Sermon: “Back to the Future: Can We Survive Postmodernism Theology?”

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Postmodernism is a kind of “feel good”, “self-help” theology that tries to convince modern man that he no longer needs to rely on God for salvation .

The question quickly becomes apparent: “Can we survive postmodern theology?

Bible Study

1. Rich man was a model citizen; aligned with society and Jewish law in helping the poor (Luke 16:19-21).
2. Lazarus was at the rich man’s door waiting for the scraps from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:20-21).
3. Similar to America in 2011 with the widening gap between the rich and poor.
4. Both men die. The rich man goes to hell; Lazarus goes to Heaven (Luke 16:22-23).
5. The rich man asks for grace/mercy; let Lazarus put his finger in water to cool his tongue. This is not possible because of the great chasm AND because the rich man had received his rewards in life. He did things his way, by his standards and in the process put other things before God (Luke 16:24-26).
6. Request: Send Lazarus to his Father’s house to save his brothers. Go back to change present and future non-believers. Go back in order to change accountability, lifestyles, entitlements and priorities.
7. Abraham’s answer: “They have Moses & the Prophets (Luke 16:27-19).
8. Today, we might say they have churches, pastors, preaching, teaching and scripture. Yet with all this they STILL do not listen!
9. If someone returned from the dead? Does not Jesus qualify? To many, the answer is NO!
10. Abraham answers: “If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets they will not be convinced by someone coming back from the dead. Today, if they will not listen to the pastor’s preaching of the word of God, they will not believe in the Risen Lord. Other worldly things will be more important; will have a higher priority (Luke 16:30-31).

Today, when postmodern, warm and fuzzy, self-help theology is being preached and even taught to seminary students as they prepare for ministry and in congregations across the land, a fair question is: “Can God’s people survive such lies and false prophets”?  Is there still time to teach God’s word in Biblical based churches, led by Biblical based preachers/pastors? Will God’s people align themselves with God’s Word, or will we massage God’s Word into something that is easy enough for us to allow into our busy lives? The rich man was a good person; a good Jew.  He obeyed the laws, took care of the poor and ended up in hell! Being a good person is not enough! We must put God first in our lives before family, before jobs, even before our tainted, misunderstood, postmodern views of scripture. Can we survive postmodernism? Only if we stay close to God and His Word and apply it fully to our lives. This is our calling!