Christianity Versus according to the tradition of men “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of

Christianity VersusChristianity Versus

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of menaccording to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”

Colossians 2:8

Christianity VSChristianity VS

The Postmodern WorldThe Postmodern World

What Is “Postmodernism”?

What Is “Postmodernism”?

•Also Called DeconstructionismAlso Called Deconstructionism– Current trend in philosophy (French

philosopher, Jacques Derrida)– “Stresses the relativity of all meaning

and truth, and denies first principles – that is, the commonly accepted truths (e.g., I exist) that form the starting point for all philosophical enquiry.” (Josh McDowell, NETDAV, pg. xlii)

– Dominates cultural thinking todayDominates cultural thinking today

Consequences of this Philosophy


• Nothing can truly be known. To claim Nothing can truly be known. To claim a knowledge of truth is silly.a knowledge of truth is silly.

• ““Reality is defined or constructed by Reality is defined or constructed by culture or language, not discovered culture or language, not discovered by reason and observation” by reason and observation” (Dennis (Dennis McCallum)McCallum)

• Subjectivism rules. We should not try Subjectivism rules. We should not try to be “right”, but should tolerate each to be “right”, but should tolerate each other despite having different world other despite having different world views.views.

• Fundamentalism (Such as the Fundamentalism (Such as the Christian faith) is to be rejected. It Christian faith) is to be rejected. It only is intolerable.only is intolerable.

The “Sin” of IntoleranceThe “Sin” of Intolerance“Not too long ago, intolerance meant

rejecting or even persecuting practitioners of other religions. Not any more. Now, intolerance means questioning the validity of any aspect of another’s religion. To the majority of Americans below fifty today, questioning questioning the truthfulness of another’s religious the truthfulness of another’s religious views is intolerant and morally offensiveviews is intolerant and morally offensive. This prohibition against differing with other’s viewpoints is postmodern.

Postmodernism and You: ReligionBy Jim Leffel & Dennis McCallum

http://www.thewychfamily.com/beliefs/postmodern-religion.html

John 14:6John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way,

the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus left no doubt that he is Jesus left no doubt that he is mankind’s only hope, and that He is mankind’s only hope, and that He is truth.truth.

Acts 4:10-12Acts 4:10-12Let it be known to you all, and to all

the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” 12 Nor is there Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given other name under heaven given among men by which we must be among men by which we must be savedsaved.

2 John 9-112 John 9-11Whoever transgresses and does not

abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Not even all who claim to be followers Not even all who claim to be followers of Jesus have it “right.” Truth is found of Jesus have it “right.” Truth is found in scripture. It can and must be known.in scripture. It can and must be known.


The Postmodern World

The Eastern/Mystical The Eastern/Mystical

WorldWorld

Zen Buddhism: An Example

Zen Buddhism: An Example

“Zen does not follow the routine of reasoning, and does not mind contradicting itself or being inconsistent …

... Zen is decidedly not a system founded upon logic and analysis. If anything it is the antipode to logic, by which I mean the dualistic mode of thinking.”

D.T. Suzuki(Living By Zen, pg. 94; Intro to Zen Buddhism, pg. 38)



• Yin/Yang not good/evil, but Yin/Yang not good/evil, but everything made up of “opposites”, everything made up of “opposites”, neither good nor bad intrinsically. neither good nor bad intrinsically. Yin and Yang must always balance Yin and Yang must always balance for harmony.for harmony.

• ““Life and death are one, right and Life and death are one, right and wrong are the same” wrong are the same” (Chuang Tzu, as quoted (Chuang Tzu, as quoted in World Religions, pg. 333)in World Religions, pg. 333)

• Denies “either/or” statements. For Denies “either/or” statements. For example, statement: “Either Jesus example, statement: “Either Jesus is, or he is not the Son of God.” is, or he is not the Son of God.” Concept of “either saved or lost” Concept of “either saved or lost” foreign.foreign.

John 8:44John 8:44You are of your father the devil, and

the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in there is no truth in himhim. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

N.T. Reveals the devil to be evil, no N.T. Reveals the devil to be evil, no good in him.good in him.

1 John 3:81 John 3:8He who sins is of the devil, for the

devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

The devil and the son of God are The devil and the son of God are portrayed as opposites, enemies. portrayed as opposites, enemies. Light and darkness.Light and darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14-152 Corinthians 6:14-15Do not be unequally yoked

together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

Where Eastern philosophy strives Where Eastern philosophy strives for balance, Christ instructs us to for balance, Christ instructs us to remove evil from ourselves.remove evil from ourselves.

1 John 1:51 John 1:5This is the message which we

have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

“…“…who alone has immortality, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light…” dwelling in unapproachable light…” (1 Timothy 6:16).(1 Timothy 6:16).



The Eastern/Mystical World

The Atheistic WorldThe Atheistic World

What Is “Atheism”?What Is “Atheism”?•““a” (meaning no), “theos” a” (meaning no), “theos”

(meaning God)(meaning God)– To be consistent, an atheist,

to know there is no God, would himself have to be a god (omniscient). Otherwise, the existence of God may be outside of his knowledge

– No valid basis for atheismNo valid basis for atheism

Psalm 53:1-3Psalm 53:1-3The fool has said in his heart,

"There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.

Romans 1:20-23Romans 1:20-23For since the creation of the world His His

invisible attributes are clearly seeninvisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so so that they are without excusethat they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became foolsProfessing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.




The Atheistic World

The Agnostic WorldThe Agnostic World

What Is “Agnosticism”?What Is “Agnosticism”?•““a” (meaning no), “gnosis” a” (meaning no), “gnosis”

(meaning knowledge)(meaning knowledge)– Philosophical agnosticism

(knowledge of reality not possible)– Self defeating, claim to “know”

that you can’t know. (Absurd)– Practical agnosticism (just Practical agnosticism (just

don’t know)don’t know)– Evidence is available, just Evidence is available, just

unexamined!unexamined!

Acts 26:25-29Acts 26:25-29But he said, “I am not mad, most noble

Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in since this thing was not done in a cornera corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost You almost persuade me to become a Christianpersuade me to become a Christian.” 29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

1 Corinthians 15:6-81 Corinthians 15:6-8After that He was seen by over five

hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Resurrection, a chief proof of God Resurrection, a chief proof of God and Jesus as Christ, well-attested by and Jesus as Christ, well-attested by numerous eye-witnessesnumerous eye-witnesses




The Atheistic World

The Agnostic World

The Scientific WorldThe Scientific World

Science Validates Our Faith

Science Validates Our Faith

“Oddly enough, of all the worlds in collision [with Christianity] today it is the scientific world that is increasingly giving the greatest and most shocking evidence in favor of God’s existence.”

Josh McDowell

(NETDAV, pg. l)

DNA StructureDNA Structure“There is an identity of structure

between DNA (and protein) and written linguistic messages. Since we know by experience that intelligence produces written messages, and no other cause is known, the implication, according to the abductive method, is that intelligent cause produced DNA and protein…

DNA StructureDNA Structure“… The significance of this result lied in the security of it, for it is much stronger than if the structures were merely similar. We are not dealing with anything like a superficial resemblance between DNA and a written text. We are not saying DNA is like a message. Rather, DNA is a messageDNA is a message. True design thus returns to biology.”

Hupert Yockey

Journal of Theoretical Biology

quoted by Charles Thaxton in “A New Design Argument”,1998

The CosmosThe Cosmos“This means that the initial state

of the universe must have been very carefully chosen indeed if the hot big bang model was correct right back to the beginning of time. It It would be very difficult to explain would be very difficult to explain whey the universe should have whey the universe should have begun in just this way, except as begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to the act of a God who intended to create beings like uscreate beings like us.”

Stephen Hawking

A Brief History of Time, page 127

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1“In the beginning God created the

heavens and the earth.”

Though many are unwilling to Though many are unwilling to accept the ramifications, science is accept the ramifications, science is progressing sufficiently to show progressing sufficiently to show powerful evidence of design… of a powerful evidence of design… of a designer… which means we have an designer… which means we have an obligation to the one to whom we obligation to the one to whom we owe our existence.owe our existence.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14Ecclesiastes 12:13-14Let us hear the conclusion of the

whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is For this is man's allman's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Conclusion

Conclusion

First, we should recognize that theChristian faith is under attack from many directions in our time.

Second, we can be confident that Second, we can be confident that the way of Christ is indeed the true the way of Christ is indeed the true way to God, redemption and eternal way to God, redemption and eternal life!life!

Documents

Christianity Versus according to the tradition of men “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of