Postmodernism Postmodernism and the and the
Emerging ChurchEmerging Church
Dr. William BrownDr. William BrownPresidentPresident
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
ExperienceExperience
1400 -1900/1960?
MODERNMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH
DISCOVERED BY . . .
ReasonReasonExperienceExperience
POSTMODERNPOSTMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH
DISCOVERED BY . . .
ReasonReasonExperienceExperience
1900/1960? - Present
POSTMODERNPOSTMODERNKNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH
DISCOVERED BY . . .
ExperienceExperience
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
Postmodernism Postmodernism and the and the
Emerging ChurchEmerging Church
Dr. William BrownDr. William BrownPresidentPresident
Postmodernism Postmodernism and the and the
Emerging ChurchEmerging Church
Dr. William BrownDr. William BrownPresidentPresident