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“Postmodernism” is the ascendant philosophy. To mention postmodernism implies its antecedent, modernism. Modernism attempts to explain all things by nature. It arose in 19th-century Germany, about the time Darwin published his God-denying theories. Its blood-brother is secular humanism.
Modernists deny Biblical miracles (no “natural” explanation) and the need for revelation (one can discover all the truth he needs through reason). Modernism has dominated the major US theological schools and denominations for more than a century, destroying the Biblical faith of multiplied millions.
Modernism treats all religion as superstition and seeks to “free” men from such “hang-ups.” Postmodernism freely accepts any and all religions—as long as none make exclusive or universal truth-claims. This philosophy screams pluralism, giving all religious/ethical systems “moral equivalence.” Thus two propositions may be diametrically contradictory but both be “truth”—so long as neither claims his position alone is right and all others are wrong (never mind that “Dr. Postmodernist” makes this very exclusive and universal claim for his position!).
Ironically, the seeds of postmodernism were in the soil of religion even before modernism. Some very old religious slogans well illustrate this suggestion, among them the following:
- “It makes no difference what one believes as long as he is sincere.” This inanity was invented to justify the plethora of denominational names, creeds, and practices, all claiming to have sprung from and belong to the Christ. (Obviously, its mouthers didn’t really believe it, for it was never [until recently] applied to the sincere Buddhist, Muslim, or Hindu.) The Bible, however, says that one’s belief makes all the difference. It was Saul’s perverted belief that caused him to sincerely persecute the saints (Acts 23:1). Must one believe in Jesus as God’s Son (“Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” [John 8:24])? God’s judgment is upon any who believe a “different gospel” (Gal. 1:6–9).
- “One church is as good as another.” Again, this bromide sought/seeks to justify denominational diversity among professed “Christians.” Postmodernism simply applies it to religion in general. The Bible renders both applications of it false. Jesus built, died for, and bought only one church (Mat. 16:18; Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28). Only one—the one revealed in and that yet follows the New Testament—is His (Eph. 1: 22–23; 4:4–6). Only when human religious organizations are considered is “one as good as another,” regarding salvation. Postmodernism is the “favorite son” of Political Correctness.
[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, July 16, 2010].
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
