Our society is funny, if you haven't noticed. Even in the ultra-conservative, Bible-belt, gun-touting Midwest I can see post-modernity creeping in. Absolute truth is on its way out and subjectivity and relativity are hot. We are so driven by the desire to conquer what is unknown to us, which is in itself not a bad thing, but the quest for answers is a new form of idolatry.
Aside from the obvious irony of the statement "there's [absolutely] no [none] such thing as absolute truth" there is a big problem with the way we view truth. The problem is similar to that of daddy-issues; people have abused the truth constantly to manipulate people toward some agenda. Big surprise, people caught on and don't like to be manipulated. Just as a high school girl thinks all guys are butt holes because of several bad break-ups, so too we think truth is too good to be true. It's a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. We have over adjusted in order to protect ourselves. The truth is, however, that there [absolutely] is absolute truth. People hold truth in such high esteem that they try and protect themselves by keeping the truth unattainable. That's why nobody can just walk in and tell me that there is an absolute authority who gives absolute guidelines.
The problem isn't with truth, it is with God. People don't like God. Ironically, we are so driven by finding the truth, finding answers, that they will bulldoze any truth that isn't to their liking. The problem of pain is the perfect example. Why do bad things happen to good people? God shows us a few things:
1. There are no good people. Genesis 3 and onward reveal that to us. Only Jesus is good.
2. God doesn't care if we demand answers. Who's in charge here?
3. God does as he pleases and doesn't need to explain to you or me why he does what he does.
The story of Job is totally antithetical to our post-modern desires. It would make a good movie (probably staring an emotional Will Smith) until chapter 38. God isn't held accountable for his action, he simply confronts Job in a battle of identities. "Brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me." There is no Hollywood resolution to the problem, no shoot-em-up brawl, and no feel-good reunion. God gives Job the business, and not once does he explain his motives or heart or plans. Why?
Because he is God.
We want answers just like Job, sometimes even yelling to the sky demanding them, but God isn't concerned with answers. He is concerned with who you are and who he is. And thus Job shuts his trap.
The truth stands for us today. Like it or not, God is God. If he was accountable to us, who would he be? If we could fit him in a test tube or under a slide, who would he be? If all he was and is and does could fit in one book, an encyclopedia set even, who would he be? If he fit every one of my expectations for how the world should work, who would he be?
Maybe your problem isn't an intellectual hang-up, maybe it's a problem with submitting to a God who doesn't work on your time by your rules. That doesn't make him any less God. What kind of god works how we want him to? Remember, we don't even know what good is, how are we going to council God?
Stop hiding behind the excuse of subjective truth. Stop running from God because he doesn't satisfy your intellectual taste buds. You may find out that you know a lot less than you think. God doesn't owe us answers any more than a potter owes the clay an explanation.
Am I saying not to ask questions? Heavens no! But I am warning you to examine the heart of your questions. God doesn't demand mindless submission, but by his very nature (omniscient God) it is impossible for us to have all the answers. Take captive every thought and submit it to Christ.
He is God and we are not-- there's your answer.
Aside from the obvious irony of the statement "there's [absolutely] no [none] such thing as absolute truth" there is a big problem with the way we view truth. The problem is similar to that of daddy-issues; people have abused the truth constantly to manipulate people toward some agenda. Big surprise, people caught on and don't like to be manipulated. Just as a high school girl thinks all guys are butt holes because of several bad break-ups, so too we think truth is too good to be true. It's a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. We have over adjusted in order to protect ourselves. The truth is, however, that there [absolutely] is absolute truth. People hold truth in such high esteem that they try and protect themselves by keeping the truth unattainable. That's why nobody can just walk in and tell me that there is an absolute authority who gives absolute guidelines.
The problem isn't with truth, it is with God. People don't like God. Ironically, we are so driven by finding the truth, finding answers, that they will bulldoze any truth that isn't to their liking. The problem of pain is the perfect example. Why do bad things happen to good people? God shows us a few things:
1. There are no good people. Genesis 3 and onward reveal that to us. Only Jesus is good.
2. God doesn't care if we demand answers. Who's in charge here?
3. God does as he pleases and doesn't need to explain to you or me why he does what he does.
The story of Job is totally antithetical to our post-modern desires. It would make a good movie (probably staring an emotional Will Smith) until chapter 38. God isn't held accountable for his action, he simply confronts Job in a battle of identities. "Brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me." There is no Hollywood resolution to the problem, no shoot-em-up brawl, and no feel-good reunion. God gives Job the business, and not once does he explain his motives or heart or plans. Why?
Because he is God.
We want answers just like Job, sometimes even yelling to the sky demanding them, but God isn't concerned with answers. He is concerned with who you are and who he is. And thus Job shuts his trap.
The truth stands for us today. Like it or not, God is God. If he was accountable to us, who would he be? If we could fit him in a test tube or under a slide, who would he be? If all he was and is and does could fit in one book, an encyclopedia set even, who would he be? If he fit every one of my expectations for how the world should work, who would he be?
Maybe your problem isn't an intellectual hang-up, maybe it's a problem with submitting to a God who doesn't work on your time by your rules. That doesn't make him any less God. What kind of god works how we want him to? Remember, we don't even know what good is, how are we going to council God?
Stop hiding behind the excuse of subjective truth. Stop running from God because he doesn't satisfy your intellectual taste buds. You may find out that you know a lot less than you think. God doesn't owe us answers any more than a potter owes the clay an explanation.
Am I saying not to ask questions? Heavens no! But I am warning you to examine the heart of your questions. God doesn't demand mindless submission, but by his very nature (omniscient God) it is impossible for us to have all the answers. Take captive every thought and submit it to Christ.
He is God and we are not-- there's your answer.
I dig this, Dave. However, I would say that the idea of trying to find an answer to all things is perhaps more a symptom of modernity than postmodernism. Driven by empiricism and mankind's super-inflated intellectual ego, modernity thinks that we can find an answer to all the mysteries of the universe,including an answer to all things God. I think postmodernism is right to criticizing such an attitude and to point out that not everything CAN be put in a test-tube and studied like a science experiment. The problem with postmodernism, however, is that it's solution tends to be relativism, in which ALL answers a equally valid.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, it comes down to just what you said: people want a reason to reject God's claim on their lives. For modernism, if God can't be validated scientifically, we can reject his truth. For postmodernism, if God's truth is exclusive to other "truths," then it's also rejected. The problem isn't just the philosophies; it's the hearts of people.
I agree with the hangover from Modernity. Philosophy seems like a series of over-reactions from the philosophies previous! Thanks for your input Heff!
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