Postmodernism
Evangelizing Postmoderns

In the latest SGM Magazine, I wrote a piece entitled “The Postmodern Man: Hey Joe…” in which I posited:

Joe is no different that any other person who needs a savior. What makes his situation different is the culture he lives in.

I have received comments that yeah I know, or am, that person. And, yeah he needs to hear the “good news”, but how?

My pastor, Charles Winkler, did his doctoral work on evangelizing postmoderns. His view of evangelism is an inductive method which combines evangelism with the Christian counseling approach of love-know-speak-do. Tim Keller, another PCA pastor at Redeemer Church in NYC, also is wary of the deductive method of rationally presenting the truth to folks who question “a truth” to be embraced, or that you have the ability to understand truth. He attempts to expose the idols in their lives that lead to the hopelessness and futility that postmoderns often experience in this world. The Emergent or Emerging Church [which is hard to define], seems to believe evangelism is accomplished by capitulating to the culture. But, that is a commitment to ambiguity and uncertainty which leaves little room for a Lord of your life.

While the Winkler and Keller methods may not be conventional, they do get a person to the question of truth. Embracing the culture is another story. While one can appreciate the critique of modernism’s certainty, that does not leave us with uncertainty. There are distinct and logical propositions that underpin faith in Christ. We may disagree on what they are but they do exist. There is revealed truth about Jesus Christ and eventually that must become a part of evangelizing postmoderns. Truth is certainly more that propositions, but it is not less than. We cannot accept the skepticism about the reality of truth or the ability to discern the truth.

This brings us to one of the key areas in evangelizing postmoderns…pursuit of holiness. It is a living out of propositions taught in Scripture where the experiential side of truth is evidenced. So, in asking the questions of postmoderns to discern their lives inductively and then helping them to see how they are enslaved to idols, a superior existence in Christ can be offered through the Gospel. And how is that done? Through holy living…the truth of the Gospel applied to a life results in Christian living.

Here we see a major objection from postmoderns. Holy living is categorized as modern day “legalism”. In a culture where there is no overarching truth there is no behavior that can be categorized as “wrong”. But, a Christianity that is conformed to the world and permits loving this world is contrary to Biblical teaching [propositions anyone!]. and allows a Christian to be at one with the world. In Scripture we find what we must believe and how we must live as Christ followers. And, that is antithetical to the world not in lock step with it. Christians are counter-cultural.

Here is where the evangelizer must be very careful. Remember the Great Apostle. In writing to the churches, he was concerned about their behavior not the behavior of worldlings. So, the best way to explain holy living as living out the truth of Scripture, is to reveal in ourselves a consistent, holy, Christian life. We who call ourselves Christians must act like Christians. Are the propositional truths of the Gospel evident in my life? If not, we have no business evangelizing…we need a fruit inspection. It is our obligation in evangelizing postmoderns to show them that Christian living is not “legalism” but a way of living that reflects the reality of the grace, truth and goodness of God. We must first believe and live the Gospel before we can proclaim it to others. If you do not, do not expect to evangelize postmoderns.