Over the last several decades there has been a great change or shift in the way many within Western civilization think and process basic ideas about how culture should function and exist. In truth, this shift is more like a megashift in comparison to the way that many if not most within the Western world at one time viewed life, values and the mere existence of humanity.
For years among Westerners there was a sense of solid apprehension concerning the understanding of truth and how the biblical roots of that truth apply to how the human race lives and expresses itself. An understanding of biblical truth, in essence, necessitates there must be a recognition, proclaiming that ultimate truth is an objective reality and therefore exists outside of us and remains true despite the way we see or accept it.
Sadly, there are many Christians who are unaware and greatly unequipped to combat postmodern philosophy and defend the foundations of solid biblical truth that clearly defines what truth really is. As a result, many perils have enveloped our society as we have slept our way through the numbing effects of this ever-encroaching deception that has an entire generation within its crosshairs.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us all to educate our children spiritually and intellectually so that they will be prepared and armed to resist the incessant barrage of immorality that postmodernism will continue to spew forth in the years to come.
Postmodernism has created treacherous waters in discovering truth; therefore basic truths must be apprehended as sources of correct navigation. Humanity is lost and in sin as Adam and Eve were when they rebelled against God and fell in the Garden of Eden. Despite modern thought patterns, humanity does not improve aside from God despite education, life experience, tolerance, benevolence, humanitarian efforts and so on. Though there have been huge cultural shifts and varying thought patterns, the truth remains: Mankind was made in God’s image and ruined by sin and therefore must have a source of redemption in order to be salvaged from eternal destruction.
The gospel does not change. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the same yesterday, today and forever!
These foundational truths comprise a metanarrative and offer a broad-view explanation of the world, as we embrace it as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. These overarching views give us divine purpose and present meaning to all comprised in the context of what we know and embrace as the universe.
Postmodernism basically asserts that truth cannot be found in one exclusive metanarrative. Whether it be science, communism (Marxism), Judaism, Islam, Christianity or any other monolithic system of beliefs, they all fail to offer concrete evidence that they work completely. Therefore, those who hold to the belief of postmodernism are reinforced in the wake of their weaknesses and historical failures.
Some defining trademarks of postmodernism are as follows.
—Deconstructionism: Language, whether written or verbalized, does not relate to objective truth; instead, it is only a type or system of linguistic characters or signs that in essence only relates back to itself. Therefore, no true objective meaning can be brought to light through language alone.
—Moral Relativism (Nihilism): A rejection of beliefs regarding religion or morality; The denial for anything to be considered absolute or truthful.
—Pluralism: All opinions in essence have the same value. There are no real values at all, except to the individual or individuals who hold to or actually believe in those values.
—Existentialism: There is no real meaning in any certain thing or in all things put together. In its extreme view, the entirety of the world becomes without meaning and altogether foolish or absurd.
For more on the breakdown of postmodernism, listen to this recent episode of Maintain the Flame with Keith Collins on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}
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