Charts - Index
Biblical versus Postmodern Thinking

       Today's "postmodern" leaders and social engineers are using this word to introduce and justify changes that are transforming churches around the world. If we don't know its implications, we can't really understand the impact of today's social revolution.
       This chart lists the main postmodern obstacles to victorious faith. It shows the new meanings given to Biblical terms, and it lists Scriptures that clarify the confusion caused by postmodern thinking. Knowing these truths will strengthen your child's conscience and help anchor his or her mind in truth.
       Notice that the postmodern views below are compared to Christianity, not to "modernity." The latter generally reflect the "progressive" humanist philosophies of the 19th & 20th century, not Biblical Truth.

       Postmodern Biblical faith

Emphasis

Means or implies:

But Jesus said:

Personal relationships - with the group or community. Aim to please people rather than God.
"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

- with God. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” John 14:20-21

Tolerance - for what God warned us to shun. Forbidden things are now okay.
“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” Mk 7:20-23

["Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9]

Truth & Scriptures** - subjective, always changing, defined by the group -- with little or no Biblical insight. Denial of absolute and objective truth.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life...." John 14:6

["Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines." Heb 13:8-9]

Pluralism All religions (1) lead to the same place, (2) are valid paths to salvation.
“No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." John 6:44

Authority Reject traditional authorities. Follow subjective feelings and group consensus.
"I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." John 6:38

"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke22:42

Faith and

view of the future
Based on feelings, imagination, mysticism and group consensus.
    Based on God's Word:

   “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me...." John 17:20-21

["All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16-17]

Spirituality Seeking spiritual power, favors, knowledge or wholeness - or oneness with a higher consciousness or an unknowable universal force or spirit.
   "...we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him..." I John 5:20

"Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them." Luke 21:8

Pluralism and multicul-turalism
All religions are equal and okay. Dismiss people who disagree as bigots or extremists.
“You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3

“You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you." Deut 6:14-15

“...if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish." Deut. 8:19

Continual

Change
Demands continual inner adaptation to cultural transformation
"...do not be conformed to this world...." Romans 12:2

"Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified." Mark 15:15

"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19

    "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

1 Thessalonians 5:19-24

See also Brainwashing in America

The UN Plan for Your Mental Health | The Postmodern Church.

For a similar but simpler chart, see Paradigm Shift

Preparing for Victory| Christian Persecution | Articles

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Postmodern		Biblical faith
Emphasis	Means or implies:	But Jesus said:
Personal relationships	- with the group or community. *Aim to please people*** rather than God.	"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 *- with God*. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” John 14:20-21
Tolerance	- for what God warned us to shun. Forbidden things are now okay.	“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” Mk 7:20-23 ["Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9]
Truth & Scriptures	- subjective, always changing, defined by the group -- with little or no Biblical insight. Denial of absolute and objective truth.	“I am the way, the truth, and the life...." John 14:6 ["Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines." Heb 13:8-9]
Pluralism	All religions (1) lead to the same place, (2) are valid paths to salvation.	“No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." John 6:44
Authority	*Reject* traditional authorities. Follow subjective feelings and group consensus.	"I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." John 6:38 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke22:42
Faith and view of the future	Based on feelings, imagination, mysticism and group consensus.	Based on God's Word: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me...." John 17:20-21 ["All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16-17]
Spirituality	Seeking spiritual power, favors, knowledge or wholeness - or *oneness* with a higher consciousness or an unknowable universal force* or spirit.*	"...we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him..." I John 5:20 "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them." Luke 21:8
Pluralism and multicul-turalism	All religions are equal and okay. Dismiss people who disagree as bigots or extremists.	“You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3 “You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you." Deut 6:14-15 “...if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish." Deut. 8:19
Continual Change	Demands continual inner adaptation to cultural transformation	"...do not be conformed to this world...." Romans 12:2 "Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified." Mark 15:15 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19
"Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24