Postmodern Times

Today as we enter the twenty-first century, a new worldview is emerging. The “modern,” strange as it is to say, has become old-fashioned. The twentieth century, for all of its achievements and catastrophes, is passing into history. The “modern ideas” that characterized the twentieth century no longer seem relevant. We are entering the “post modern” age.

The term “postmodern” primarily refers to time rather than to a distinct ideology. If the “modern” age is really over, Christians have every reason to be glad. Ever since the battles between “modernists” and “fundamentalists” (and before), Biblical Christianity has been bludgeoned by the forces of modernism, with its scientific rationalism, humanism, and bias against the past. Today the assumptions of modernism, including those that have bedeviled the church in this century, are being abandoned. Christians can rejoice at the dawn of a postmodern age.
While Modernist attacks on Christianity are losing their force, postmodernists are attacking Christianity on different grounds. For example, modernists would argue in various ways that Christianity is not true. One hardly hears this objection anymore. Today the most common critique is that “Christians think they have the only truth.” The claims of Christianity are not denied; they are rejected because they purport to be true. Those who believe “there are no absolutes” will dismiss those who reject relativism as “intolerant,” as trying to force their beliefs on other(20) people. Postmodernists reject Christianity on the same grounds that they reject modernism, with its scientific rationalism. Both Christians and modernists believe in truth. Postmodernists do not.

                                                                         ~Gene Edward Veith Jr. (Postmodern Times)


Postmodern Times is an excellently written book by Gene Edward Veith Jr.  It compares the times that we are in now (the Postmodern), and years ago (the Modern).  I'm reading it for my omnibus class along with 16 other students.  I really appreciate the work that Veith has put into this book b/c these are the times that we are growing up and living in.  Now-a-days, it is difficult to combat the ways of the world.  That is to say that we should shun all that is in the world, but this instead means we should be in the world, but not of the world.  The ways of the world will tempt us until the day we die, but we are not without hope!  I was reminded of this during my times at Track practice.  The conversations range from boys, to prom, to piercings etc...  It is something that makes me sad for the girls that I play with.  They can be the nicest people on the outside, but never know the love and truth of Jesus.  The tricky thing is reaching out to them, but not getting caught up in the lure of the world.  This is the postmodern. 

Seeing the world, from my little corner makes me appreciate the life I have lived, and all that I have been given.  I been blessed with a Christian home, family, parents, and Jesus.  I have been protected, not in a bad way, but from the dangers of sin, at a young age.  I have been given a wonderful youth pastor and youth group.  I have the best friends in the earth, who aren't afraid to show me where I've done wrong.

That is just to name a few.

I think I'm out of thoughts... At least for now.

~Psych out~
Lindz