Post Modern Mindset (#9)
Usually I’m a little behind…this week I’m a little ahead. Sorry.
So last week we talked about avoiding such people who “have a form of godliness but deny its power” and though I could go on for weeks with Scripture that rejects even the thought of a “Post Modern Mindset”, this week I want to close our series on dealing with the PMM with a mindset of how we are to deal with the arguments they raise against the gospel.
I chapter 10 of 2 Corinthians Paul is defending his ministry and in this defense he has extended the mindset that Christ has, should be exhibited in him as well as all who follow Christ. He proclaims in vs 1 “I Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – I who am humble when face to face with you but bold toward you when I am away!” His point is, as he in confronting the Corinthians is that he is appealing to them in “the” meekness and gentleness of Christ”. He is also confronting them and as he goes on to explain “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh,” Why is he qualifying his approach and stance? “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to DESTROY STRONGHOLDS. WE DESTROY ARGUMENTS AND EVERY LOFTY OPINION RAISED AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO OBEY CHRIST, BEING READY TO PUNISH EVERY DIOSBEDIENCE, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS COMPLETE.” Forgive my captain obvious response but according to what the current church mindset defines as meek and gentle does not quite equate with Paul’s description of meek and gentle. Divine power to destroy strongholds, to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God seems like he’s not being very understanding? Again please forgive my attempt at sarcasm but in memorizing 2 Cor 10:5-6:
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”
should inform our mindset daily towards half truths…aka lies. Whether the author of these half truths is sincere or just misinformed, it is not loving to stand by while he is purporting half truths (lies). This means it is incumbent on us to know the truth (John 8:31b-32…you should have memorized this) but to refute error comes with the title of Christian.
May God stir in us a desire to continue to receive a love of the truth (see 2 Thess 2:9-10)…and so be saved!