what is right in his own eyes, where the situation determines moral truth, and that lying and cheating are okay as long as you don’t get caught. Without a common foundation of truth and absolutes, our culture will become weak and fragmented leading to overall decline.

Fragmented is almost an understatement. These days we have numerous segments of our population contending for their own
rights (i.e. women, homosexuals, animals [with the help of humans], transgenders, illegal immigrants, gun owners, etc.). These are sub-movements under the umbrella of postmodernism and in the long haul, fragment the population. It comes to the point where one group’s rights interfere with another resulting in utter confusion. The founding fathers laid the foundation, the absolutes—the objectives. There were, for the most part, enough laws to cover everybody’s rights and if that foundation was adhered to there would be no need for segmental rights. By the way, that foundation is Biblically
based—government is Biblically based. Man did not devise it on his own volition.

As we tear away at this foundation, ultimately the dwelling-the-building-the nation, will crumble. As our nation becomes less religious and more secular, the more our dependency shifts to the government. Needless to say, this is a sad state of affairs. Notice that the government is in constant gridlock and extremely inefficient for the citizens? Where are we headed? Corruption from within.

Need an example? We’re the most powerful nation on earth. Yet, we’re killing each other in record massive numbers with guns and the government is incapable to do anything about it! So our dependency is leaning on an inefficient, gridlocked government? The Scriptures sums this up in one verse: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools [Rom 1:22]

Early on, I mentioned the bringing of metanarratives into subject. One major metanarrative is the Bible. Contained in the Old Testament is the history of Biblical Israel—the rise and fall of it. One time a glorious nation, led by God, rebelled and turned away from Him and was ultimately annihilated by Him. When we don’t learn from history, we repeat it. Instead of learning from the Bible, postmodernism is discarding it. As a result, we are following the pattern of Biblical Israel. But doesn’t this confirm Scripture? Ecclesiastes 1:9 reads: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. In other words, history merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. The postmodernists think they’re doing something new. But they’re not! They’re only confirming Scripture! More on this irony to follow.

This abandonment from God’s law by Israel led to corruption from within, which led to oppression from without
(Israel repeated this cycle 7 times in the book of Judges).

We ourselves are returning to the days of the judges when … every man did that which was right in his own eyes [Judg.17:6,21:25] and Israel set aside God’s law and substituted it with their own, fulfilling their desires. Referring back to the chart above, prior to 1650, God was the prime basis to be followed. Over time God has been moved aside and we’re doing our own thing; just as Israel did. New Testament Scripture further confirms what happens when God is removed from the equation.[Romans 1:21-32]

The Ultimate Outcome

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could create our own world? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to create our own reality…that we can be whatever we identified ourselves to be…? Wouldn’t it be great if the world was just what we wanted it to be individually— based on what we think it should be? Wouldn’t it be terrific to be able to do exactly what we wanted to, individually? Yes, it would be wonderful! But God didn’t create it that way and we can’t recreate the world. God is a God of order—not confusion [2 Tim.1:7,1 Cor.14:40] and the modernists and postmodernists are moving things out of divine order. And one day, ultimately, no matter what kind of reality we create for ourselves, the absolute, objective reality will ultimately come forth. We can only delay reality for so long.[2 Peter 3:9]

As John Adams, a founding father and the second President of the United States said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

The Irony of the Matter

The postmodern movement is full of irony. How? The absolute truth that the postmodernists refute, which is the Scriptures, they confirm.

2 Tim 4:3-4 reads:

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths. NLT

This is what they confirm—absolute, objective truth. Since this is the case, we can anticipate the need to focus on preaching the Word in order to promote a biblical worldview in the individual and corporate lives of our church family. We need to hold fast to the Word of God!

Please feel free to leave any question or comment below. Also, suggestions for future topics are welcomed.

Blessings!

What Does It Mean To Be a Born Again Christian?

Introduction:

In my about me page, www.thechristianadvocate.org/about me, I mentioned that I am a born again Christian. But what does it mean to be a born again Christian? In this article I will explain exactly what it means to be a born again Christian.

What Does it Mean to be Born Again?

To fully understand what this means, as with all things, we must turn to the Word of God. The phase “born again” is mentioned in the Scriptures three times. John 3:3, John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:23.

The first, involved a conversation between a Jewish Pharisee named Nicodemus and Jesus. It reads in John 3:1-11:

3: 1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. KJV

In verse 4, Nicodemus asked: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” This was a natural common sense question. If an individual is already born and existing, how can he or she be born again? Jesus’ answer was in verses 5-6: “ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6)That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What Does it Mean to be a Born Again Christian?

Being born again is a spiritual re-birth as opposed to a fleshly or natural birth. When we become born again, we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit enters our being (Eph 1:13). It is a time when we are revived spiritually and are no longer led by our fleshly (worldly) desires. There is a distinction between the fleshly birth and the spiritual one. Therefore a change takes place in our lives.

Jesus made this distinction clear in verse 6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Therefore there is a distinct difference. We are all born (natural birth) into sin with a sinful nature and led by that nature. Spiritual re-birth results in regeneration (a change in the sinful nature), transformation (a radical change in inner character, condition, or nature), consecration (separated unto God). Being a Born-again Christian means that you are changed on the inside–not controlled from the outside.

Jesus also made it clear that spiritual birth is a perquisite to enter into the kingdom of God in verses 3, 5 and 7: (3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. There are no exceptions to this in the Scriptures.

This was in direct contrast to what Nicodemus was taught to believe. Nicodemus came up under Old Testament laws and tradition; the teachings that being Jewish and doing good works would allow him into heaven. He was also a teacher who taught the same.

Nicodemus was a wealthy, educated and powerful man-well respected by his people and a descendant of the patriarch Abraham. Yet Jesus said to him, “…You must be born again.“ Imagine thinking that you are guaranteed an entrance into heaven and being told this contrasting truth.

Even presently, people believe doing good deeds provides an entrance to God’s kingdom. There are many folks today who have the mistaken idea that they are good enough to go to heaven because they attend church, give their tithes and offerings, and may have even been baptized. However, they have never truly been born again. Some even defend themselves by reckoning that God will surely accept them because they’ve tried to live a good life and haven’t committed any crimes. But the fact of the matter is they aren’t good enough simply because everyone is born a sinner and needs to be born again spiritually. Works alone won’t cut it. This is further confirmed in Scripture, Titus 3:5-6: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Therefore we are not saved by our righteous acts but by God’s mercy and the regeneration of the Spirit through the born again experience.

Jesus is the only one who can make us fit for heaven with a new birth. As it states in John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten so, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (17) For God sent not his Son into the world not to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. KJV

What Happens after we are Born Again?

There is a change in our behavior – Being born again changes us forever, but it doesn’t mean that we will be perfect. Our old sinful nature is still present in us and one will sin from time to time (hopefully accidentally). But as we confess and repent of our sins, Jesus’ blood continually cleanses us. We are now called to a life of holiness, obedience, surrender, and love for God. There must be clear, external evidence that proves there’s been an inner transformation.

In order to be born again, we must be “dead to sin.” There is a transition from the dominion of power from sin to the power of the Spirit.

There’s a change in our relationship with God – Until Jesus becomes our Savior, we are enemies of God. We enter this world on a path headed for condemnation. Although we may be quick to deny that we are against Him, there is no neutral ground. We have either been reconciled to God through His Son, or we are at odds with Him. As the Scripture reads in Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“

When we are born again, the separation and enmity between God and us has been removed. We then become a part of His kingdom and members of His family. Our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

There is a change in our way of thinking – As the Holy Spirit works in us, sealing us as God’s children and transforming our hearts, we live as Disciples of Christ. He gives us wisdom, reveals truth, and guides us throughout our lives. We become less self-centered and more Christ-centered for we are no longer led by the flesh, but by the Spirit.

There is resulting peace

Living life in Christ is a peaceful existence. It is a peace that the world cannot yield. It is a peace that worldly people cannot experience or understand. As Jesus said in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This verse speaks in effect, of the salvation that Christ’s redemptive work will achieve for those who follow Him—total well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God. True peace is His gift. It doesn’t mean that we will live a perfect life. There will always be trials and tribulations. However they won’t affect us as they otherwise would. There is no reason to be “troubled” or “afraid” because we know who’s ultimately in control.

Another encouraging Scripture reads in Phil 4:7: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This is not merely a psychological state of mind, but an inner tranquility based on peace with God—the peaceful state of those whose sins are forgiven. It is the tranquility that comes when one commits all of their cares to God in prayer and worries about them no more. “Passeth all understanding” This represents the full dimensions of God’s love and care which are beyond human comprehension. Even when the world is crumbling around us, we can remain in peace. Something the worldly folks simply can’t comprehend.

There is a change in our eternal destination – Scripture reads in John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Belief and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior guarantees our acceptance in God’s kingdom saving us from eternal damnation into eternal life.

This is what it means to be a Christian: A born again Christian. Not merely a professing one.

Being a born again Christian means that you are changed on the inside–not controlled from the outside. It means that your heart has been changed by the presence of God. It does not mean that you are required to go to church, required to pay tithes, required to be good, required to do anything in order to stay a Christian. People do these things and still aren’t Christian. It means you desire to do these things because you’ve been changed.

Our desire grows (aka spiritual growth) as we read and absorb the Word of God.

How to Become Born Again

We become born again by accepting Jesus as our Lord and savior. It begins with this simple but sincere prayer: Dear Lord, I admit that I am a sinner. I am in need of a savior; I repent of my sins seeking forgiveness and I ask that you come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. It’s that easy!

After that prayer, it is imperative to get into the Word of God through a Bible based church. One that preachers and teaches it! This provides fertile ground for the Holy Spirit to work in us. Study often: a good place to start is in the book of John. If you need a good Bible commentary that explains every written Scripture in a concise and clear way, I recommend the Believer’s Bible Commentary. It is available at Amazon by clicking this link. [paid link] Amazon has available a huge range of Bibles to chose from as well.

For more on salvation, read the article, “Salvation and the Bible” on this website.

Please feel free to leave any Biblically based question on this topic or any other Bible topic below. I also welcome suggestions for future Biblical articles.