I find myself quite frequently asking questions about why people in a post-modern era are so lonely. If this is supposed to be the age of relationship, tolerance and cultural relativity, why is culture such a sensitive matter? Why is honest, committed relationship so rare? Why is tolerance so debated, misconstrued and barely functional?
It has been said over and over again by many men wiser than myself that one of the fundamental tenets of postmodernism is tolerance. This tolerance then should allow relationship to flourish without cultural, ideological differences threatening to disintegrate the ideal social relationship. The difficulty with this tenet is that the content and definition of tolerance has changed in the past 20 years. It has changed from tolerance of people, and has increasingly become centered on the ideas of people. At a first glance this has nothing to do with the moral, relational breakdown in society at large, but I believe it has everything to do with it.
Think about the most relational man who ever walked the face of the earth, Jesus. He was completely tolerant of the most ignorant, backstabbing thieves; one of whom dared to trade the life of not only the Son of God, but of a respected and followed religious leader, for a few pieces of silver. Jesus did not even refuse his kiss as he was betrayed. What an example of selfless tolerance and true love for humanity! But than why did Jesus storm through the temple with a whip driving out the hypocrites and thieves who were trading their integrity for a few pieces of silver? I believe it is because though all men are created equal, all ideas and “truths” are not. Think of how Jesus could eat dinner with the scum of the earth, a gesture that not even the kindest of religious leaders would have initiated, and also call them for repentance because they were destined for hell.
This does not fit with the postmodern ideal of tolerance. However, I believe this is a better tolerance, for it allows for true honest, committed relationship. The other kind of tolerance does not, however, for it is a tolerance based on ideas, not people. People must listen to another’s ideas because it is wrong to say they are wrong. Therefore, there are a few billion liars in the world who think the others’ ideas are crazy and cannot say so. Indeed, their ideas are crazy, for they have never been challenged with a measure of refining truth, for it is not polite to do so. So then if an identity rests in this shared, shallow shell of one’s ideas, to challenge one’s ideas is to challenge their identity. One the other hand, if one’s identity were to rest in their person, and ideas could be discussed and freely challenged as in Jesus’ model of tolerance, it would be an act of a honest, committed relationship to challenge the ideas of another.
I think that most people can sense this truth deep down inside, and it is a cause for loneliness that no one truly cares about what they think. This indeed is not surprising, for people cannot care about what they cannot adopt as their own, and they cannot adopt as their own those ideas with which they are not at liberty to disagree with more convincing proofs. They cannot disagree for it is inappropriate to challenge the ideas of another, no matter how obvious the fallacy. I think what is even more striking then these observations, is the fact that this false, degraded thinking has permeated the church more than we can know. I also believe we will be feeling the fall-out of this deceit sooner and more forcefully than could be imagined.
7 comments:
Good thots. I think you are right in saying that for many, it that we simply don't care enough. Its not that we have to agree but to be able to speak freely without fear of offending is important. Otherwise all we are left with is weather... As you know, Canadians can turn the weather into an hour long conversation. : P
Hey, give me a call sometime, but first let me find my cellphone... Its MIA and possibly gone for good... sad day
Keen observations Jon. Here's another thought to consider: Maybe the "felt loneliness" has causes additional to the ones you mentioned. One possibility is that man without a genuine abiding relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ is truely without soul-spiritual fellowship. Another possibility is that man is universally narcissistic(a consuming preoccupation with self).
Narcissism in the modern age has reached soul-eviscerating proportions evidenced by the exponential increase in the number of people dependent on 'medic-ation' for 'mental wellbeing'. The only permanent solution is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God's blessings on you Jon as you preach Him among the nations.
Love and Prayers, Pop
wow. I'm impressed. that was thoughtful, you should possibly try to expound on that and make it your thesis for your Mdiv or whatever you're going for
funny you should say that...not really funny, but i have been feeling the same way for quite some time. ive been struggling to identify why and how this all works, and you have really helped just bring it all to light...lately ive been struggling bc i love people, and i miss the ability to have real relationships. i(and many others, im sure) really truly care for people, and want to be candid with them and help them grow..and i think we know we cannot bc they will take offense or think we are being intolerant and attacking their person-ness, instead of loving them after the example put before us in the scriptures. i believe that many solid christians have a hard time w/ this barrier that blocks our ability to have true relatioinships w/ other christians, or even to witness to others because pointing out sin would be judging, and we wouldn't dare judge someone, God would never want that; and i believe that most christians(like me) can't place the feeling or cause. this truth, if widely spread and-well, not popularized, per sea- but christians made aware of this underlying trend in thinking, a lot of problems could be identified(espec in the post-modern church movement), and the problem must be identified before it can be fixed...
wow...that was long
Yeah, In 1 John 4 we are told that we must love in deed and truth, not necessarily in word and talk. It's a bit harder to love in deed and truth, and not quite as tolerant as postmodernism defines it. good thoughts everyone.
Interesting to know.
Post a Comment