The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets
the world.
A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by
an individual or a group.
Everyone has a worldview. A "worldview" is often used
synonymously with "philosophy" or "belief system." It
is what reality is perceived to be. Because the prevailing "worldview" forms
the basis of the way life is ordered and conducted in a society,
an individual frequently accepts that worldview without examination.
That is, it is assumed to be true without critical consideration
of the validity of its postulates. One worldview in vogue in the
western world today is called "postmodernism." This
Bible study guide will lead you to critically examine "postmodernism" from
biblical principles. (It is recommended that before beginning that
you first study the guide entitled "The Authority of the
Bible" – volume one, number 4. http://www.ucg.org/teenstudy/authoritybible.htm)
Definition
What is the "postmodern" worldview? The
trunk of the tree of postmodernism is the proposition that "truth"
is not absolute (or if it is, it can't be known). That is,
"truth" does not transcend cultures or eras. "Truth" is what an
individual or group (such as community, culture, society, club,
nation) makes it. Consequently, what is "true" for
one person may not be for another. As the nineteenth-century German
philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in The Will to Power,
"There are no facts, only interpretations." Anyone claiming to
know "the truth" is trying to control others; he is seeking power
over other people. Postmodernism has led to multiculturalism (the
belief that no culture is better than another) and to "cafeteria
religion." ("Cafeteria religion" means that a
person's religion is composed of beliefs selected from different
religions. For example, a person may believe in reincarnation,
genuflect before a crucifix, read the Koran, and dance to honor
the Great Spirit, all the while not being bothered by the fact
those religions, from which those varying practices originate,
conflict with one another.)
1. Why is tolerance such an important value
to postmodernists?
2. Can you give an example of a "cafeteria religion"
held by someone you know?
3. Explain the inherent contradiction
in the statement, "There is no absolute truth."
4. Other than multiculturalism
and "cafeteria religion," what other beliefs might come from
a postmodern worldview?
What is truth?
JOHN 18:38 – "Pilate said to Him, 'What is
truth?'"
5. At what other time in history does the Bible indicate
that people doubted one could know "truth"?
6. Why do you suppose
people doubt a person can know the truth?
JOHN 17:17 – "….Your word is truth."
7. What did
Jesus say is truth? Was Jesus quoting scripture? Read Psalm 110:160
and answer.
8. Where does one find God's word? Consider 2 Timothy 3:16.
PSALM 119:151 – "You are near, O LORD, And all Your
commandments are truth."
9. What else composes truth?
JOHN 14:6 – "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way,
the truth, and the life….'"
10. What did Jesus mean by saying
He was "the truth"?
Nature of Truth
MATTHEW 11:2-5 – "'And when John had heard in
prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for
another?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and
tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and
the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead
are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.'"
11. How
was John to learn the truth about who Jesus was?
Comment: Truth corresponds to reality and reality consists of
all there is—seen and unseen. Since there is more to the
universe than just individual people, truth must correspond to
what exists outside of a person's own body, his own brain,
his own thoughts, his own feelings. Hence when Jesus answers
John's question, He tells John to look for the truth by looking
at the evidence, to look at what was occurring in reality.
12. Why did Jesus mention those particular acts? Why should those
acts convince John that Jesus was truly the Christ (Messiah)?
PSALM 100:5 – "…His truth endures to all generations."
PSALM 117:2 – "…the truth of the LORD endures
forever …."
13. Postmodernism claims truth is relative,
that it doesn't exist through the ages. What does the Bible say
about the accuracy of that claim?
Comment: Mankind does "look through a glass darkly" (1
Corinthians 13:12 KJV) at some matters, so mankind's knowledge
may not be total, with the result that we may not see reality with
complete clarity on some matters. This is certainly true with scientific
investigations. However, postmodernism extends this view of truth
to the realm of morals and ethics. God is eternal and has created
all that exists; therefore, His definition of truth is everlasting.
Since God has inspired the Bible, we can know some things that
are absolutely true.
PROVERBS 14:12 (16:25) - "There is a way that seems right
to a man, but its end is the way of death."
JEREMIAH
10:23 – "O LORD, I know the
way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct
his own steps."
DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20 – "'See, I have set before
you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you
today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep
His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may
live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the
land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that
you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and
serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish….
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I
have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore
choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that
you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and
that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of
your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore
to your fathers … to give them.'"
14. Does the Bible agree with postmodernism concerning man's
ability to know the truth about how to live? What about the belief
that what is true for one person may not be for another?
15. What is
likely to happen when one discounts revealed truth in the Bible?
DEUTERONOMY 4:5-8 – "'Surely I have taught you
statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that
you should act according to them…. Therefore be careful
to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding
in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and
say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding
people. For what great nation is there that has God so near to
it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call
upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes
and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before
you this day? ''"
16. Postmodernism says that truth is relative
to each culture. Does the above scripture agree with that assessment?
Why or why not?
Multiculturalism
DEUTERONOMY 12:29-32 – "'When the LORD your
God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess,
and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself
that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed
from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods,
saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will
do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in
that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they
have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters
in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to
observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.'"
17. Postmodernism
sees every culture as morally equivalent, and that one should
not judge the culture of other peoples. Is God happy with every
culture?
COMMENT: A postmodern believer, in order to be consistent, would
have to accept child sacrifice as a legitimate activity.
PSALM 19:7 – "…The testimony of the LORD is
sure, making wise the simple"
ISAIAH 8:20 – "To the law and to the testimony! If
they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is
no light in them."
18. What does God say about the reliability
of His inspired Word? Is it the wisest basis for determining
behavior?
19. How should you regard activities in any culture that conflict
with God's law?
Cafeteria Religion
20. Can one worship the true God in any fashion, with any ceremony
and have it accepted by God? How do you know?
JOHN 4:23-24 – "'But the hour is coming, and
now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is
Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'"
21. What
is the only acceptable way to worship God?
ACTS 4:12 – "Neither is there salvation in any other
[than Jesus]: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved."
22. How many religions teach that
Jesus is the only way to salvation?
23. A common belief is that all
religions worship the same God. Is that true? How do you know?
Summary
1. What expressions have you heard that you think
fit with the postmodern worldview?
2. What is "truth"? Does
it transcend cultures and time? How does it relate to the outside
world?
Introduction