Stanley Grenz on Postmodernism

A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996

In rejecting the modern assumption of the objectivity of knowledge, postmoderns also reject the Enlightenment ideal of the dispassionate, autonomous knower. They contend that the work of scientists, like that of any other human beings, is historically and culturally conditioned and that our knowledge is always incomplete.

The postmodern worldview operates with a community-based understanding of truth. It affirms that whatever we accept as truth and even the way we envision truth are dependent on the community in which we participate. Further, and far more radically, the postmodern worldview affirms that this relativity extends beyond our perception of truth to its essence: there is no absolute truth; rather, truth is relative to the community in which we participate. (p. 8) Bold has been added.

Some comments:

To whatever degree that one cannot be a “dispassionate and autonomous knower”, then one is, to that degree, a slave of an eisegetical mind-set. That one can be strongly exegetical in the “knowing” of a text is made possible by an exercised discipline and can be totally efficient in the discerning of a “truth” proclaimed by any text. This proclamation, of course, depends on the degree that one defines the appropriate text as being authentic. The inerrancy of the biblical text would be appropriate for this study. Thus, “truth” is proclaimed as an absolute in the biblical text. Further, to whatever degree that one has trained himself in an exegetical and disciplined mind-set, to that degree that person has the ability to be "dispassionate and autonomous" as a knower and a discerner of that text.

I wrote the above last night as a Word document for the purpose of research and personal comment, but thought that I might as well post it. It also appeared to me (this morning) as a big dose of pedantic gobbledygook (“wordy and generally unintelligible jargon”) and as such I was prepared to put it to sleep and archive it for future personal reference only. But - I couldn’t leave well-enough alone. I’m sorry folks; it’s that emergent thing again. This movement is becoming more than serious in its import. Dr. Tackett alluded to the fact that Jesus is “bifurcating the world” (see post on 5/19). May I suggest that He is also bifurcating the man-made church? To whatever degree that the postmodern (emergent) mind-set is leading some in the church toward a disbelief in “absolute truth”, to that degree it may be leading those who are so involved toward a state of apostasy, or as previously alluded to, they are at least removing some barriers to that apostasy.

Why is it mandated upon a seeker (potential “knower”) that he be blunted in his quest for understanding of a particular text by the culture that dominates his surroundings? An author records and a seeker-for-understanding reads. When I read the Scriptures, I exegete the text contained within. This process is a result of a conscious decision upon my part. To the best of my ability I resist the temptation to eisegetically skew the text to best comfort my psyche; one that is white, Protestant, and Western-European in nature. Such eeeeeeevil within me does not prevent me from allowing the biblical text from saying what it wants to say. Whenever a passage implies against my personal belief-system, I question seriously that part of my belief. I will not be denied truth by my cultural conditioning. Life and death are too important. Further, I will not allow a worldly community-based-culture to proclaim a collective-like “truth” upon me, especially when it contradicts the absolute claims of Scripture.

Consider this: If Scripture has been penned by the Spirit Himself then it has been dictated with the intent of being understood by the one who seeks for truth. Truth has been proclaimed from above. That Truth will not be altered by evil men who distort and use that Truth for the purposes of plunder, murder, empire building and other atrocities that have been committed throughout history. Too many (emergent?) “Christians” have surfaced such distortions throughout history to deny the reality of Truth. Again, a distortion of the Truth does not deny that Truth.

I am not “culturally conditioned” in such a way that I read my “truth” into any text that I may be reading. I am a “dispassionate knower”. I have many limitations, but please understand that they are not culturally induced. Truth has been proclaimed. That the Truth has been proclaimed and recorded is an absolutist-like claim. Further it is a Plumb Line that has been designed to be dealt with by any reader and seeker for knowledge. The contents contained within are knowable. Deal with it! Your life may be at stake.

From Carson to Grenz

Just finished D. A. Carson’s book (Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church – see post on May 9th). After the Truth-Project-showing that I alluded to in my May 19th post, we were discussing the emergent phenomenon (most Christians present had not even heard of such a beast) after the meeting concluded and I found myself advocating the book to those who were listening. Now this is no small decision. To whatever degree that I believe that many honest and concerned Christians are removing barriers to apostasy, to that degree, I must take very serious any recommendations for further intellectual and spiritual pursuits in that area. So after some serious reflection, I have decided that this literary effort is sufficiently penetrating, honest, and logical that I am advocating it for serious consideration.

There are too many solid Christians who are in the process of polarizing regarding this debate for me to slay dragons as of yet. I have alluded to that fact in a previous post. It would be beneficial, it would seem, to recommend literature from both polarized houses. I have yet to find one that would express the emergent/postmodern position. My next effort will be to go to the 1999 effort by Stanley Grenz - A Primer on Postmodernism – (Eerdmans: Grand Rapids). Perhaps this effort will be a candidate. Dr. Grenz was a world-class scholar. Let’s see what he has to say. I may consider Brian McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy at some later date, but that would be to offer that literary effort as a polarized view of emergent that may be loved by some, but that I would consider the worst that they have to offer. Some of you may have noticed that I am not advocating Beyond Foundationalism by Dr. Grenz (and J. R. Franke) – see post on May 7. The authors are certainly robust enough to teach us much concerning this issue; it’s just that this effort was too pedantic and epistemologically nuanced to be a useful tool at this time.

So back to Carson. The author has raised many objections to the EC. This is not a book review, so I won’t go into them on this site. Let me just suggest that there is one point that he has made that may transcend all others in importance; namely that he finds little, if any, scriptural exegesis in the writing of those who advocate that belief-system. So far, I have found that suggestion to be totally true. This observation generates a serious concern. In the author’s estimation, it is a conscious decision of the most hardened of the postmodernist’s to do so. Brian McLaren certainly comes to mind at this point. So, I will be aware of this phenomenon as I read EC literature, and will tend to ask the question as I do so: Will there be any claims to Scripture as a base for their belief-system, and if not, will this trend continue as I read more of their literature? Dr Carson alludes to this theme several times but I find the following to be a good summation of the spiritual damage that it could cause:

Third, granted that the emerging church movement is driven by its perception of widespread cultural changes, its own proposals for the way ahead must be assessed for their biblical fidelity. In other words, we must not only try to evaluate the accuracy of the emerging church’s cultural analysis, but also the extent to which its proposals spring from, or can at least be squared with, the Scriptures. To put the matter differently: Is there at least some danger that what is being advocated is not so much a new kind of Christian in a new emerging church, but a church that is so submerging itself in the culture that it risks hopeless compromise? (p. 44) - bold has been added

The EC may not be heading for a hopeless compromise, but if they are, is this not a serious matter of the highest order?

The Truth Project

I only recently heard that there was a beast by the name of The Truth Project. Since it was portrayed to me as a worthy project I thought that it would be productive to investigate further. Thus, I attended a showing of the first episode; one that was designed to explain the scope of the project. I wondered: "Would this project be substantive enough to proactively pursue for my church and even to promote the twelve session video set beyond that?" The effort was most assuredly not a waste of time. So what’s it about? Here is some of what the lesson guide for Lesson 1 says:

What is truth? Why is it important? What role does it play in the biblical view of the world, God’s purpose for the cosmos, His will for mankind, His plan of salvation, and the way we live our personal lives? In his comments on this subject Dr. Del Tackett will demonstrate how truth was fundamental to the missions of Jesus Christ in the world; how it forms the heart of the Cosmic Battle that has been raging since the beginning; how this battle has divided the world into two opposing camps or sides; how lies, the antithesis of Truth, take human hearts and minds captive by the power of deception; and how every man and woman now stands in the position of having to choose between God’s truth claims and the opposing perspective of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Dr. Tackett concludes that, in almost every case, the perspective of contemporary culture stands in direct opposition to the Truth-centered worldview present in the Bible. In the process of making this case, he advances the bold claim that our culture is not only filled with lies but is actually heading in the direction of social insanity. As a result, he proposes that Pilate’s query – “What is truth?” – is the most important question facing our society today. (I have added the bold)

Enough said. Dr. Tackett did more than a reasonable job of advancing those claims that were stated in the above Guide. I agree; there has been a Cosmic Battle raging since the beginning; one that is yet to be terminated and one that demands that everyone answer to the two stated cosmic claims: The biblical Truth (John 18:33-38), or the satanic lie begun in the Garden. Which do you choose? In the process of sharing our views of the video upon its completion I stated that perhaps the most substantive statement in the entire 12 session series will be this five-word utterance by Dr. Tackett: “Jesus is bifurcating the world”!!! Now, of course, I have not seen the next eleven sessions, but, honestly, other than the Christian Basics can there be anything more substantive than that utterance?

Either one has to vehemently deny that utterance (postmodern Christianity?) or one has to embrace it with passion, and wonder aloud shouting “why doesn’t the Christian community know that we are in a Cosmic War?" I look forward to the next eleven sessions. I’ll keep you posted. The pertinent Focus on the Family web site is http://www.thetruthproject.org/

Witty Sinners - Dull Christians

My son called me this morning. “Dad, I just finished reading the second Psalm. This is what your web site is all about, isn’t it?” Well, this is great, I thought! So I’ve raised my very own son to be a lunatic just like me. Anyway, I needed to hear from him. We had a good talk. The Lord has given him good wisdom and he spoke to me a word in season. Perhaps some of you noticed that California has now made it legal to wed members of the same sex. To some (many?) Christians, this is OK. We need to be tolerant and we need to appeal to the world at large they would say. To other Christians this is just one more surrender to licentiousness. We are discouraged. Licentiousness is becoming rampant. So what does the Psalmist say about such a scenario?

Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: “Let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury: “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Ps. 2: 1-6)

Now to some of you this passage may be only allegorical in nature. To others, me included, it is literal. There will literally be a day when God perceives that the human race has fully given itself over to rebellion and self-seeking. Do we not perceive this process to be robust in this information age in which we live? Kings and rulers are complicit in removing the Judeo/Christian God from the public arena, and they are being totally successful. Spurgeon comments on this process: “They go about their warfare craftily, not with foolish haste, but deliberately. They use all the skill which art can give. Like Pharaoh, they cry, ‘Let us deal wisely with them.’ O that men were half as careful in God’s service to serve him wisely, as his enemies are to attack his kingdom craftily. Sinners have their wits about them, and yet saints are dull.” (The Kingdom of David. Baker: Grand Rapids, 1981 - Vol. I, p. 12) Bold has been added.

This is the thought that has given birth, and that currently gives impetus, to this site: We saints seem to be dull of thought in the midst of this worldly unfolding. Please consider the possibility that we function in this, the information age, as part of the separating-out of His Elect. They are in rebellion, hopefully, we are in obedience, and thus, are in a process of being called-out. He really is going to be angry, and in His fury they are going to be terrified! Is it the intent of The Sovereign Lord to reason with such people and their rulers, or is it His intent to vent His fury? Ask the Psalmist. The completion of the footstool for His feet (Ps. 110:1) may be nearer than we seem to expect. What do you think?

TAFTCom…

Succinct

Where is this site going? I’m almost tempted to say that “I have no idea”. That is not entirely true, of course, since I believe that there is a very large, steady paced, and a very momentum-laden freight train coming. If I really mean it (and believe me I do), then obviously I have something in my viscera that must come out, and I have some direction that I wish to pursue. I have found, however, that the details and articles that are being generated by this site have so far dealt almost exclusively with the modern Christian thrust known as the Emergent Conversation. In the natural realm, it appears to be winning the day. If there is harm being generated by this community, then certainly it must be addressed in a most serious manner by those who so perceive it to be harmful to our community. Like many who are concerned by this phenomenon, it is still unclear to what degree this is so. Anyway, all of that is to simply apologize for being so polarized in my efforts on this site. There are many, many more topics of concern that I wish to deal with in the future, but it seems that the Spirit within me has me pursuing in this area to the exclusion of those many others, and I must obey to whatever degree that I am being led. This thought arose this morning as I was reading.

D. A. Carson is one who is engaged in this area. I think that this paragraph is succinct and addresses the concerns of many pursuing in this area:

“Third, granted that the emerging church movement is driven by its perception of widespread cultural changes, its own proposals for the way ahead must be assessed for their biblical fidelity. In other words, we must not only try to evaluate the accuracy of the emerging church’s cultural analysis, but also the extent to which its proposals spring from, or can at least be squared with, the Scriptures. To put the matter differently: Is there at least some danger that what is being advocated is not so much a new kind of Christian in a new emerging church, but a church that is so submerging itself in the culture that it risks hopeless compromise?” (Carson, D. A.. Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2005, p. 44) - bold has been added.

By the way, the entire book is quite clear and succinct. If you are researching in this area, then this book seems to be quite clear on the subject and quite honest in its dealings. To those of you who are “emerging”, I understand that this concern is part of your “conversation”. Please do not too readily dismiss this concern. To whatever degree it is true, to that degree great damage is being placed upon our Christian community. For those of us whose tendency is to be concerned that “compromise” is where they are heading (taking us?), we need to be penetrating in our analysis, and we need to do so with much honesty and integrity - There are so many of them and they all lay claim to the name of Christ.

The Church seems to be in great flux. - and at a critical (terminal?) time in history. We may have to pull our pistols out eventually - perhaps just not yet.

Hey, That Was Nice

Just waded through a pedantic heavy weight (Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology In A Postmodern Context, Louisville: WJK, 2001) by Stanley Grenz and John R. Franke. Franke had written a forward to Brian’s book and Grenz was alluded to several times in the same book (A Generous Orthodoxy. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004). So I thought that I would see what they had to say. Both are apparently self-proclaimed Emergents. The title of their book was enticing. I thought that it would be beneficial to see what two scholars thought about “getting beyond foundationalism”. Just to remind us all, one of the staples of the emergent belief-system is that the Christian community has relied too heavily upon, and caused much harm by distorting, absolutes and orthodoxies that are supposedly mandated by the Scriptures. How far were these guys going to go to demonstrate to our community that the modernist view of absolutes is not all that demonstrable and should be open to some vigorous conversation? I finished the book by asking myself just how emergent are these guys? In their eeeeevil emergent and dark mind-set were they hiding their true feelings by the use of subtle and academic niceties? They were emergent, but they wanted to inoculate us before they revealed their true feelings? They seem to hold to some form of absolutes. The Spirit working through scriptures should help form our theological base, they say. At the same time Church tradition should also help form that base. All of this should be exercised (in, through and/or by?) our current cultural surroundings. I suppose that this is one of the reasons that many people say that the emergent community is diverse. OK, I believe it. All of this is simply to say that at this point my brain is fried. Sooooo, in that condition, I go to a softball game.

Tuesday my wife and I went to a playoff game between Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego area) and Biola University (La Mirada, CA). We watched a gal play whose mother grew up with our eldest daughter. Their family is our family. Randi is a senior. These are playoff games to finish out her senior year and it’s a little sad. PLNU will go back to Alabama to compete for the nationals and then it will be over for her. She will play no more at the college level. Anyway, when the game was over all of the girls walked past each other and gave a high-five to their individual opponents. Then I noticed that they slowly formed a large circle around the mound, held hands around that mound of dirt, and prayed. Different colored uniforms along with both coaching staffs holding hands in unity and praying! My fried brain needed that. In the midst of this increasingly dark and mean-spirited world a bunch of talented young girls gathered around each other in innocence and in a Fellowship that transcends that dark world and simply stated to the universe that we’re in competition with each other but we belong to each other in a Fellowship that you cannot understand. We’re really talented athletically at the college level, but we can still giggle and squeak and be vulnerable - and - we belong to the King. Thanks Ran for growing up to be such a fine young lady.

By the way, to those of you who have read the book (and to the authors I would add), to what degree will the Christian community help to bring about the telos, and to what degree will the telos (the eschaton) interrupt history and be forced upon us? It’s important that we know.