The Contradictions of Postmodernism If postmodernism boasts a mantra, it would have to be, “There is no such thing as absolute truth.” However, that statement collapses under its own self-contradictory weight. “There is no absolute truth” is a statement of absolute truth. Again, relativism is either true or false. If true, that is the same as saying, “it is an objective truth that there is no objective truth.” If false, the game is up. Again, postmodernism is pluralistic. It says that no one view is uniquely correct. But if no single view is correct, is pluralism correct? Again, postmodernists claim to have a neutral perspective and be able to take a detached bird’s eye view of all other views, while condemning all other views as biased constructs. Again, postmodernism does not believe in worldviews (what it calls meta-narratives). But since it has a theory about life’s meaning, truth and morals, it qualifies as a worldview itself. That makes it a worldview that challenges the validity of worldviews! The contradictions are endless. Postmodernism tolerates everything but intolerance. Its proponents expect us to listen to what they say as if it were absolutely true, while denying the very concept of absolute truth. They expect us to take their authorial intent to heart, while denying the authorial validity of other texts. They use language carefully, expecting us to catch the essence of what they are saying, while simultaneously denying that language has universal weight. They outline the dichotomy between modernism and postmodernism, claiming that the latter is superior, while rejecting any such hierarchy of ideas exists. As a theory postmodernism was a provocative idea: as a workable model for life it is useless. C.S. Lewis once pointed out that folk who deny the existence of an absolute moral law still become upset when you take their seat on a bus. The Cure for Postmodernism In 2 Cor 10:5, Paul tells Christians to destroy arguments that rise up against the knowledge of God. This will be impossible unless, like Paul, they understand at least a little of ‘where the world is at’ and begin to interact with unbelievers in ways they can understand (Acts 17:22-31). Christians must realise that society has rejected the notion of truth. Its objections to the gospel have done a complete somersault in the last 20 years. Back in the ‘modern’ era (17th-20th C.) the secular world argued that Christianity was not true. They denied Christianity. However, in the postmodern era (post-1990) the secular world objects to Christianity not because it is wrong, but because it dares to claim it is the only truth. The Christian must continue to press the exclusive claim of the gospel which has been revealed in the Bible in precise, meaningful language (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Tim 2:5). The changeable ideas of men cut no ice with the enduring and eternal word of God (Isa 40:68,1 Pet 1:24-25). Biblical truth is absolute, objective, knowable and eternal. Christianity must be expounded as a worldview that is true for everyone, whether they believe it or not. Status, for a Christian, exists in being ‘in Christ’. Worth and acceptance is ‘in Him’ alone (Eph 1:6). Postmodernism, filled as it is with dozens of ludicrous contradictions and fatal flaws, must be exposed as a fraud and resisted at every level of entry. Gospel preaching aimed at the conscience of guilty 21st century man, exposing him to the righteous law of a sin-hating God is still the God-ordained way. As we witness to the uniqueness of Christ and the Bible, let us pray that God will bring conviction and repentance to those hopelessly lost in postmodernism and every other false philosophy of man. Let us also learn the lesson of history. Ancient Roman Society was supremely tolerant culturally and scrupulously fair legally, except to Christians. Since they would not worship the Emperor as well as Christ and because they claimed to possess unique truth, Christians became public enemy number one. Persecution followed and may yet manifest itself on a wide scale in our own Western society.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:21:21 +0000
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