The End of Postmodernism? (Part 2)

Last week we explored how our culture is rapidly moving from post-modernism to a plausibility structure that is essentially post-truth. Today I would like to further explore how we as Christians are called to challenge the flow of direction in which we are heading.

First, I would say that post-truth values are not totally built yet. This thought structure is only partially constructed. People who hold this view want all of us to just move forward and accept their narrative. They are using  the idea of divide and conquer. It is a military strategy. Since we are already divided and we have the additional smoke screen of Covid, the conditions are just right for pushing their narrative forward. However, we should not allow this narrative to succeed.

The scripture says in Eph. 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Notice the word wrestle, what does that word mean? It certainly doesn’t mean that we should just acquiesce to the demands to follow a post-truth narrative. No, a wrestler is active engaged in using strategic thought to counter the attack of his opponent. He realizes what move is being made and either fends it off or executes a counter move to take advantage of the situation. In self-defense classes, a person is taught to redirect the energy of your attacker so that his aggression provides the opportunity to take the upper hand.

The next section of the text in Ephesians is to realize that we are dealing with spiritual forces that are at work in people, it is not the people themselves that we are to view as our adversary. In the scenario present today, a post-truth viewpoint is held by the mainstream media. That biased narrative is a spiritual cosmic power at work. It is also backfiring with many people. Recent surveys have shown that a vast amount of Americans believe that the media is biased and are not to be trusted. Alternative Social media sites such as Rumble and Parler are rapidly growing because they are not actively censuring the truth.

I am reminded of the dialogue that Jesus had with Pilot concerning truth. Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Pilate was looking straight at the truth and failed to recognize it. He was thinking from a post-modern type of perspective. No absolute truth, it’s all relative. He had the authority to make the call, however, he was being pressured by the religious leaders of the day bringing a false narrative concerning Jesus. Pilate says that he finds no guilt in Jesus, but ultimately relents to the pressure to crucify him. Pilate moved from post-modern thought to post-truth realization.

In the future we will certainly continue to be pressured into accepting a post-truth philosophy. My hope and prayer is that there is enough of us who will continue to wrestle with this spiritual adversary and not give in to compromise. Ronald Reagan famously said “ Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Fellow Christian, tear down this plausibility structure of post-truth.

Video of Reagans famous speech