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What's
wrong with Postmodernism?
by
sean peek
I've
read more and more about PM and I guess I have some
complaints. Here we go. Everything traditional is bad and
will never last and needs to just go away. Everything that
is PM is the best thing in the whole world and will always
be.
Now
I have been in many churches that refuse to change and are
slowly losing membership. That the focus is on membership
and not discipleship. "giving units" as they are
described. and I've been a leader in churches like that.
It's easy to abandon these churches and move on. I don't
think it's a good idea though. There are many people in
the church (not just the old ones) that actually like the
traditional modern setting. That is where they reach God
best. If they walked into a PM setting, they would be
turned off.
I
saw this most when I worked on starting a contemporary
service at a very traditional service. The music (and
music is a major part of any church service) got them the
most. Not sure what to do when you don't like the faster
paced music.
PM
blogs I read don't trust anything modern. I feel I have
one foot in traditional/contemporary and one foot in
postmodern. I can go both ways although I like a blend of
both. Blogs I read basically say anything moderns try just
are not there. If a modern church trys to start a PM
church, don't trust it. If any PM setting has ties to the
modern, it's a bad thing. I think that's unfortunate.
There is so much that can me brought to the table on both
sides of the worship setting.
Next
the modern church does not understand mission. They either
don't give enough of themselves to mission trips (whether
here or away) and don't want to get their hands dirty.
After
making two mission trips to the TX Mexico border, I have
had 2 SS classes ask about making trips also. Groups love
to do hands on housing. Our church is involved with
homeless projects here in Austin. Plus other stuff we do.
Yes many of the people in our church give $$ to the
missions group, denominational missions teams (methodist),
or other charities. They don't go out to Mexico or get up
to serve the homeless breakfast, but they might invite
their neighbor to a UMM meeting. Their ideas of
"mission" are just different than others.
PMs,
there is no absolute truth. Everything is experiential.
Moderns...There is absolute truth. This truth can be
embraced. Yes we are all on a journey and that journey
will take us different paths, but there are essentials to
Christianity that need to be embraced. A wise man once
said "in the essentials unity, in the non-essentials
liberty, and in all things charity." What do you
think????
Sean
Peek
shout2lord@yahoo.com
__________________________
I'm
32 years old and basically have one foot in the
traditional/contemporary worship and one foot in
the postmodern ideals. I'm hoping to start
seminary next year. I live in Austin, TX where you
can wear shorts outside @ Christmas :o)
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