Post-modernity. It’s one of those words that, unless you’re a philosopher or a pastor, you may have never heard of the term, but it is something that has affected most aspects of your life.
While it’s still in debate, most philosophers now argue that we have moved on to what they want to call a Metamodern era, which supposedly started around 2010. (with roots back to early 2000’s) That would mean that most of the people reading this were likely born in the postmodern era.
How did we get here and why does any of this really matter?
As with the previous blogs in this series on the decline of the church, we’ll go back to the early 1700’s the age of enlightenment, or the “age of reason” where it was believed that we could use logic and reason to solve all problems and build a perfect society. The leaders of this movement Isaac Newton and John Locke, both strong theists, did not intend to deny God, but rather felt that science supported the existence of God. Interestingly enough, my son sent me a text this morning pointing out that Astronomers, using NASA models, recently confirmed that a partial lunar eclipse (blood moon) was visible from Jerusalem on April 3, 33 AD a date that most scholars link to the crucifixion of Jesus, and while skeptics might disagree, this aligns with Acts 2:20, and Luke 23:44-45. (Look them up some time – Acts 2:20 is a quote from Joel).
By the late 1700’s early 1800’s we moved into “The age of emotion” or “I feel therefore I am” idea, where the concept that feelings were more important than facts, fostering the concept in art and literature of the “follow your heart” mentality. It promoted the concept that truth could be personal, laying the early groundwork for the idea that truth is relative.
By the 1890’s, and into the early 20th century, we moved into what was called the “Modern age” or the “Age of progress”, basically, we can build our way into a perfect future, with unlimited progress, through science and machines. Assembly lines, mass production, migrations to the cities all took place through this era. Our trust went from Pastors and local leaders to secular “Experts”. People started to put their trust in doctors, news anchors, engineers, and scientists, basically, those who seemed to hold the keys to progress.
And that brings us to the postmodern age, taking off after World War II and some argue that we are still in today. After two world wars, and destruction throughout society, it seems that the “experts” didn’t have all the answers either. As a result, people began to question everything, the concept that there is no truth, but only competing narratives, prevailed. Irony, skepticism and mistrust became the norm and all of this seeped into Christianity. Rather than believing that Scripture is the inerrant Word of God, people who were looking for an excuse to not believe it, started to claim that it was not believable. They have two major arguments. 1. That it was just written by a bunch of men and not inspired by God. 2. The translations have changed the original meaning. As a result, people started to just believe the parts that suit them, but disregarding the parts that don’t. In which case, you can make it say whatever you want. Obviously, I believe all of the Bible to be God’s inspired Word, and I just now realized that I have never written a blog on why you should believe that Bible, so I guess I have my subject for next week.
As we look at our churches today, we see clear deviations from Scripture, whereas people determine what they want to believe and find a way to allow Scripture to justify it. We have seen in some of the earlier blogs the greed and corruption, and all of that can be justified if we can choose our own truth and pick and choose the parts of Scripture that are true, and those that aren’t. Every church teaches something different, which promotes the whole concept that there is no Truth. But Jesus is clear.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If we don’t understand that truth, there will be consequences. We are in Spiritual warfare, and I think often times we fail to see that. If the enemy can convince us that there is no truth, then he wins. And that is his agenda, to keep us enslaved to sin. Jesus says….
John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
If the truth sets us free, then what does the absence of truth mean? Permanent bondage. Paul would say that if we refuse to see the truth that we are perishing.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Basically, we need to open our eyes and see what’s going on, the enemy is deceiving us, and we are foolish enough to fall for it. Wake ups, see what’s going on, Christianity has a whole has been declining over the last 400 years, and we have been just going along with the flow. Yes, God will always keep a remnant, but how much better of a world would it be, if it was full of an overwhelming majority of Bible believing, Bible obeying Christians? It starts with you.
Thank you for reading this, as always, I would encourage you to spend time in His Word, in prayer and in the fellowship of other believers. And if you haven’t visited already, I would encourage you to come visit our little church on the hill, it’s worth the drive.
Bro. Jason
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