Am I Post-Modern, or What??

Ok, so over the last few weeks (and really, probably more like months or years) I've been struck by the "interesting" approach that the "Church" has taken to the term postmodern. It has, for most, become a curse word. I would probably come out better in some churches if I started throwing around 4-letter words while leading worship instead of ever using the "P-word".

The problem is, I think, that most churchy-types feel that postmodern is a theology and not a worldview filter. And, some people would argue with me that I'm wrong and that postmodern is, indeed, a theology because it directly affects one's view of God.

And, I'll admit that I think that postmodernism is the cultural filter through which we view - well - everything. I also think that to deny the existence of, or even membership in the postmodern culture to be dangerous to the church.

My hypothesis is that because the people that loudly claim "I'm a Postmodern - and here's what I think about God!" often times have views of God that are contradictory to someone else's viewpoint, the whole "postmodern pool" is soiled.

It is pretty clear to me that moderates have little or no voice in the world - much less in Christianity. And, generally, fanatics and far left or right wingers tend to capture the public's attention. So, this is true in the case of postmodernism as well. No publisher is going to publish a book by someone who basically says that "postmoderns" don't by nature crave a rearrangement and/or customization of the Truth in order to believe - they simply need Truth to be held to standards that are meaningful to them.

Again, some would argue that this view is unfit for Christianity, and some even feel that it is somewhat heretical. My problem with this is that is the Truth is really the Truth... and you really believe that - then, don't you believe that the Truth will stand any test? If you're scared that the Truth has weaknesses, then I can see that holding different criteria up to the Truth could be frightening. If your understanding and faith in the Truth is secure, then why would you not want these new "whipper-snappers" (aka Postmoderns) to kick its tires, so to speak?

Now, to be clear, I would not say that I agree with the all of the theology in the books by the now famous "postmoderns". Many of them not only come from different faith backgrounds than I do, but also tend to be far left or right wing. That is to say that the reason they get "air time" is not necessarily because it is true, but because what they say has some controversy to it. If what they are saying were simply helpful and edifying to our faith, I doubt that the Christian media and publishing "industry" would find it lucrative enough to publish.

So, yes, I'm "postmodern". I hold the Truth to different measuring sticks than did my father and father's father. But, I still believe the same Truth that they believe in. I may make different demands on church leadership than generations before, but, more is expected of me as well. For example, I expect the leadership of the church to do more than provide a warm body for a title. I respect authority, but, as one can see by the many, many, many, many church leaders that have shown themselves to be human, I simply don't see that a title gives one absolute power, authority and some immunity to scrutiny. That seems a little to me like the views of the Pharisees. (But, I'm getting off of task here...)

Is being postmodern bad? Not as I see it. It's human. God isn't, however, postmodern... or, if you want to think of it this way - God IS postmodern... and modern... and ancient... and everlasting... I think God will stand the test of time, don't you?