Apologist Ravi Zacharias observes that we live in a generation in which reason has died. We call our era the Post-Modern era. Put simply postmodernism believes that there is no such thing as objective or absolute truth. Truth instead is very individual: what makes you feel good is truth for you. Coupled with that prevailing thought is the belief that personal choice is the supreme goal of each individual. Whatever makes you feel comfortable is all right and every point of view is equally valid.
It doesn't take an intellectual giant to figure out that the only way postmodern thought can operate is in the absence of reason. Think about it. While we declare that there is no such thing as absolute truth (an argument that is philosophically untenable), at the same time we live most of our lives in denial of the very concept we embrace. Tell a mathematician or a scientist that there is no such thing as absolutes and he will laugh in your face. Both math and science rest solely upon the foundation that there are certain things that will always be true and that is the very basis of new scientific/mathematical discovery.
How is it that seemingly intelligent people can be so dumb when it comes to spiritual reality? Psalm 115:4-8 answers that question for us: "But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." There seems to be a secret law of the soul in which we tend to become like the object of our worship.
The Psalmist in the passage immediately above was dealing with the realm of iconic idols. These man made gods were dumb (that is speechless), blind and helpless. To worship such an inanimate object - regardless of what that object is suppose to represent - renders the worshiper dumb (that is speechless), blind and helpless.
Today we may not worship idols per-se (though they are making a fast comeback in the form of the crystals of New Age thought), but the idol we worship is man.
One does not have to go far before he or she realizes the truth of postmodern thought (that there is no absolute truth) is indeed the logical conclusion of the very illogical thought that we ourselves are gods. If man is the standard, than of course we have to recognize that no standard is absolutely right. On the other hand, if God is the standard, then we have to recognize that there is an absolute standard by which we can correctly evaluate all other standards.
The concept that all truths are equal is ridiculous. The fact that we can believe such a ludicrous concept confirms that we are indeed a people who have lost our ability to reason or to think critically. Man worshiping himself has brought us to a state of moral, intellectual and religious bankruptcy.
Dr. John Pearrell is pastor of Gateway Community Church. Write him in care of the church at 11677 Brown Bridge Road Covington, GA, 30016. Send e-mail to john.pearrell@gatewaycommunity.org
