Christian Identity
in a
Postmodern World
Postmodern World
Hurricane Mitch, 1998
6
“normal” incremental evolutionary change:
slow, predictable, gradual
epochal, profound, revolutionary change:
fast, unpredictable, sudden
2500+ BC
Prehistoric World
2500+ BC
Prehistoric World
2500 BC - 500 AD
500 BC
1 AD
500 AD
Ancient World
Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian,
Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian,
Persian, Greek, Roman empires
2500 BC - 500 AD
500 BC
1 AD
500 AD
Ancient World
Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian,
Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian,
Persian, Greek, Roman empires
2500 BC - 500 AD
500 BC
1 AD
Ancient World
500 AD - 1500 AD
500 AD
1500 AD
Medieval World
Printing/Gutenberg
Caravel/Transport
Guns/Infantry/Artillery
New Economy
Copernicus/Galileo
Reformation/Luther
2500 BC - 500 AD
500 BC
1 AD
Ancient World
500 AD - 1500 AD
500 AD
1500 AD
Medieval World
Printing/Gutenberg
Caravel/Transport
Guns/Infantry/Artillery
New Economy
Copernicus/Galileo
Reformation/Luther
1950 AD - ???
1500 AD - 2000 AD
1500 AD
Medieval World
1750 AD
Modern World
2000 AD
Postmodern World
Print/Screen/Internet
New Science
New Weapons
New Transportation
New Economy
New Spirituality
1950 AD - ???
1500 AD - 2000 AD
1500 AD
Medieval World
1750 AD
Modern World
2000 AD
Postmodern World
Print/Screen/Internet
New Science
New Weapons
New Transportation
New Economy
New Spirituality
Modern
to
Postmodern
1. Conquest, Control, Progress … Conservation
2. Mechanistic/reductionist …
holistic/systemic
3. Analytical …
post-analytical
4. Secular/scientific …
spiritual/scientific
5. Objective …
Intersubjective
6. Critical …
Post-critical
7. Organization …
alliance, network
Modern
to
Postmodern
8. Individualism …
9. Protestant/polemical …
10. Consumerism …
11. Print literacy …
12. National …
13. Ideology ...
community, tradition, tribe
Post-protestant
Sustainability
layered fluency
global/migratory
narrative
Postmodernity
Post-Holocaust
Post-Hiroshima
Post-colonialist
Post-secularist
Post-rationalist
Post-communist
Post-capitalist
Post-nationalist
Post-institutionalist
Post-patriarchal
Post-Christendom
Consider that we live in at least three
worlds.
Emerging world
Modern world
Pre-modern world
Non-modern world
today
Old
Paradigm/
Model
Old
Paradigm/
Model
New
Paradigm/
Model
Old
Paradigm/
Model
New
Paradigm/
Model
Old
Paradigm/
Model
Paradigm Shifts
Almost always the [people] who achieve
these fundamental inventions of a new
paradigm have been either very young
or very new to the field whose paradigm
they change.
Thomas S. Kuhn
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
“A new scientific truth
does not triumph by
convincing its opponents
and making them see the
light, but rather because
its opponents eventually
die, and a new generation
grows up that is familiar
with it.” Max Planck, Scientific
Autobiography
Postmodern World
Christian Identity
4 “identity crises”
Identity Crisis 1:
Modernity values exclusivity:
Exclusive salvation
for Members Only
in a Postmodern
World
people distrust exclusivity;
they value connectivity.
Purposeful inclusivity.
Identity Crisis 2:
Modernity values inerrancy:
Inerrant Bible
Inerrant Pope
in a Postmodern
World
people distrust claims of inerrancy;
they value possibility of
correction and improvement
(like science)
Postmodern World
A lesson from science:
Changing conclusions/models
Consistent methodology
in an unchanging quest ...
provable truth
Postmodern World
Can we re-imagine the church?
changing conclusions/models
consistent methodology
in an unchanging quest ...
saving the world.
Identity Crisis 3:
Modernity respects timeless truths universal and absolute theories.
in a Postmodern
World
people seek timely wisdom to
address contemporary crises
spiritual emptiness corrupt leadership
poverty disease ignorance hunger and
malnutrition climate change conflicts
Financial Instability Water/Sanitation
subsidies/trade barriers population/
migration communicable diseases
education governance/corruption
hunger education
gender inequality
child mortality maternal health
environmental sustainability ethnic
conflicts terrorism weapons of mass
destruction organized crime networks
energy demands clean water population
growth authoritarian regimes
spiritual emptiness corrupt
leadership poverty disease
ignorance hunger and
malnutrition climate change
conflicts Financial Instability
Water/Sanitation subsidies/trade
barriers population/ migration
communicable diseases
education
governance/corruption
hunger education
gender
inequality
child mortality
maternal health
environmental sustainability
ethnic conflicts terrorism
weapons of mass destruction
organized crime networks
energy demands clean water
population growth
authoritarian regimes
FOUR
GLOBAL
CRISES
4 Crises ...
1. Planet
2. Poverty
3. Peace
4. Religion
C onventional View
The Hum an
Situ ati on: What
is t he story that
we find
ourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain t he absolute
perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
that the entire universe and all it
cont ains will be destroyed, and
the souls of all human beings –
except for t hose specifically
exempted – will be forever
punished for t heir imperfect ion
in hell.1
Basic
Since everyone is doomed to
Que stions: What hell, Jesus seeks t o answer t hese
quest ions did
quest ions: how can individuals
Jesus come t o
be saved from eternal
answer?
punishm ent in hell and instead
go to heaven after they die? How
can God help individuals be
happy andsuccessful until then?
Jesu s’ me ssage :
How did Jesus
respond t o the
crisis?
1
Jesus says, in essence, “ If you
want to be among those
specifically qualified to escape
being forever punished for your
sins in hell, you must repent of
your individual sins and believe
that my Father punished me on
the cross so He won’t have to
punish you in hell. Only if you
believe this will you go to
heaven when everyoneelse is
banished to hell.”2 T his is the
good news.
Em ergin g Vi ew
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world wit h evil and injust ice
like a t errible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from it s sickness,
but humanity is hopelessly lost and
confused, like sheep wit hout a shepherd,
wandering farther and farther into
lost ness and danger. Left t o themselves,
human beings will spiral downward in
sickness and evil.
Since the human race is in such desperate
trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
quest ion: what must be done about the
mess we’re in? T he mess refers bot h to
the general human condition and it s
specific outworking among his
cont emporaries: living under dominat ion
by the Roman empire, and divided into
various compet ing sect s.
Jesus says, in essence, “ Other people and
groups – including your own religious
leaders - are leading you farther and
farther astray. I have been sent by God
with this good news – that God loves
humanity, even in it s lostness and sin.
God graciously invit es everyone and
anyone to question and reject what they
have been t old and instead follow a new
path. Trust me and become my disciple,
and you will be transformed, and you will
participate in the transformat ion ofthe
world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 T his is the good news.
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
T his reflect s a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of t he message. T he popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “ Youmust believe in the teachings of t he church and follow it s
instruct ions, especially those regarding sacrament s.” T he popular mainline or liberal Protestant
Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Equity
Security
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Waste
Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Equity
Security
Waste
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
Framing Story
Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Equity
Security
Waste
Societal Machine
The World’s Religions are failing
provide a framing story capable of
addressing our current crises - i.e.
Good News.
Framing Story
Heat
Solar Energy
Prosperity
Resources
Equity
Security
Waste
Societal Machine
The Ecosystem
framing story = “good* news”
*healing, freeing, reconciling, empowering
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Ivan Illich (Austrian
former priest,
philosopher, social
critic, 1926-2002)
Neither [violent] revolution nor
[political] reformation can ultimately
change a society; rather you must tell
a new powerful tale, one so
persuasive that it sweeps away the
old myths and becomes the preferred
story …
… one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can
take the next step…. If you want to
change a society, then you have to tell an
alternative story.
- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,
philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)
PLANET - through re-joining creation, pursuing
common good, learning from birds & flowers
POVERTY - through concern for the least of these,
seeking justice for all
PEACE - through reconciliation, love for the other,
turning other cheek, walking second mile
PERSONAL WHOLENESS - through loving God linked with love of neighbor, stranger, outsider, and
enemy.
Identity Crisis 4:
Modernity conquers the other.
in a Postmodern
World
people move toward the other in
solidarity.
51
We already know how to do 2
things quite well:
We already know how to do 2
things quite well:
1. how to have a strong Christian
identity that is hostile toward
people of other religions.
We have the only way.
STRONG-HOSTILE
You are going to hell.
We are God’s chosen.
You worship false gods.
resistance is futile.
you will be assimilated - or
We already know how to do 2
things quite well:
1. how to have a strong Christian
identity that is hostile toward
people of other religions.
2. how to have a weak Christian
identity that is tolerant (benign)
toward people of other religions.
it doesn’t matter what you believe.
all religions are the same.
all roads lead to god.
only sincerity matters.
doctrines divide.
weak-benign
keep religion private.
We haven’t yet learned ...
to have a strong Christian identity
that is benevolent
toward other religions.
Because I Follow Jesus, I love you.
I move toward “the other.”
I break down walls of hostility.
i stand with you in solidarity.
you are made in God’s image.
strongbenevolent
i am your servant.
I practice human-kindness.
Can Christians today build a new
kind of identity ... based on
hospitality and solidarity, not
hostility, to the other?
strongbenevolent
Five Challenges
1. Historical
2. Doctrinal
3. Liturgical
4. Missional
5. Spiritual
4 Identity Crises
1. Moving from exclusivity to
connectivity.
C onventional View
The Hum an
Situ ati on: What
is t he story that
we find
ourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain t he absolute
perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
that the entire universe and all it
cont ains will be destroyed, and
the souls of all human beings –
except for t hose specifically
exempted – will be forever
punished for t heir imperfect ion
in hell.1
Basic
Since everyone is doomed to
Que stions: What hell, Jesus seeks t o answer t hese
quest ions did
quest ions: how can individuals
Jesus come t o
be saved from eternal
answer?
punishm ent in hell and instead
go to heaven after they die? How
can God help individuals be
happy andsuccessful until then?
Em ergin g Vi ew
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world wit h evil and injust ice
like a t errible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from it s sickness,
but humanity is hopelessly lost and
confused, like sheep wit hout a shepherd,
wandering farther and farther into
lost ness and danger. Left t o themselves,
human beings will spiral downward in
sickness and evil.
2. Moving from inerrancy to ability to
learn, change, grow
Jesu s’ me ssage :
How did Jesus
respond t o the
crisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “ If you
want to be among those
specifically qualified to escape
being forever punished for your
sins in hell, you must repent of
your individual sins and believe
that my Father punished me on
the cross so He won’t have to
punish you in hell. Only if you
believe this will you go to
heaven when everyoneelse is
banished to hell.”2 T his is the
good news.
Since the human race is in such desperate
trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
quest ion: what must be done about the
mess we’re in? T he mess refers bot h to
the general human condition and it s
specific outworking among his
cont emporaries: living under dominat ion
by the Roman empire, and divided into
various compet ing sect s.
Jesus says, in essence, “ Other people and
groups – including your own religious
leaders - are leading you farther and
farther astray. I have been sent by God
with this good news – that God loves
humanity, even in it s lostness and sin.
God graciously invit es everyone and
anyone to question and reject what they
have been t old and instead follow a new
path. Trust me and become my disciple,
and you will be transformed, and you will
participate in the transformat ion ofthe
world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 T his is the good news.
3. Moving from timeless truths to timely
wisdom
1
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
T his reflect s a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of t he message. T he popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “ Youmust believe in the teachings of t he church and follow it s
instruct ions, especially those regarding sacrament s.” T he popular mainline or liberal Protestant
4. Moving from competition/conquest to
collaboration for common good
The choice for religious leaders:
1. Serve the people who still
attend, with modern sensibilities ...
C onventional View
The Hum an
Situ ati on: What
is t he story that
we find
ourselves in?
Em ergin g Vi ew
God created the world as perfect,
but because our primal
ancestors, Adam and Eve, did
not maintain t he absolute
perfection demanded by God,
God has irrevocably determined
that the entire universe and all it
cont ains will be destroyed, and
the souls of all human beings –
except for t hose specifically
exempted – will be forever
punished for t heir imperfect ion
in hell.1
Basic
Since everyone is doomed to
Que stions: What hell, Jesus seeks t o answer t hese
quest ions did
quest ions: how can individuals
Jesus come t o
be saved from eternal
answer?
punishm ent in hell and instead
go to heaven after they die? How
can God help individuals be
happy andsuccessful until then?
God created the world as good, but
human beings – as individuals, and as
groups – have rebelled against God and
filled the world wit h evil and injust ice
like a t errible disease. God wants to save
humanity and heal it from it s sickness,
but humanity is hopelessly lost and
confused, like sheep wit hout a shepherd,
wandering farther and farther into
lost ness and danger. Left t o themselves,
human beings will spiral downward in
sickness and evil.
OR
Since the human race is in such desperate
trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this
quest ion: what must be done about the
mess we’re in? T he mess refers bot h to
the general human condition and it s
specific outworking among his
cont emporaries: living under dominat ion
by the Roman empire, and divided into
various compet ing sect s.
Jesus says, in essence, “ Other people and
groups – including your own religious
leaders - are leading you farther and
farther astray. I have been sent by God
with this good news – that God loves
humanity, even in it s lostness and sin.
God graciously invit es everyone and
anyone to question and reject what they
have been t old and instead follow a new
path. Trust me and become my disciple,
and you will be transformed, and you will
participate in the transformat ion ofthe
world, which is possible, beginning right
now.”3 T his is the good news.
2. Learn to serve two kinds of
people; develop two different
approaches to ministry - pay
attention to those who do not
attend.
Jesu s’ me ssage :
How did Jesus
respond t o the
crisis?
1
Jesus says, in essence, “ If you
want to be among those
specifically qualified to escape
being forever punished for your
sins in hell, you must repent of
your individual sins and believe
that my Father punished me on
the cross so He won’t have to
punish you in hell. Only if you
believe this will you go to
heaven when everyoneelse is
banished to hell.”2 T his is the
good news.
Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,
plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.
2
T his reflect s a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of t he message. T he popular Roman
Catholic version might say, “ Youmust believe in the teachings of t he church and follow it s
instruct ions, especially those regarding sacrament s.” T he popular mainline or liberal Protestant
Christian Identity
in a
Postmodern World