Where Has the Love for God Gone?

The Post-modern Era

Introduction

Over the past few decades, the appreciation for at least the idea and authority of God and the acceptance of the importance of His Word has waned. This week, we will conclude our series with what many are calling the “Post-Modern Era”.

A Difficult Definition

This subject is a difficult one as Post-modernism is itself something that can be difficult to define. As cultures evolve and change, attempting to understand the thinking of the newer and younger generations can be a challenge. In the simplest sense, “Post-Modern” simply means what it would “sound” to mean: the time after the Modern Age.

The key reasoning for why the present age would be now considered to be “Post-Modern” is the theory that the promises of the Modern Age are no longer accepted, and the general “pattern” of thinking has changed. Of course, any discussion about the thinking of man must be balanced with the reality that there is ultimately “nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9, NASU). It is true however that particular worldviews can change over time.

The Most Important Problem

Of most important to the Christian is to understand how this worldview approaches the idea of God. In many ways, the Post-Modern view is in direct reaction to the Modern view. Modernity promised a rational explanation for all things, as well as the betterment of humanity based upon man’s own ingenuity. In reality, the Modern view failed utterly, which comes as no surprise to anyone who understands the imperfection of man (cf. Rom. 3:23).

An Overreaction

Because of this reaction, many Post-moderns have rejected the notion of meaning altogether. It should require little explanation as to how a culture which rejects meaning or purpose in life is incredibly dangerous. Such a person must have it explained that just because man has failed to explain the nature of everything, there is One (God) Who is in control of everything, and has explained what man truly needs to know (through His Word).

An Advantage for Evangelism

In a way, this rejection of the necessarily empirically rational has its advantages as the Post-modern is more likely to be accepting of the supernatural. After several hundred years of man’s quest to quantify God with equation and measurement, and to minimize His creation into mere biological and cosmological processes, man has forgotten how to know God. And now we have the opportunity to help a new generation rediscover what was lost!