CHRISTIANITY vs.. Post- Modernism

What is Post-Modernism? - there is no overarching or absolute truth to explain everything. - any attempt to find a single truth will merely result in a person s own perception of reality. - any person pursuing or teaching a single truth is probably seeking to gain control over the weak.

Why talk about God with a Post-Modernist? I Peter 3:15 - but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. II Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

HISTORY 1700s The Enlightenment exalted reason over faith as the primary source of legitimacy and authority. It began a search for the Truth of life based primarily on reason and logic, not religion. Late 1800s Modernism focused on progress and set out to re-examine our world and our beliefs by using science and discovery as the basic tools for finding the one Truth for humankind. Mid-1900s Postmodernism rejects the assumption that we ll arrive at one absolute truth. Therefore, philosophy should instead focus on discussing different perceptions of reality.

The Nonsense of no Truth PM: There s no such thing as Truth! Y: Is that the one thing that s True? PM: All truth is relative! Y: Is that also a relative truth? PM: It s all a matter of opinion! Y: Isn t that just your opinion though? PM: There are no absolutes! Y: Are you absolutely sure about that? PM: That s true for you, but not for me! Y: In the same way, relative truth is true for you, but not for me.

The Nonsense of no Truth PM: We need to be tolerant of all beliefs! Y: Does that include my belief that Christianity is the one Truth? PM: You shouldn t question anyone s religious beliefs! Y: What if my beliefs teach me that other religious beliefs are wrong? PM: Truth cannot be known! Y: Do you know that is true? PM: You shouldn t judge anyone! Y: Then why are you telling me what I shouldn t do? PM: Christians believe that they are right and everyone else is wrong. They are very narrow minded! Y: Post modernists believe that they are right (no Truth) and everyone else is wrong. They also are very narrow minded!

David Hume and Immanuel Kant DAVID HUME The Principle of Empirical Verifiability: All Truth can be summed up in two categories: 1. It is true by definition (1+1=2, Squares have 4 sides, Oceans have water). 2. It is proven true empirically (by experiment, or through the 5 senses) Y: How do I know that principle is even true, since it s neither true by definition nor proven true empirically? IMMANUEL KANT IK: You can t know things as they really are (reality), but only as your mind perceives it. Y: Do you know that is the way things really are, or is your mind perceiving that also? IK: Nothing but perception enters your mind, not the real world. Y: Then how do you know there even is a real world, if it never enters your mind?

Is Truth Important to a Post-Modernist? In your marriage? (if not, it will fall apart) From your doctor? (if not, you ll get worse) In the court system? (if not, the guilty go free and innocent suffer) From your employer? (if not, you ll be taken advantage of) From your employee? (if not, your business will suffer) From the news? (if not, you ll be uninformed and misled) From your politicians? (if not things will stay pretty much the same) From your bank? etc.) From food labels? From the law system? (if not, you ll lose money, extra charges, (if not, your health will suffer)

Why Is Truth about God Important? Is there no God, one God, or many gods? (If no God, you re wasting time with religion. If only one God, you could be worshiping idols. If many gods, you re missing out on the whole picture) Was Jesus just a prophet, the Savior, God, or all of these? (If just a prophet, you re worshiping a prophet. If Savior, you could still be punished for your sins. If God, you ve humanized and rejected God) Is there such a thing as sin? (If not, you re judging yourself and others wrongly. If there is, you still haven t repented and received salvation.) Is Jesus the only way to God, or are there many ways? (If He s not, you re unnecessarily correcting others and evangelizing. If He is, you re believing a lie and in serious danger of being lost forever).

Why Is Truth about God Important? Is there a hell for the wicked, or are they just annihilated? (If there isn t, then I m unnecessarily scaring people. If there is, then I totally misunderstood God s justice and might suffer eternally myself) Is salvation by faith, good works, or both? (If just by faith, then I m trying to take partial credit. If by good works, then I m unsaved for not doing those good works. If both, then I ve left out a major part) Is God only transcendent, or is He near and personal also? (If only transcendent, I m fooling myself and blaspheming God. If personal also, I m missing out on a relationship and the chance to experience Him) Does prayer work? (If not, I m wasting lots of time. If it does, I m missing out.) Is any of the above relevant, or are we reincarnated indefinitely? (If it is, then I face hell - not earth. If not, I m misleading others and causing conflict, and will therefore suffer the next life.

How can we find the Truth about God? Family, Tribal Beliefs? (Sociological) - No. Since family and tribal beliefs differ, your family may be one of the ones that are wrong. Culture Media, Surveys and Textbooks? (Sociological) - No. Your culture could be very wrong (eg, Holocaust). Media has a bias. Surveys reveal opinions, not facts. Textbooks are constantly being altered and changed. Comfort - If it Feels Right and Works for me? (Psychological) - No. It may feel right to say there s no God and no punishment for sin, but that could be very wrong. It may feel right to say there is a God who loves me, but that belief doesn t make Him exist. Evidence If everything I observe supports it? (Logical) - Yes. The best way to find the truth is to go wherever the evidence leads. (Romans 1:19,20)

Romans 1:19,20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

What belief does all the evidence support? 1. Matter Matter The universe had a beginning. It must ve been created by a God who is eternal and all powerful. 2. Design The universe is highly complex. God must be infinitely wise, powerful and have a purpose for creation. 3. Ethics All humans have a moral law inside them. God must be righteous and intend to judge us for how we live. 4. Bible Bible The Bible is full of fulfilled prophecies. God must be the author of the Bible and therefore, all of it is True.

What does God tell us about Himself? Is there no God, one God, or many gods? Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:26,27, Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14 Was Jesus just a prophet, the Savior, God, or all of these? Luke 4:23,24, Isaiah 7:14, Colossians 1:19, I Timothy 1:1:15, John 10:30 Is there such a thing as sin? Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:2,3, Romans 6:23 Is Jesus the only way, or are there many ways to God? John 14:6, Acts 4:11,12, I John 5:11,12

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Genesis 1:26,27 Then God said, "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. II Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Luke 4:23,24 - And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to Me this proverb, 'Physician, heal Yourself.' What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in Your hometown as well." And He said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Colossians 1:19 For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. I Timothy 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. John 10:30 I and the Father are One.

What does God tell us about Himself? Is there no God, one God, or many gods? Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:26,27, Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14 Was Jesus just a prophet, the Savior, God, or all of these? Luke 4:23,24, Isaiah 7:14, Colossians 1:19, I Timothy 1:1:15, John 10:30 Is there such a thing as sin? Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:2,3, Romans 6:23, Is Jesus the only way, or are there many ways to God? John 14:6, Acts 4:11,12, I John 5:11,12

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Psalm 14:2,3 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What does God tell us about Himself? Is there no God, one God, or many gods? Deuteronomy 6:4, Genesis 1:26,27, Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14 Was Jesus just a prophet, the Savior, God, or all of these? Luke 4:23,24, Isaiah 7:14, Colossians 1:19, I Timothy 1:1:15, John 10:30 Is there such a thing as sin? Romans 3:23, Psalm 14:2,3, Romans 6:23, Is Jesus the only way, or are there many ways to God? John 14:6, Acts 4:11,12, I John 5:11,12

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Acts 4:11,12 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. I John 5:11,12 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

What does God tell us about Himself? Is there a hell for the wicked, or are they just annihilated? Luke 16:22,23, Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:15 Is salvation by faith, good works, or both? Romans 3:20, 24, 28, Ephesians 2:8,9, Galatians 2:16 Is God only transcendent, or is He near and personal also? Psalm 97:9, 113:4, Isaiah 57:15, Jeremiah 23:24, Acts 17:28 Does prayer work? I John 5:14,15, Philippians 4:6,7, James 5:16 Is any of the above relevant, or are we reincarnated indefinitely? Hebrews 9:27, James 4:14, John 5:28,29

Luke 16:22,23 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Romans 3:20, 24, 28 for by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin...and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Psalm 97:9 For You, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. Psalm 113:4 the LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Jeremiah 23:24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being..'

I John 5:14,15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him. Philippians 4:6,7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. James 4:14..yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. John 5:28,29 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Pilate: What is truth? - John 18:38 Jesus: I am the Truth - John 14:6 Thy Word is Truth. - John 17:17

The End