Special thanks to Sharon for reminding me about this… I wanted to talk about this anyhow…
I posted on here about Post-Modernism last week. I asked if you know what it meant to be post modern and if you were a postmodern person or not. After that I posted to my friends on Facebook, asking them a similar question. I did this as a social study. I was amazed at some of the responses I got. People who were obviously post modern did not know it, and the opposite people who were more modern thought they were post modern. That's not the most shocking part to me. Everybody asked me to explain post modernity to them. So I thought I might try to explain it to you. I'm not any kind of expert in fact I'm still trying to figure it out myself.
Dictionary.com defines Postmodern as: Of or relating to art, architecture, or literature that reacts against earlier modernist principles, as by reintroducing traditional or classical elements of style. OK I guess that's kinda it. Or better yet that's part of it. Especially in the church. But my definition of Postmodern is more than that… In addition to the above, in my experience, postmodern people have some if not all of these traits:
Post Moderns…
- Learn more from Experience than they do from a lesson
- They Care more about reality and feel like church services with bright lights and fancy bands and a preacher are more about performance than message
- Doctrine is the king… If you say you believe something you better enact it. If you fake it they will see right through you. And lose trust in you
- Friendship is the Means… Friendship is the way to your message. If I am your friend then you can talk to me about God and stuff. Without friendship what you say means nothing.
- Trust is second… If a post modern person loses trust in you then it's too late. The only way post moderns will listen is if they trust
This is my top 5… Like I said I'm not an expert… This is just what I've seen.
People are scared of the Words Postmodern Church. Mostly because they don't understand the stuff listed above. In reality it is the same stuff we've always been trying to do, just with a different method.
I am a Postmodern to the core and I along with other PostModern Christians I have talked to feel like for so long it's been if you are not comfortable in "Sunday Morning" Church then there is no place to go. So people don't come. Also the church claims to be "Seeker Sensitive" and yet they expect the seekers to come to church, that's the last place they are gonna go. Where in the Bible does it say, "Wait for them to come to you and make disciples of all nations,"? Jesus said, "GO and make disciples…"
Post Moderns want you to meet them where they are. You become their friend and then you witness to them. Seems simple enough to me. We aren't changing the message of God, we aren't changing the word we just share it differently. Methodology is all that changes. Along with that is this, I am a Post Modern Nazarene. Denominations are important. It's not like we can exist without them so… If you're reading this and saying "Well my church doesn't get that stuff." Don't Leave!!! Stick it out. Work with others and try to make a change.
One other thing Post Modernity is not a thing. It's a way of thinking for some people. For others like me, it's a way of Life! Don't be scared… We are just like you, we just do things differently.
What Do you think? Let me Hear you!***Disclaimer: The Views and opinions expressed herein are that of one person, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Hope Community Church of the Nazarene or Its Youth Group!
