Postmodernism: The Attack on Biblical Christianity

Last month “the Education Page” article highlighted socialism as the downfall of America. But it made it clear that American Constitutionalism is the path for healing of our nation.

This month, we wish to dig deeper into our problems, as postmodernism is the greatest threat to Biblical Christianity in our nation.

• How many American citizens are knowledgeable about the prevailing secular postmodern philosophy across our nation?

• How many pastors have equipped their congregations to oppose it?

As a teacher for many decades, this writer is very aware that postmodernism reigns in politics, and in the majority of universities, in most institutions of learning, and even in high schools. This includes journalists, judges, lawyers, political leaders, too many who are indoctrinated in postmodernism.

Why would we not expect Satan to continue what he has done for ages, to mislead in every way to destroy souls. We know that the truth of the Bible is unchanged. God’s Word is unchanged. We must ask, how effective are the evangelical churches today in opposing the increased acceptance of postmodernism?

Today, what we face as a choice is obvious:

• to believe God’s Word and the revelation of God’s providence or

• the humanistic view in science, evolution, and what is viewed as “progress.”

The postmodern view denies the claim of absolute truth, with no fixed absolutes!

When this writer studied with Dr. Francis Schaeffer, he used the term “Post Christian Culture,” but postmodernism is what we call it today. To define this to children it helps to explain that postmoderist say that right and wrong is a matter of your opinion, your choice. To realize the damage to our culture, just observe the divorce rate in families, the over-crowding of jails, etc.

Think of the damage to our young people who believe there are no absolutes. Consequently, as a result, no moral absolutes would apply to any people at any time. Tolerance can be a virtue sometimes, but tolerance taken to the extreme is postmodernism.

To defend pluralism as the postmodernist does, they mean that one religion is not better, or more acceptable than another. Religion to them is a matter of a person’s choice. Their attack on America’s history is an example of deconstruction. Our Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The postmodernist can try to deconstruct the Declaration by commenting that Thomas Jefferson (author of the Declaration) owned slaves, or they claim that the Declaration excluded women. These people find some kind of pleasure in deconstructing the truth of our history. Public education has long resisted propositional truth, which is the faithful preaching of the gospel.

The challenge to preachers today is to preach the Bible as written, inspired, revealing the Triune God. Government schools, in recent generations, have taught biology from the evolutionary point of view as a fact, when in truth, it is only a theory!

Hitler and Marxism fueled the evolutionary philosophy, and this resulted in more human misery.

The Bible makes it clear in Matthew 25:31-46 that there will come a day of judgment and every nation will be judged. Every individual will be judged. “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”

Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Television and various other forms of social media are no doubt the most effective tools used to promote postmodernism. Those who promote postmodernism target the family and invade the very sanctity of our homes.

Philippians 4:8 tells us, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

TV and social media are image driven. They make impressions and affect and stimulate emotions. This is different from the written word. By reading great books, we have a choice of learning from great spiritual leaders and teachers. The habit of reading Christian material is very necessary for Christians meditating on His Word. This discipline builds up our faith and our Christian world view.

To protect ourselves and our families, we can develop stronger faith daily. Our devotional life is essential. Pastors should know their members so well that they can minister to their “heart needs.” A healthy local church is one faithful to the scriptures, in and out of the pulpit.

Dr. Francis Schaeffer is recognized as one of the most influential Christian teachers and authors of a century.

He and his wife Edith, founded L’Abri Fellowship, an international study center located in Switzerland.

His books, more than twenty two, have been translated in at least 25 foreign languages. Some books lead to film series. All are easily available online at Christianbook.com and in Christian bookstores.