- Published: December 23, 2021
- Updated: December 23, 2021
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 37
Post modernity and Christianity Post Modernity and Christianity Is the Western church too modern? There have been concerns by critics of the Western church terming it as an institution that adopts postmodern concepts rather than promoting the ideals of Christianity. Some critics maintain that the spirit of evangelism and Christian leadership has not been fully manifested in the Western church as desirable. One such debate relates to the non-existence of objective truth as promoted in the Western church. Most critics of the church refer to believers’ denial of the objective truth and existence of Jesus. Different interpretation of biblical concepts presents a challenge to the Western church. Critics question if believers have a similar viewpoint of all the stories in the Bible. That is among the key concerns highlighted by Smith (2006). The existence of pluralism is a major factor that prompts questions about the modernity of Western church.
In my experience, however, the Western church is not too modern, contrary to what its critics point as the situation. Ideal values of Christianity and concepts promoted by biblical teachings do not contravene those of the Western church. Critics perceive postmodern ideas either as inhumane, negative, corrupt or oppressive. I, however, disagree with that position and support that the Western church should adopt postmodern ideas. The church has great interest in achieving a society that exists in harmony among humanity. The Bible promotes ideals, core of which is love among humanity and for God. In Matthew 22: 38, love is expressed as the foremost commandment that believers should observe. Adopting postmodern ideas by the Western church has not erased the love, both for humanity and God, which forms the core of Christianity.
References
Smith, J. K. (2006). Whos Afraid of Postmodernism? (The Church and Postmodern Culture): Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church. Baker Academic.