What happened?
Fifteen years ago, evangelical theologian David Wells wrote, “I have watched with growing disbelief as the evangelical Church has cheerfully plunged into astounding theological illiteracy.” Less than a year later, Christian pollster George Barna published his findings that the beliefs and actions of Christians are by and large no different than non-Christians.
What happened to the church that it no longer stands apart from the culture to which it is called to reach with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
For the church in early America, there was no doubt that the Bible held every truth, and truth was absolute. But in the aftermath of revolutions in both America and France, a new human-based “philosophical system” gained popularity among European intellectuals, and within a generation appeared on the shores of North America.
The “Enlightenment” elevated the human intellect to supreme power. Reason, order and science became the standards by which things were judged. A century later, modernist intellectual analysts began to view Scripture as inaccurate history, mere literature without spiritual inspiration. The inevitable result was to discredit Scripture. Church dogma (statements of doctrine and belief not open to discussion or debate) and Scripture were to be regarded as symbolic and allegorical, not literal and true.
Where the modernist relied upon the universal truth of reason, the absolute certainty of science and upon the ability of systems of social order to eliminate social disorder, the postmodernist sees human thought (reason) as incapable of determining ultimate, universal truth. Since reality is nothing more than a reflection of that which is true, there can be no universal reality. Reality and truth are not based in external standards or absolutes. Reality and truth are based only in experience.
To the Postmodernist, orthodox Christianity becomes an anachronism. God can be experienced in multiple ways, and there are multiple paths to “heaven,” which also is defined by individual experience. Understanding scripture is based on individual perception of truth. The original intent of the author has no meaning. Understanding scripture becomes “What the Bible means to me,” not what the Bible actually means. God is no longer in authority through his Word. The only God is “the god one finds in himself,” the god one constructs from his individual perception of reality and truth.
Nevertheless, a strong current of “spirituality” (a desire to relate to the supernatural), runs through the postmodern religious culture. Humanity has not abandoned its search for God; it has merely widened the scope of the search. Seen through the faceted eyes of postmodernism, all forms of religion – New Age, Universalism, human secularism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Eastern mysticism, et al, – are legitimate and “true.” The universal truths of original sin and atoning sacrifice are alien to postmodernism. Jesus Christ is relegated to the role of great teacher and all around “nice guy.” Jesus is portrayed as a “super-social worker,” whose value is in his “good-works.” Paradoxically, postmodern culture is tolerant of all religions, except one. Any religion which is so arrogant as to believe it knows the truth is to be scorned, and even worse, censured.
Tragically, the church of Jesus Christ has over the years, fallen for many of these fallacious philosophies, rendering it powerless to impact the world in the way God intended.
Several years ago, George Barna met with the leadership of Awana and challenged us to understand and address the crisis that is facing the American church. Our response was the development of the Rorheim Institute, dedicated to helping adult workers instill a biblical worldview in the next generation of kids.
George also approached the folks at Focus on the Family with the same challenge. Their response is a remarkable seminar called The Truth Project. The very pillars of human society are examined in light of what the Scriptures have to say, and in doing so, makes an eloquent defense of absolute truth and the Word of God Himself. The Truth Project has the potential of making a tremendous impact on the church, and in turn, the culture in which we live.
I urge you to take a look at The Truth Project Web site and consider attending their all-day satellite simulcast seminar at a location near you.