Post Modernism or Emerging Culture??
Today, I was thrown into a debate on postmodernism and how this person I met before dinner was going on about postmodernism. I wasn't particularly impressed. I guess because I have learnt in all my reading and experience of it, it cannot be an abstract concept. It is not a different method of doing things, neither is it such a big deal especially when one doesn't understand the broken world out there, the real needs out there and what people are saying. Many people can talk about postmodernism yet be living in the modern ( if you know what I mean). Go back to the basics and ask the question why aren't people coming to church anymore?! Do a set of research or do some profiling and you'll find very interesting results just as I did.
We hear people throwing terms like post modernism alot, even amongst evangelical churches. Churches talk about how they have to be postmodern. So they try to change things and do things differently because they feel they need to be post modern. Its become like another pun. Its sad. We think we understand what postmodernism is. Or at least people who throw these terms generically think they do. And you hear things like we are post modern, so this is postmodernism. Then some go further by saying that it is about relativity no longer absolutes. Some also say that its a world of meta narratives. But is that postmodernism? Is post modernism and postmodernity the same thing?? Think about it :)
I wrote an essay about post modernism. A very basic understanding of it for bible college. Of course alot of it is the exposure from books like A New Kind of Christian and Stanley Grenz writings and I am thankful. But in my last few months of deeper understanding, wider reading and experiential learning, I have grasp that postmodernism does not equate cutting edge ministries. Yes, good to know about postmodernism - but it goes a step further. It is no point understanding the theories and principles behind post modernism and NOT marry it with one of the MOST important elements it needs. And that is the emerging contemporary culture in 21st Century Mission. Churches need to study culture. The study of culture is highly significant as an issue that addresses the relationship amongst Christ, the gospel, the church and the communities. We need to engage with what is OUTSIDE the church doors - to be aware of the social processes and the embroiled shift to globalisation. The basics are necessary before we can begin to understand and talk about postmodern principles and concepts. And one thing I discovered in my time in london is that as Christians, we must also understand the culture that exists INSIDE the church's doors too!! Much of what we understand of historical church practises is simply cultural adaptations, and sometimes there is great big need to open our eyes to de-absolutise many of those practises in order to communicate afresh the gospel/good news to a NEW WORLD.
I can go on about many reasons of why understanding contemporary culture first is so important before we engage into postmodernism as a philisophy or intellectual principle and how it effects us today. Now, as I re-look and re-read books on postmodernism, I see the light!! The pivotal and defining thing about church in today's world is to focus on the kingdom perspective and principle. Cutting edge ministires often are those where takes us beyond our comfort zone. One thing about today's culture is that they are watching the churches to see if they are welcoming to the stranger in their community, and use that a whether they want to identify with Jesus another time. We are also living in an age where there are other appealing spirituality concepts from other sects that sees a shift in the falling away from the institutional Christianity of before. Some call this secularisation. And hence we see in the contemporary culture more people are seriously in search of some smorgasbord form of spirituality or just anythign that connects with them - a natural effect of several world events like the tsunami etc leads people in these direction. So where is the church in all of this??
There is big space in my heart for the rise of the emerging churches, especially those who engage in 21st Century Mission. And the amazing thing is that, we are all discovering what church is as we dialogue and true our experiences. Yes, some modern practises of Christianity may need to be removed and rethought. NOT the faith itself. See, its exciting to not talk so much about postmodernism I have learnt because many of us do not know what post modern Christendom looks like but we're all in a journey in conversation to see the gospel translated and embodied in 21st century mission.
Emerging churches or churches in the emerging culture relies heavily on the New Testament scholarship of NT Wright, Dallas Willard and to a certain extent Brian McLaren in focusing on the life of Jesus, taking a fresh look at the gospel they thought they always knew.
Let me share with you why its close to my heart. Because it is about following the way of Jesus in creating kingdom communities, inspired by the stories of the New Testament and being humbled by our OWN experience. The understanding therefore is to infect others and oneself by the gospel because, what choice does one have but to follow once infected ?? (think analogy) My deep desire is to see kingdom communities being planted and formed everywhere. Emerging churches take into account the emerging cultures. And this is their gospel message, that it is NOT CONFINED to personal salvation. It is SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION arising from the presence and permeation of the reign of Christ in us. No longer satisfied with a reductionist, individualised and privatised message.
Conversations and Creativity. Ask the right questions and yak away stories...
Having said all that, I do think we live in an evolving post modern era and it is pivotal for us to understand the implications of how culture and postmodernism when married together has a significant impact on churches and christendom today.
Today, I was thrown into a debate on postmodernism and how this person I met before dinner was going on about postmodernism. I wasn't particularly impressed. I guess because I have learnt in all my reading and experience of it, it cannot be an abstract concept. It is not a different method of doing things, neither is it such a big deal especially when one doesn't understand the broken world out there, the real needs out there and what people are saying. Many people can talk about postmodernism yet be living in the modern ( if you know what I mean). Go back to the basics and ask the question why aren't people coming to church anymore?! Do a set of research or do some profiling and you'll find very interesting results just as I did.
We hear people throwing terms like post modernism alot, even amongst evangelical churches. Churches talk about how they have to be postmodern. So they try to change things and do things differently because they feel they need to be post modern. Its become like another pun. Its sad. We think we understand what postmodernism is. Or at least people who throw these terms generically think they do. And you hear things like we are post modern, so this is postmodernism. Then some go further by saying that it is about relativity no longer absolutes. Some also say that its a world of meta narratives. But is that postmodernism? Is post modernism and postmodernity the same thing?? Think about it :)
I wrote an essay about post modernism. A very basic understanding of it for bible college. Of course alot of it is the exposure from books like A New Kind of Christian and Stanley Grenz writings and I am thankful. But in my last few months of deeper understanding, wider reading and experiential learning, I have grasp that postmodernism does not equate cutting edge ministries. Yes, good to know about postmodernism - but it goes a step further. It is no point understanding the theories and principles behind post modernism and NOT marry it with one of the MOST important elements it needs. And that is the emerging contemporary culture in 21st Century Mission. Churches need to study culture. The study of culture is highly significant as an issue that addresses the relationship amongst Christ, the gospel, the church and the communities. We need to engage with what is OUTSIDE the church doors - to be aware of the social processes and the embroiled shift to globalisation. The basics are necessary before we can begin to understand and talk about postmodern principles and concepts. And one thing I discovered in my time in london is that as Christians, we must also understand the culture that exists INSIDE the church's doors too!! Much of what we understand of historical church practises is simply cultural adaptations, and sometimes there is great big need to open our eyes to de-absolutise many of those practises in order to communicate afresh the gospel/good news to a NEW WORLD.
I can go on about many reasons of why understanding contemporary culture first is so important before we engage into postmodernism as a philisophy or intellectual principle and how it effects us today. Now, as I re-look and re-read books on postmodernism, I see the light!! The pivotal and defining thing about church in today's world is to focus on the kingdom perspective and principle. Cutting edge ministires often are those where takes us beyond our comfort zone. One thing about today's culture is that they are watching the churches to see if they are welcoming to the stranger in their community, and use that a whether they want to identify with Jesus another time. We are also living in an age where there are other appealing spirituality concepts from other sects that sees a shift in the falling away from the institutional Christianity of before. Some call this secularisation. And hence we see in the contemporary culture more people are seriously in search of some smorgasbord form of spirituality or just anythign that connects with them - a natural effect of several world events like the tsunami etc leads people in these direction. So where is the church in all of this??
There is big space in my heart for the rise of the emerging churches, especially those who engage in 21st Century Mission. And the amazing thing is that, we are all discovering what church is as we dialogue and true our experiences. Yes, some modern practises of Christianity may need to be removed and rethought. NOT the faith itself. See, its exciting to not talk so much about postmodernism I have learnt because many of us do not know what post modern Christendom looks like but we're all in a journey in conversation to see the gospel translated and embodied in 21st century mission.
Emerging churches or churches in the emerging culture relies heavily on the New Testament scholarship of NT Wright, Dallas Willard and to a certain extent Brian McLaren in focusing on the life of Jesus, taking a fresh look at the gospel they thought they always knew.
Let me share with you why its close to my heart. Because it is about following the way of Jesus in creating kingdom communities, inspired by the stories of the New Testament and being humbled by our OWN experience. The understanding therefore is to infect others and oneself by the gospel because, what choice does one have but to follow once infected ?? (think analogy) My deep desire is to see kingdom communities being planted and formed everywhere. Emerging churches take into account the emerging cultures. And this is their gospel message, that it is NOT CONFINED to personal salvation. It is SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION arising from the presence and permeation of the reign of Christ in us. No longer satisfied with a reductionist, individualised and privatised message.
Conversations and Creativity. Ask the right questions and yak away stories...
Having said all that, I do think we live in an evolving post modern era and it is pivotal for us to understand the implications of how culture and postmodernism when married together has a significant impact on churches and christendom today.
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