Why I am not a Postmodern Christian

I realize that in many circles today that the title of today's blog will not win me any prizes other than more conversations with people younger than me who will try to convince me that you can use the words "Postmodern" and "Christian" together as one word.  In January I spoke somewhere on the topic of Postmodernism and mentioned at the front of the talk that my personal preference is to never use the term "Postmodern Christian" in describing myself or anyone else who is a follower of Christ.  I was ready for it, and as soon as I finished my prayer, a guy around 25 years old came quickly to see me to state his case that he was a "Postmodern Christian" and that it is perfectly legitimate to call oneself that.  The reason that I think we should not use these terms comes from a logical understanding of both words and I have strong biblical grounds for wanting to keep these words separate.

What we know of postmodernism stands in direct contrast to Christianity just as modernism did.  Let me state my case here with some of the major tenants underlying PM: 1.  Knowledge is flawed - They say we cannot fully really know things with certainty and are against anything claiming to be the final thought on something.  2.  Truth is not Universal  - PM's would say that truth is in the eye of the beholder in how they personally see the world and not in any kind of real and objective truth. We each define our own truth.   3.  There is no true ultimate authority, but man - Since there is no real truth and we cannot fully know things, this leaves man as the ultimate decider of what is right and wrong.  Each person gets to decide who makes the rules and most often that means - us.  4.  All of the first 3 mean - PM is highly Man-centered.  This means that experience becomes the ultimate standard.  They are driven by what is inside of them and their world only and nothing beyond self can be an objective standard.  

Though I could easily add a few more points, these 4 serve as a basis of what we do know of Postmodernism. So, I have to ask this question:  What do those 4 things have to do with Christianity?  We believe that God is knowable, that Jesus is the only truth, that God is the only authority, and that the world is to be Christ-Centered.  Those stand in direct opposition to what serves as a foundation for PM.  

I prefer to describe Postmodernism and Christianity in this way - I am a Christ follower who lives and ministers in a Postmodern World.  It keeps them separate where they need to be, but points to the reality that we follow Christ only, as we minister in the postmodern world. The younger generation can, not all of them, want to put the two terms together, but I think they need to be kept separate, and should be kept separate.  Two specific passages shape my thinking on this.  Here they are:

     Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

We are not to conform to the pattern of the world, its way of thinking, speaking, and living.  We are to be different.  We are not to live and speak as the world does, but as Jesus thought, spoke, and lived on earth.  The world's way and Jesus' are not the same and it should not be for us either.  Our lives are to be transformed away from the pattern of the world and into the character and mind of Christ.  This does not mean that we live in the "bubble", but we remain very engaged in the culture.  

The second verse makes a much stronger case: 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, " 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete".

Paul says that we are to be aggressive as we face the "arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God". PM is an argument and an opinion that raises itself against the knowledge of God, of that, we cannot really deny. Paul says every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God must be destroyed.  The very tenants of PM attack the possibility of knowing God and we cannot sit back and just let it be so without addressing what is wrong with it.  What is wrong in PM we should point out.  PM is a stronghold that pervades our western societies and its flaws and untruths must be exposed.   We do not do this with meanness but in the manner Peter instructed, "..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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:15-16).  We are called to engage culture, speak to its wrong philosophies and do so with both intelligence and kindness.  I love ministering in this postmodern world and the opportunities we gain with PM's mindset.  There are real bridges we can build in spiritual conversations with people through PM.  I just want us to put PM where it belongs, just one of many other things throughout the ages against the gospel.  It is not for the gospel, but we can minister effectively within the PM World.   

What I have written is why we should be careful to call ourselves "Postmodern Christians".  We are to be driven by scripture alone and when we know the truth, we work at destroying the arguments and lofty opinions raised against Christ.  

It is also why I only want to be called a Christ-follower without all the other labels.  Let's make it clear who we are and who we follow.