Postmodernism and the Emerging Church Dr. William Brown President

Postmodernism Postmodernism and the and the

Emerging ChurchEmerging Church

Dr. William BrownDr. William BrownPresidentPresident




See to it that no one takes you See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow captive through hollow philosophy, which depends on philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather principles of this world rather than on Christ. than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8

POSTMODERN?POSTMODERN?

1. The period of time after the “Modern Period”

2. A term describing an approach to art, architecture, literature, etc.

3. A pejorative term describing someone who does not believe in objective truth (or morality) or our ability to know it

CLASSICCLASSIC

MODERNMODERN

POSTMODERNPOSTMODERN

CLASSICCLASSICKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

RevelationRevelationReasonReason

ExperienceExperience

2000 BC – AD 1400

MODERNMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

RevelationRevelationReasonReason


1400 -1900/1960?

MODERNMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

ReasonReasonExperienceExperience

POSTMODERNPOSTMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

ReasonReasonExperienceExperience

1900/1960? - Present

POSTMODERNPOSTMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .


POSTMODERNISMPOSTMODERNISMNo Absolute TruthNo Absolute Truth

only only MY MY truthtruth

No Past, no FutureNo Past, no Futureonly only NOWNOW

No Underlying Meaning or PurposeNo Underlying Meaning or Purposeonly only MY MY Meaning and Meaning and PurposePurpose

Component Modernism Postmodernism

Motto Tell me Involve me

Stimuli Style Logical Experiential

Learning Style Lecture Story

High Value Truth Tolerance

Salvation A point in time A way of life

Extreme Tendency Legalism Liberalism

Order of Worship Fixed Fluid

Authority Hierarchy Roundtable

Postmodernism and ModernismPostmodernism and Modernism

EMERGING CHURCH?EMERGING CHURCH?

1.1. The most recent movement to challenge the status The most recent movement to challenge the status quo of the conservative, Evangelical churchquo of the conservative, Evangelical church

2.2. A term describing churches that focus on creative A term describing churches that focus on creative methods to engage the Postmodern culturemethods to engage the Postmodern culture

3.3. A pejorative term describing a person who rejects A pejorative term describing a person who rejects traditional, conservative doctrinetraditional, conservative doctrine

The “Emerging Church”Flash Points

1.1. Knowledge/TruthKnowledge/Truth

2.2. The BibleThe Bible

3.3. SalvationSalvation

4.4. CultureCulture

Offended Offended WithdrawWithdraw

DelightedDelighted AssimilateAssimilate

DistressedDistressed EngageEngage

Three Approaches to Culture

Takeaways:One Truth

Three Callings

*We live in a Postmodern culture*We live in a Postmodern culture

*We are called by God to grow in our *We are called by God to grow in our knowledge of “sound doctrine”knowledge of “sound doctrine”

*We are called by God to aggressively *We are called by God to aggressively engage the cultureengage the culture

*We are called by God to prioritize *We are called by God to prioritize unity and love for other believers unity and love for other believers

See to it that no one takes you See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow captive through hollow philosophy, which depends on philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather principles of this world rather than on Christ. than on Christ.

Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8







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Postmodernism and the Emerging Church Dr. William Brown President