From the Gospel Coalition’s Vision Statement for Ministry
We affirm that truth is conveyed by Scripture. We believe that Scripture is pervasively propositional and that all statements of Scripture are completely true and authoritative. But the truth of Scripture cannot be exhausted in a series of propositions. It exists in the genres of narrative, metaphor, and poetry which are not exhaustively distillable into doctrinal propositions, yet they convey God’s will and mind to us so as to change us into his likeness.
Following their last point, I found this one to be key. I would be willing to bet that they set this aside as an answer because of the logical questions that could arise from reading the last one alone. Basically, it answers the question:
“If scripture is subjective, how can it also be true?”
This question, surprisingly, is mostly the result of our postmodern culture. Relativism (claiming that all beliefs, opinions, or ethics are only true relative to our own perspective) is a phenomenom that has taken root in our culture under the guise of “diversity” and “tolerance.” Because of this, it has hijacked the meanings of these benign words and inserted a sense of “pluralism” and “capitulation,” respectively. Thus, it has been “wrong” for Christians to make claims of knowledge of absolute or objective truth (seen “subjectively” of course).
What I like about this statement is that it confronts the problem of postmodern relativism, yet very clearly defines that Christians believe in the truth of scripture, and that truth is very multi-faceted and expressed in many ways. Fortunately, they are aware of the postmodern critique of modernism (a very valid one), and while recognizing it, do not take the opposite polar view of relativism.
I love that scripture is poetry, art, and emotion. I love that it appeals to as many facets of our being that we reflect from God. How else could God reveal Himself than with the same diversity (minus pluralism!)
that He exhibits in creation!?!? I feel this distinction helps to truly bring scripture alive and make it far more personal and relevant than our predecessors communicated it through a modernist worldview.
Amen!
Yeah, the funny thing about buildings and structures build in a post-modern perspective, with funny shaped rooms and whacky designs, is that the foundation poured into the earth is the same sturdy foundation architects and the like have been using for years and years.
In a similar vein, the postmodern critiques and postmodern ideas are, as much as they wish to deny it, firmly built on a modernist foundation. One of the greatest reasons to understand post-modernism is because it is going to be the foundation for whatever method of thinking comes next. Other than that, we people always think we’re coming up with new ways of thinking, but we’re really not.
Nothing new under the sun. It’s so true.
A very good point. I’ve been racking my brain trying to think about what this will lead to next (of course, I don’t expect to figure it out, far smarter people will fail)… it’s just so interesting how such a deconstructionist philosophy is the dominant worldview in our culture. It seems fundamentally self-defeating, but I guess it is still based on the same foundation…. good point.
“Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Chuches” (edited by Robert Weber) is really good and provides a very insightful analysis of postmodernism in the intro chapter. I just finished reading it this weekend. Weber writes about how Strauss (a sociologist) was able to identify a 4 stage, 80-year cycle that American culture has repeated over the last three hundred years. According to him, we are at the beginning of the last stage, called the “crisis” stage. Other times in history that visited this stage were: The Revolutionary War, Civil War, and the Great Depression/WWII. He is not saying we are going to have another world war (although it certainly could be), but rather, he was identifiying the massive social and cultural changes that happened during these times (civil rights, values reorientation, end of slavery, women’s rights, etc.). It will be interesting to see how the next 2 decades play out.
Exciting times we live in.
Brad…shame on you…reading a book besides something for Greek?? you really should be scolded…
enjoyed this writing, and it is interesting to think about what mode of thinking might come next…I wonder if collective thought will revert to somewhere between Post-Modernism and Modernism, rejecting that everything is subjective and relative AND that everything is objective and can be rationalized…or will it push further past post-modernism’s relativism…i’m not even sure what that would look like…we need Schaeffer
Ahhh! I’m caught! Hahaha… I agree, we desperately need Shaeffer… It just blows me away how many decades he was ahead of his time.
My prediction (please take with truckloads of salt), is that there will be a balance struck between the two (subjectivism and objectivism). The two poles are already at war within the post-modern culture, and I can’t imagine any other outcome. I don’t know what “neither” would even look like…
Heh, using Jim’s architectural analogy, what will happen when the postmodern builder realizes that his “unique” structure uses a very standard and objective foundation? Does his structure still have value as “art” or “unique?” How does one measure it?
In reference to general societal values, this is where the question will be played out. Just a hunch.