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Postmodernism's influence on evangelism

Rolfe

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JonC

Moderator
Moderator
What I am asking for from you is a break down of your assertion that postmodernism has made it more difficult to witness in your preferred method of evangelism. What are the details of postmodernism's influence on this?

Can you tell me the difference between friendship evangelism and lifestyle evangelism?

Why do you believe it is wise for you to know their views as well?
I was at the dentist. I will reply in more detail on my Mac.
Evan, can you now reply in more detail (I think you addressed the second question by saying that there was no difference, but you have not yet answered Rev's other two which directly relate to the OP. I also have several questions...but Rev was 1st in line).
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Thanks or Tack, depending on which one you refer to.

Tack.......that's the one...:laugh:

Do you realize that we are on the seventh page of this thread and Evan has yet to define the terms of the OP? .... Evan, are you back at your Mac?
 
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Rolfe

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Do you realize that we are on the seventh page of this thread and Evan has yet to define the terms of the OP? .... Evan, are you back at your Mac?

If you hold your breath waiting, you will probably pass out.
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Post #31 I defined PostModernism

Truth is not objective but rather a product of a person's culture.
Truth (as in science, education, religion or such) is CREATED by a specific culture or community, and is true only in and for that culture or community.
No, in post # 31 you posted what Millard J. Erickson said of Postmodernity (you gave him credit in post #32). But you never actually defined what it was. What I was asking was for a definition of the term, not what it does or how it defines truth. We all know that postmodernity diminishes the absoluteness of truth, but that is not a definition.

But what I am waiting on is you to define the terms as you promised….I mean start with what you have already obligated yourself to do:
What I am asking for from you is a break down of your assertion that postmodernism has made it more difficult to witness in your preferred method of evangelism. What are the details of postmodernism's influence on this?.....
I was at the dentist. I will reply in more detail on my Mac.
 
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evangelist6589

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No, in post # 31 you posted what Millard J. Erickson said of Postmodernity (you gave him credit in post #32). But you never actually defined what it was. What I was asking was for a definition of the term, not what it does or how it defines truth. We all know that postmodernity diminishes the absoluteness of truth, but that is not a definition.

But what I am waiting on is you to define the terms as you promised….I mean start with what you have already obligated yourself to do:


Wrong. Post #31 did not come from Erickson.
 

Revmitchell

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I was reading a book speaking about this topic and how many these days are not influenced by a gospel tract, open air sermon, or Romans road type gospel presentation. Back in the 60's this was not the case as many boomers were won to Christ via gospel tracts but today most just ignore them. While Ray Comfort is my model evangelist I have never witnessed him bring anyone to Christ, and he himself admitted once he has never found anyone truly humble, so he always uses law with people.

This book is addressing views most on this board would agree with and that is lifestyle evangelism. I think it wise for me to know their views as well. So the book argues for being a witness for over doing evangelism.

Has anyone had much success with the postmodern mindset?

Is it safe to assume you cannot or will not defend your assertions in this post?
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Wrong. Post #31 did not come from Erickson.
:thumbs: You are right...my apologies. However it still reflects how postmodernity diminishes the idea of absolute truth and is not a definition (you show what it may do, not what it is).

But what you need to do is answer Revmitchell’s questions, as you stated you would do (I think that it is becoming an integrity issue, but hopefully not). That would help out a lot, perhaps clarify many issues that some of us have with your statements.
 

evangelist6589

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What I meant was you have not established its effect on evangelism

I did answer this but if not I will explain.

What this means is that it is hard to evangelize people in the west because simple gospel tracts, open air sermons, and the like are very often ignored. For example a Carnival is coming to town and I intend to pass out several hundred million dollar bills, and place a number of (other style tracts) on as many cars as possible. Last year I must have placed tracts on more than a hundred cars. My guess would be due to the influence of postmodernism, and the loss of absolute truth, most will just toss the tracts, ignore what they say, not even read what they say, and such because in their view Christianity is no different than Islam, Mormonism, Buddhism, and the like. PostModernism breeds= pluralism and relativism and so absolute truth is lost, and in the mind of most truth is what they create and imagine it to be.

Last year I was chatting with someone of this mindset at this same carnival and asked him to jump out of an airplane without a parachute, and put his hand on a hot stove. The man refused, but I asked him why refuse because I did not believe in gravity, nor hot stoves!

The PostModernist selects the truth that he feels is right, and rejects others, so their logic is not consistent.
 

blessedwife318

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I did answer this but if not I will explain.

What this means is that it is hard to evangelize people in the west because simple gospel tracts, open air sermons, and the like are very often ignored. For example a Carnival is coming to town and I intend to pass out several hundred million dollar bills, and place a number of (other style tracts) on as many cars as possible. Last year I must have placed tracts on more than a hundred cars. My guess would be due to the influence of postmodernism, and the loss of absolute truth, most will just toss the tracts, ignore what they say, not even read what they say...

For this argument to make sense you would first have establish that there was a time that people would read tracts, I'm the modern sense of the word, or listen to open air preachers on a regards basis.
Modern tracts are only about 50 years old, ironically about the same time that Post Modern ideology began to take hold.
Tracts that you use are very modern and do not fit the Biblical model of discipleship. Any man made method will have a limited lifespan which is why we need to be Biblical in our approach, not just looking for mass market solutions.
 

Revmitchell

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The PostModernist selects the truth that he feels is right, and rejects others, so their logic is not consistent.

Everybody does this regardless of their world view. So what is it about the postmodern mindset that inhibits them from receiving the gospel?
 
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