POSTMODERNISM AND CULTURE – WORLDVIEW AND THE GOSPEL
1 Corinthians 15:4-8 Speaking of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: “…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
That Christ was buried and rose from grave and then was seen by a number of witnesses; this is good news!
God had told us that we should let everything be established by two or more witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15 “A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Here we have over five hundred at one time.
Francis Schaeffer talked about the “mannishness of man.” He said this: “This draws attention to the fact that humans are different from all other things in the world. Several things bring this out: 1. Creativity 2. People fear death 3. We are able to choose and we are able to verbalize. People are able to remember the past and make plans for the future.”
With the gospel being the core of a biblical worldview we see how this question is answered: How does this build a biblical worldview?
When I think of what Christ has done for me (for man) it makes me realize that I, or man, am different from all other creatures. I can think, verbalize, create, love, fear, feel and express emotion, etc. One of the things that Schaeffer brings out is that man fears death. There seems to be within the heart of man a sense for the eternal. Even in our postmodern culture we see this coming out with man trying to remain young. Look at the medicines being propagated that will reduce aging, exercises that we do to remain healthy. Pseudo spiritual mantras are being voiced, etc. All of this because of the sense of the eternal in the heart of man placed there by God. Man knows that he is different, but why?
The Gospel tells us that man is unique because he is made in the image of God. Man has a longing for eternal life, but why? God has placed eternity in his heart. Man fears death. But the Gospel gives us hope. The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead. To collaborate this truth He was seen after the resurrection by over five hundred brethren at one time. So what does the Gospel tell me? 1. God made the world and He is in control. 2. Man is made in the image of God. He is different from other creatures. 3. Man has sinned and fallen out of fellowship with God his Maker. 4. Jesus died for my sin so I might be forgiven and brought back into fellowship with God my Maker. 5. He rose from the dead and so will I.
Another question that comes is: Why do I know that this is true? The answer lies in Scripture. Twice in 1 Corinthians 15 it says: “….according to the Scriptures.” These are the core beliefs in creating a biblical worldview. How important it is to be grounded in these truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
We need to see the difference between the Gospel and the world’s Postmodernism of a worldview. Reformation will attack this false worldview that we have in the West and bring us back to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with His worldview.