Postmodernism or the way we think today, say, in the past
thirty years or so, is not so much a threat to faith as a threat to Modernism
and to churches steeped in Modernism, to churches that ignore historical
context and turn truth into universal, timeless abstractions, that accept as
true only those things that are held up to “scientific” standards, that thereby
define, list and categorize everything, that in their quest for certainty
downplay mystery, awe, multiple perspectives and diversity. More and more people today coming to such
churches cannot make sense of what they are hearing. Over and over their hearts know truths such
churches know not of.
But emphatically Postmodernism is not a threat to
faith. In fact it opens the world back
up to faith. For those with eyes to see,
it is a fresh wind of the Spirit bringing life back again to the dry bones of
the church. It’s wide open to the deep
past, to ancient and medieval sources, to premodern ways of knowing, being and
doing, to the stories of the marginalized, the poor and persecuted, the widows
and orphans, the previously silenced, to the truths that the heart knows best:
what is loving, what is decent and honorable, what is caring and wise.
Postmodernism does
not suppose that wisdom began with seventeenth-century science and
philosophy. It’s wide open to mystery,
to awe and wonder, to miracle, to paradox and multiple perspective. It’s wide open to the glorious re-enchantment
of the world, to the sacred being seen and experienced everywhere. To
either/or it offers both/and. It
suggests that being strictly rational is not necessarily the same as being
reasonable: that to the penetrating light of cold logic, one wisely adds the
warmth of intuition. To boundary-markers
it adds bridge-builders. In place of
what is authoritarian, it honors authenticity.
In place of conformity, it celebrates diversity. In place of the quest for certainty, it
offers intellectual modesty and openness to others. It makes it conceivable the all people might
one day come together in love and understanding, learning from their
differences.
Now who could be afraid of that?
I completely agree and find such joy and excitement with the ideas of postmodernism. I think the reason why so many people are not tuned in to postmodern thought is because they are 'blocked' off to it in the sense that they go about the day to day wrapped up in their own 'world' and unless something drastic happens to upset this 'world,' there really is nothing that challenges or changes their mind to thinking anything other than what they've always heard or thought. Or better yet, what's just been taken for granted as 'truth' from any source put in front of them. I think that until people begin to talk more with people that are different from themselves, experience diversity, travel, and really open themselves to different thoughts and opinions they won't know what they've been missing. And I think that's the key - maybe if people are simply happy with the here and now, they don't ever look beyond to see what 'more' awaits. But we are so limited in the ways we think (and this is our doing). I believe that God designed us for thoughts that are so beyond what we currently tap into, and He wants us to be able to explore those deeper emotions, intuition, love, and understanding because it's how we as humankind and the world and the worlds beyond this are meant to be! Why would we not want to experience this sooner rather than later and be better people for it?
ReplyDeleteDale, I appreciate your blog and each posting. I am continually looking forward to the next one. I have been researching and reading on what it means to be a Christian in this world of ours today and what it means to be in a church that is "missional." I feel like some of what you are saying reflects my study. It is a bit of "Religious Plate Tectonics." The Archbishop[ of Canterbury was quoted as saying, "It is not the Church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of Mission who has a church in the world." I feel we really need to be that to have anyone want to see our God and know him. We must be outward facing and not inward focused. We must be characterized because we can connect to base line cultural narratives, hopes, dreams, issues, etc. We must be other oriented and the true presence of Jesus in this world.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your courageous stand. Keep writing brother.
Kimbo
We are so thankful for the way in which you allow the spirit to pour himself out through you. Thank you for your beautiful, thought-provoking, inspiring words. I will be sure to share them with others.
ReplyDeleteI think that anyone who has been ingrained with a black and white view of the world (religious, political, etc) is going to have a hard time breaking their own barrier of seeing a different viewpoint from a new perspective. Instant communication with the world and increasing exposure to diversity allows everyone now to take on different worldviews. For younger generations it starts at a much earlier age. The question is asked above who could be afraid of postmodernism the way Dale describes it. To me, simply, postmodernism poses a threat to Exclusivity in established thoughts and institutions. People needing exclusive membership in an institution or possession of a certain idea or fate, especially when it comes to the idea of salvation, will view inclusive perspectives as a threat.
ReplyDelete