Back in the 1960's various philosophers made the bold statement that "God is Dead". In essence they embraced Atheism (or at least Agnosticism) as the basis for life. While it was not a popular movement that took over the culture, it planted enough cynicism and skepticism that it served as a breeding ground for all sorts of other philosophical nonsense.
One of those movements that is "nonsensical" is Post-modernism. To understand Post-modernism one has to realize that it is the prevailing philosophy that guides all secular modern education in our western world today. It is the predominant value system in public school education, in university education, in research institutes and the halls of politics. In the post-modernist mind there is no truth. Truth is nothing more than the construct of a group of people (literally called a tribe). In essence, truth is relative and so "what works for you" is the mantra of individuality and social mores.
It is a ridiculous way of approaching reality. The idea that absolutes not existing is based on the theory that there is no God, no absolute authority, and therefore no one to ultimately be accountable to.
Sad...one look at the fruit of this value system has demonstrated it's lacking. The rising immorality that has led to more single parenting than we've ever had before. Along with this an economic system that enslaves people to live in poverty dependent upon government assistance for the whole of their lives. The sexual revolution yielded Aids, a sexual freedom that has enslaved men and women to pornography, child porn, deviant behavior and a thirst for more.
What is missing in our civil society is a reason that is grounded in reality. The problem is that this reason is missing because it is grounded in the foolish belief that each individual is the author of that reasoned truth.
John Calvin in writing about the human dilemma of a reason and will that is not rooted in God makes a very clear statement:
"It thus appears that none can enter the kingdom of God save those whose minds have been renewed by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit. On this subject the clearest exposition is given by Paul, who, when expressly handling it, after condemning the whole wisdom of the world as foolishness and vanity, and thereby declaring man’s utter destitution, thus concludes, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned,” (1 Cor. 2:14).
Whom does he mean by the “natural man”? The man who trusts to the light of nature. Such a man has no understanding in the spiritual mysteries of God. Why so? Is it because through sloth he neglects them? Nay, though he exert himself, it is of no avail; they are “spiritually discerned.” And what does this mean? That altogether hidden from human discernment, they are made known only by the revelation of the Spirit; so that they are accounted foolishness wherever the Spirit does not give light. The Apostle had previously declared, that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him;” nay, that the wisdom of the world is a kind of veil by which the mind is prevented from beholding God (1 Cor. 2:9).
What would we more? The Apostle declares that God has “made foolish the wisdom of this world,” (1 Cor. 1:20); and shall we attribute to it an acuteness capable of penetrating to God, and the hidden mysteries of his kingdom? Far from us be such presumption!
What the Apostle here denies to man, he, in another place, ascribes to God alone, when he prays, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation,” (Eph. 1:17). You now hear that all wisdom and revelation is the gift of God. What follows? “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” Surely, if they require a new enlightening, they must in themselves be blind. The next words are, “that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,” (Eph. 1:18).
What we are witnessing our world is a "foolishness" that is far more reflective of embracing the cynicism of the "God is dead" movement, and choosing to develop a value system quite apart from divine revelation.
Is there an antidote for us in this system? Yes! We who have "received" the Spirit have a way of thinking that is empowered by God and the foolishness of the world is to be rejected for what it is - foolishness.
Instead, Peter reminds us again: 1 Peter 3:9-12
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Do we withdraw from the world? No. Do we condemn, or judge those around us? No. We are told to "go into all the world" by Jesus and we are told by Jesus to "judge not, that you are not judged." We are not excused from discernment of what is true, good, not evil, worthy of God; but there is a distinction between judging others and exercising discernment. What we do is engage the world with the gospel of Jesus - that there is life to be discovered in God's grace, the forgiveness of Sins, and the life of the Spirit based on Jesus' words that "when he comes, he will guide you into all truth."
Peace
One of those movements that is "nonsensical" is Post-modernism. To understand Post-modernism one has to realize that it is the prevailing philosophy that guides all secular modern education in our western world today. It is the predominant value system in public school education, in university education, in research institutes and the halls of politics. In the post-modernist mind there is no truth. Truth is nothing more than the construct of a group of people (literally called a tribe). In essence, truth is relative and so "what works for you" is the mantra of individuality and social mores.
It is a ridiculous way of approaching reality. The idea that absolutes not existing is based on the theory that there is no God, no absolute authority, and therefore no one to ultimately be accountable to.
Sad...one look at the fruit of this value system has demonstrated it's lacking. The rising immorality that has led to more single parenting than we've ever had before. Along with this an economic system that enslaves people to live in poverty dependent upon government assistance for the whole of their lives. The sexual revolution yielded Aids, a sexual freedom that has enslaved men and women to pornography, child porn, deviant behavior and a thirst for more.
What is missing in our civil society is a reason that is grounded in reality. The problem is that this reason is missing because it is grounded in the foolish belief that each individual is the author of that reasoned truth.
John Calvin in writing about the human dilemma of a reason and will that is not rooted in God makes a very clear statement:
"It thus appears that none can enter the kingdom of God save those whose minds have been renewed by the enlightening of the Holy Spirit. On this subject the clearest exposition is given by Paul, who, when expressly handling it, after condemning the whole wisdom of the world as foolishness and vanity, and thereby declaring man’s utter destitution, thus concludes, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned,” (1 Cor. 2:14).
Whom does he mean by the “natural man”? The man who trusts to the light of nature. Such a man has no understanding in the spiritual mysteries of God. Why so? Is it because through sloth he neglects them? Nay, though he exert himself, it is of no avail; they are “spiritually discerned.” And what does this mean? That altogether hidden from human discernment, they are made known only by the revelation of the Spirit; so that they are accounted foolishness wherever the Spirit does not give light. The Apostle had previously declared, that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him;” nay, that the wisdom of the world is a kind of veil by which the mind is prevented from beholding God (1 Cor. 2:9).
What would we more? The Apostle declares that God has “made foolish the wisdom of this world,” (1 Cor. 1:20); and shall we attribute to it an acuteness capable of penetrating to God, and the hidden mysteries of his kingdom? Far from us be such presumption!
What the Apostle here denies to man, he, in another place, ascribes to God alone, when he prays, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation,” (Eph. 1:17). You now hear that all wisdom and revelation is the gift of God. What follows? “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” Surely, if they require a new enlightening, they must in themselves be blind. The next words are, “that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,” (Eph. 1:18).
What we are witnessing our world is a "foolishness" that is far more reflective of embracing the cynicism of the "God is dead" movement, and choosing to develop a value system quite apart from divine revelation.
Is there an antidote for us in this system? Yes! We who have "received" the Spirit have a way of thinking that is empowered by God and the foolishness of the world is to be rejected for what it is - foolishness.
Instead, Peter reminds us again: 1 Peter 3:9-12
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Do we withdraw from the world? No. Do we condemn, or judge those around us? No. We are told to "go into all the world" by Jesus and we are told by Jesus to "judge not, that you are not judged." We are not excused from discernment of what is true, good, not evil, worthy of God; but there is a distinction between judging others and exercising discernment. What we do is engage the world with the gospel of Jesus - that there is life to be discovered in God's grace, the forgiveness of Sins, and the life of the Spirit based on Jesus' words that "when he comes, he will guide you into all truth."
Peace
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