Postmodernism Postmodernism and theand the

Emerging ChurchEmerging Church

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?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

CLASSIC

MODERN

POSTMODERN

CLASSICKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

RevelationRevelationReasonReason

ExperienceExperience

2000 BC – AD 1400

MODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

RevelationRevelationReasonReason

ExperienceExperience

1400 -1900/1960?

MODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

ReasonReasonExperienceExperience

POSTMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

ReasonReasonExperienceExperience

1900/1960? - Present

POSTMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH

DISCOVERED BY . . .

ExperienceExperience

POSTMODERNISMNo 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

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