This is final series from an essay which I entered into an essay contest. Over the next several days we are going to be looking at the cult of selfism and postmodernism from a historical, philosophical, sociological, and theological angle. Today I wish to look at the theological effect of postmoderism and the cult of selfism took on our culture.
(Theology)
If the religion of Selfism fostered by the philosophy of postmodernism is in fact what is undermining our society the question must be posed, “Is there any hope?” If there is any hope then where does it come from? Who can make a difference which will save lives from certain doom and society from its own prevailing disaster? Well there is an answer and it can be found as close as the person who knows or understands the need and in some situation closer than the corner of the street in most communities. The answer is not found really in a place but in a person. The people who hold the solution to these ills are called Christians and the churches of their Lord.
History is loaded with story after story of how western civilization was on the brink of destruction and how Christians and Christianity came to the forefront and the disaster was averted. I immediately know that postmodernist will speak out against using history but remember facts are facts. I’m not saying that there has always been a perfect outcome to everything, what I am saying is Christianity preserves the good. When Christians stand up for what is right according to the dictates of Scripture then things do turn around. When Christianity meets the philosophy of the moment head on in an intellectual and loving way then the truth can be made known. When the gospel is being shared by every believer to those who have a need for Jesus Christ then a difference can be made one life at a time.
It is not up to the individual Christian alone, the church as a local community must be involved. No longer can the churches live according to cult of Selfism, but they must rise up in each of their respective communities and proclaim the truth. The Christians who belong to these churches must begin to ask questions of each other, local officials and of their neighbors about the needs of the community. This is done as the churches and individual Christians reach out in a sacrificial manner helping those in need of hope. Churches must teach the truth and the Christians must distribute that truth.
The answer is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. The teaching of the local church needs to hinge on the fact that humanity without God is no good. God seeing the need came as a man, totally human, totally God. Born of a virgin, lived a sinless/perfect life, never doing any wrong against God and humanity. Suffered on a cross, dying for our sins, was buried and three days later rose from the dead bodily. Now all who come repenting to the cult of Selfism and believing on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for payment for their sins can find eternal life. This is the message of hope. This is the proclamation which needs to be declared from the churches and by the individual Christians. The cult of Selfism and the philosophy of post modernity have failed, only the good news of God’s love has ever succeeded.
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