People of God Connecting with Post-Modernity

In every corner of the Kingdom of God, especially in the West, people are talking about the need for followers of Jesus to do a 're-think' in the light of these 'postmodern' times. (In non-Western corners of the Kingdom, the phrase most used is 'post-colonialism'. In general, these terms refer to the same thing). How do we do ministry in changing times? This blog post does not aim to answer that question. My sense is that we have to engage in a good deal of dialogue before we can adequately answer that question. This post aims to move the conversation along by contrasting those characteristics most associated with 'modern' times and those we are seeing emerge in these 'postmodern' times.

Postmodernism is an academic term. John Franke, the Reformed theologian, writes that, “The term is best understood as referring primarily to the rejection of the central features of modernity. Broadly speaking, the term postmodern implies the rejection of certain central features of the modern project, such as its quest for certain, objective and universal knowledge, along with its dualism and its assumption of the inherent goodness of knowledge. It is this critical agenda, rather than any proposed constructive paradigm to replace the modern vision, that unites postmodern thinkers.” Amazon

Below you will find a chart contrasting modernity and postmodernity- the great paradigmatic shift that has taken place in the Western world:

Modernity
Facts, observation and logic
Trust absolute truth
Biblical Monotheism - One absolute truth
Relationship with reality by attempting to discern the absolutes
Faith doctrines of absolutism: base beliefs, values and hope on a revealed doctrine
Objective knowledge (religious, mathematical, historical record, etc.) that support absolutist doctrine
Follow Biblical or cultural standards which are considered inherently correct
Sexual guidelines and boundaries fixed by absolutist doctrine
Judge right and wrong by absolute standards
Hard scientific or religious perspective favored
Emphasize creed or logical proposition
Desires to see all embrace the absolutist doctrine
Biblical evangelism makes sense
Contact with "other gods" forbidden

Postmodernity

Facts and truth are created by assumptions

Reject absolute truth - point out assumptions

Spiritual pluralism - all religions require assumptive reasoning and are therefore equal

Relationship with the group that benefits you the most

Moral relativism: base beliefs, values and hope on agreed upon doctrine

Seeks objective knowledge and reworks doctrines to include or ignore said knowledge

Create your own standards and values: society should grant as much right to this as possible

Humans free to choose their own sexuality and identity

No right or wrong lifestyles except those agreed upon

Radical science (Chaos Theory, Shrodinger’s Cat) and transcendent, mysterious spirituality favored

Emphasize story, personal discovery, journey

Celebrates a diversity of post-modern spirituality

Biblical truth irrelevant (dismiss whatever doesn’t feel compatible with personal journey)

Other gods and culture produce ultimate peace and oneness to their believers

Before We React
Before Western Jesus followers react to the many challenging characteristics of postmodernity highlighted above (such as, moral relativism), we might do well to ask ourselves this question: "Are there any points of contact between Biblical Christianity and postmodernity?" I think there are- quite a number of them. Consider the following ten points of contact followers of Jesus we can begin building upon:

- postmodernity's recognition of the essentially spiritual nature of life
-postmodernity's openness and desire for community
-postmodernity's rejection of authority in position and acceptance of authority in relationship
-postmodernity's emphasis on participation over spectator mentality
-postmodernity's embrace of leadership by wisdom and example not knowledge or position
-postmodernity's emphasis on practical answers, “walk” over “talk”
-postmodernity's emphasis on journey and process over goal
-postmodernity's desire for experience over knowledge, the “subjective” and mystical dimension
-postmodernity's preference for spontaneous order over rational structure, webs of connection and meaning
-postmodernity's recognition of truth in paradox, images and story 

Interesting, huh? Many of these points of connection provide some very strategic opportunities for the church to touch postmoderns in our day. Let's keep the conversation going.

(Written 6/22/2006)

Is Old Wine Really Better?

People of refined taste often prefer aged wine. That’s why it costs so much more. But is aged wine really better? According to Jesus, new wine is always God’s best.

The wine of God has to do with the Holy Spirit coming with present Kingdom life and power. Jesus suggests that we are God’s wineskins and that it is God’s wish to fill each one of His chosen vessels with fresh, satisfying, powerful, supernatural Heavenly wine.

Do you believe God wants to fill you with Heavenly new wine right now? He really does. Ah, but there may be a slight problem: “New wine demands new wineskins.” Generally, God’s people cannot be likened to new wineskins. We are often much too content with the old wine. Some believe the old wine to be enough. We are made in Christ to be continually filled with a fresh Heavenly Cabernet. What wonderful things we must be missing by not seeking God’s Heavenly new wine.

So, what is the difference between old and new wine? New wine is still in the process of fermenting. It is alive with life and the potential for change. To receive such wine, the wineskin must be unusually pliable. Its elasticity allows the skin to move with the fermenting wine. An old wine skin is brittle, immovable, stiff. It refuses to surrender its present shape or condition to the dynamic of life fermenting inside. If new wine is poured into an old wineskin, the wine will be wasted as the old, rigid skin bursts.

God only gives new wine. Unless we become new wineskins- fresh, pliable, virginal (if you will), “child-like” (knowing nothing but wanting all God has to give of Himself)- we cannot experience or receive all that God has for us now. Interestingly, when the people of God built the second temple, the old wineskins said, “The glory of the former was better.” They could not receive the new because their hearts were still fixed upon the old. They refused to be like little children in their faith and see God’s new work with new eyes.

How can you and I become new wineskins? First, we must determine (with an absolute resolve) that the old wine no longer satisfies us- it has lost its appeal and power. We must no longer drink of it. Second, we must be utterly cleansed, renewed, and made virginal again. This is something God does in us when we press into God while holding on to absolutely nothing. Finally, we must desperately long to be filled and refuse to remain unfilled.

Jesus directs his disciples to a special God-given grace that is able to help us become freed of our “old wineskin-ness” and become God’s “new wineskins.” It is deep prayer and fasting. Look for yourself at Luke 5:33-39. It is not insignificant that the parable of the old wineskins follows Jesus’ teaching on prayer and fasting. He said, “One day, when the bridegroom has gone away, My disciples will fast.” Why pray and fast? That they (that we) might fully receive what He has promised of His Kingdom power and presence- embodied in the Spirit of Love, the Heavenly Dove.

Let us pray and fast that we might first be changed and then filled.
Scott V. Johnson, 11-2005