Tag: postmodern

Many gods against God

There are so many parallels between those in ancient Athens and our postmodern society. It seems like a common belief was that everybody’s right (Acts 17:16,21)! I mean who are we to say what’s right and what’s wrong?

Dale Pollard

There are so many parallels between those in ancient Athens and our postmodern society. It seems like a common belief was that everybody’s right (Acts 17:16,21)! I mean who are we to say what’s right and what’s wrong? It was partially with that mindset that the city was full of idols. Paul, moved in spirit, tells them that not everybody’s right. 

The meat of his message is found in v. 22-31.

The heart of it is found in 27b:  

“God is not far from each one of us.”

No matter how confused and lost a person might feel, no matter what kind of sinful past or present may be weighing on the mind of a person, and no  matter how distant God may seem— He is never far from each one of us. 

It’s because of the honest response of some of those willing to hear and believe (v.34) that we’re reminded to preach Jesus to everybody. Even if it might look like God is outnumbered, preach Jesus anyway. 

THE UTTER INSUFFICIENCY OF THEORIES AND QUESTIONS AS THE “ANSWER”

Neal Pollard

As a teenager I once had a Bible class teacher who found it appealing, as a teaching style, to raise questions but give no answers. Some students thought it was cool to keep things theoretical.  It is interesting that his class never really arrived at absolute truth but stayed hypothetical.  I remember feeling frustrated that he raised doubt and uncertainty for some of my peers who might have entered the classroom sure and certain.  Who knew that his sort of “style” would become more popular here in the post-postmodern and emergent age?

It seems that some want in the realm of theology what no one would want in the worlds of auto mechanic-ing, accounting, real estate or medicine—theories and questions in lieu of ironclad, definitive answers. Yet, the realm of theology deals with something more important than automobiles, money, land, or physical health.  When it comes to God and the Bible, eternity is at stake depending on the answers given and the practice encouraged.

Before we allow some smug, condescending professor, preacher, or pundit to conclude that there are no conclusions or absolutely tout the non-existence of absolute truth, let us humbly ask, “On what basis should we reject the Bible’s authoritative position or exchange it for the point of view of the theorist or inquirer?”  Some religious leaders would like us to join them in “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7).  When the Bible contains a significant number of statements clearly defining right and wrong, we should be wary of those who seem intent to put question marks where God put periods and exclamation points.  That is not to say that there are not “some things hard to be understood” (2 Pet. 3:16), but let us be careful not to toss into that category what God has already explained.