Christianity vs. Postmodernity?
{ Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007
by alan
}
"Tolerance and relativity are the two most dangerous influences on Christians..."
My heart fell when I walked into a church service this past Sunday and saw the sermon title, "Christianity versus Postmodernity." The troubling truth of it is they aren't really against each other. They can dialogue, and they do, and each has something to offer the other. But they aren't really against each other.
If the two signposts of postmodernity are really tolerance and relativity (and they aren't, to be sure - but this is the context), then we need to see both what is good and what Christianity has to say about it.
For example, imagine tolerance. Tolerance is a good thing. It stands decidedly better than intolerance and all the forms it takes, such as oppression and indoctrination. Postmodernity would have you believe that the individual is more important than the whole, or the machine. Do Christians oppose this? Of course not, to oppose this would be like spitting into the wind.
But neither should Christ be silent, because where postmodernity sets the bar of tolerance at live and let live, Christianity says to be born alongside and journey with others who are different. Christianity says to look out for the oppressed and suffering, and give them freedom, and peace. Christianity says raise the bar, and postmodernity will sit up, and listen.
See postmodernity and Christianity are bedfellows, for now. Well, at least until postmodernity has run her course, packed her bags and skipped town. It's true we're immersed in postmodernity, so much so we can't even see it. But when you look at the world thought Christ's eyes, our truth gains a foothold, and we can illuminate these postmodern times with a timeless message anew.
When Christians attack postmodernity, it's like the little kid swinging away at his bigger brother, but he can't hit him because postmodernity can take the high road, and put his longer arm on Christianity's forehead. And should postmodernity attack Christianity, the image is just the same except Christianity becomes the older brother tsk-tsk'ing postmodernity away.
The point is this: It is a small person who attacks one whom is not fighting and to rally troops against no enemy. Christianity would do better to stand back, marvel the good our bedfellow offers, and raise the bar.
Let's not make the opposite mistake now, than the pact we made with modernity.
My heart fell when I walked into a church service this past Sunday and saw the sermon title, "Christianity versus Postmodernity." The troubling truth of it is they aren't really against each other. They can dialogue, and they do, and each has something to offer the other. But they aren't really against each other.
If the two signposts of postmodernity are really tolerance and relativity (and they aren't, to be sure - but this is the context), then we need to see both what is good and what Christianity has to say about it.
For example, imagine tolerance. Tolerance is a good thing. It stands decidedly better than intolerance and all the forms it takes, such as oppression and indoctrination. Postmodernity would have you believe that the individual is more important than the whole, or the machine. Do Christians oppose this? Of course not, to oppose this would be like spitting into the wind.
But neither should Christ be silent, because where postmodernity sets the bar of tolerance at live and let live, Christianity says to be born alongside and journey with others who are different. Christianity says to look out for the oppressed and suffering, and give them freedom, and peace. Christianity says raise the bar, and postmodernity will sit up, and listen.
See postmodernity and Christianity are bedfellows, for now. Well, at least until postmodernity has run her course, packed her bags and skipped town. It's true we're immersed in postmodernity, so much so we can't even see it. But when you look at the world thought Christ's eyes, our truth gains a foothold, and we can illuminate these postmodern times with a timeless message anew.
When Christians attack postmodernity, it's like the little kid swinging away at his bigger brother, but he can't hit him because postmodernity can take the high road, and put his longer arm on Christianity's forehead. And should postmodernity attack Christianity, the image is just the same except Christianity becomes the older brother tsk-tsk'ing postmodernity away.
The point is this: It is a small person who attacks one whom is not fighting and to rally troops against no enemy. Christianity would do better to stand back, marvel the good our bedfellow offers, and raise the bar.
Let's not make the opposite mistake now, than the pact we made with modernity.
9 Response to "Christianity vs. Postmodernity?"
I hope you put your hand up in the middle of service and gave that rant...
Ahhh... If only I had the balls. For now, I'm an armchair quarterback...
... *sheepish*.
...I was doodling.
*sigh*
I agree, and I'd like to point out that back in the late 80s and early 90s when there was a media panic about the aids virus a lot of the right-wing republican supporters of the Reagan administration would bash the homosexuals and minorities in the name of Christ that it was God's punishment towards them. I'm not trying to open up another can of worms but the Reagan administration at the time was equivocal about upholding social justice.
Please keep in mind this is just an example that I took note of recently, among others, to help illustrate Alan's concept.
As Christians, it is our responsibility to love (or tolerate) everyone as Christ would and not tarnish the image that is already set in a lot of secular minds of today.
Alan,
first off - congrats! Would love to hear how you lived out your wedding manifesto sometime.
I've heard pockets of this kind of xianity vs. pomo talk in the chinese church here and there. What I find fascinating is how late in the game we're beginning to have a conversation about these issues.
take care
As for you kids - wake up! bad sermons are just enough to get your groove on! demand better!
Stephen - Good to see you online here! Unfortunately, for Christians today, there are a dozen bad stories for every good one. I think that means not just the standard calls for reformation, but maybe a realization that reformed thinking.
Yu-Ling - You might find that fascinating, but you've always had a love affair with books that I can't even begin to comprehend. Lon and I were just talking about you, how we should all hang out, and talk urban. Because well, you actually do it, and we just... talk about it! :P
hey alan, skimmed through the blogosphere to end up at your blog... good stuff! bookmarked.
note on this post - in the future, you should probably refrain from mixing brother and bedfellow metaphors into the same argument, it could get mildly disturbing :S
KW - Hmm... Good point. Ahh, I probably know who you are, right? But due to the size of the blogosphere, I can't be sure with just the initials... Are you a brother or bedfellow? :)
Post a Comment