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How should a Christian navigate the complex landscape of postmodernism? This article delves into the challenges and contradictions of postmodern thought and offers a Biblical perspective on truth, authority, and rationality. Understand the apologetic duty of Christians in a world that increasingly denies objective truth.

The rise of postmodernism presents a serious challenge to the Christian worldview, a worldview grounded in the belief that truth is objective, rational, and accessible through both divine revelation and human reason. Postmodernism radically departs from these premises, often rejecting the very notion of an objective truth that is universally applicable. The consequences of postmodernism touch upon how we perceive truth, authority, and rationality. It is crucial for Christians to understand this intellectual movement, not only to interact meaningfully with the culture but also to defend the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

The Postmodern Rejection of Objective Truth

Central to postmodern thought is the idea that truth is not objective but socially and linguistically constructed. In this view, authoritative claims about truth are seen as power plays, maneuvers to impose one’s worldview on others. This has significant implications for Christian apologetics, which seeks to present Christianity as objectively true, grounded in historical facts like the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:14). Postmodernism further asserts that metanarratives—grand stories that seek to explain the nature of reality—are oppressive and should be abandoned.

Deconstruction and its Impact on Scripture

The process of “deconstruction,” popularized by Jacques Derrida, aims to dismantle the authority of texts, including Scripture. Derrida’s approach poses that texts do not have fixed meanings but are open to multiple interpretations. This undermines the claim that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Scripture asserts that God’s truth is unchanging and has been revealed for the purpose of instructing, correcting, and equipping God’s people (Proverbs 30:5).

Logical Inconsistencies in Postmodern Thought

The first significant problem with postmodernism is its self-defeating nature. Postmodernists claim that objective truth doesn’t exist while asserting their claims as universally applicable truths. If there’s no objective truth, then the statement “there’s no objective truth” is itself not objectively true. This results in a logical contradiction.

Secondly, the moral relativism that postmodernism propagates cannot stand under scrutiny. For example, almost everyone would assert that acts like terrorism are objectively evil, not just social constructions. Even postmodernists, who decry the idea of moral absolutes, would find it difficult to say that such acts are just alternative moral options.

The Biblical Response

Scripture offers a starkly different framework. Romans 3:4 affirms, “Let God be true though every one were a liar.” The Bible provides us with objective truths, divinely revealed for the sake of salvation and human flourishing. The nature of God, the condition of man, the plan of salvation, and the hope of eternal life are all delineated in an objective manner in the Bible. Moreover, these truths are not mere cultural constructs but objective realities that demand a response (Acts 17:30-31).

Christians also have the apologetic task to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Objective truth exists, and good apologetic arguments can demonstrate the rationality and objectivity of the Christian faith.

Limited Insights of Postmodernism

While postmodernism does offer some critique of human reason and the failures of Enlightenment rationalism, it misses the mark by discrediting the human capacity for understanding objective truth altogether. The Bible provides a more balanced perspective: human reason is fallen but not useless, especially when it comes to understanding God’s revealed truth (Isaiah 1:18).

The Christian’s Apologetic Duty

The postmodern mindset undermines the Christian’s duty to defend the faith as true, rational, and pertinent. This is deeply troubling since Christianity is not a mere preference or a cultural expression but a response to objective truth. Contrary to the postmodern view, the Christian faith makes exclusive claims to truth that are not only internally consistent but also correspond with external reality (1 Peter 3:15).

Conclusion

Postmodernism, with its rejection of objective truth and its logical inconsistencies, stands in stark contrast to the Christian worldview. As such, it represents a formidable challenge but also an opportunity. An understanding of postmodernism can equip Christians to better defend their faith and to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (Colossians 4:5). While postmodernism questions the foundations of truth, authority, and rationality, Christianity offers robust answers rooted in the very nature of God and His revelation to humanity.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).