Young Christian Leaders' Alliance

R. Josiah Magnuson

“That’s your truth. I have mine.” This is the fundamental assertion of a post-modernist. Postmodernism claims there is no absolute truth – no reality basic to all people. Rather, it holds that every person creates their own reality from their own experiences and perceptions.

A post-modernist may accept that Christ is the Savior for some people, but will reject the need for Christ as the only Savior for all humanity. Is there a way to defeat this philosophy?

First, God’s Word is the starting point to defeat post-modernism. Christ told us, “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) God’s worldview is the basis for knowledge. Unless we start with His perspective, we cannot understand existence, or even know existence is real. The Bible states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The Bible also indicates in numerous places that God cannot lie or contradict Himself. Thus, reality (as God’s creation) is valid and concretely definable. However, if we start with any other premise, we become irrational since we cannot trust our own minds. The big question for post-modernism is, “How do you know?”

Second, logic defeats post-modernism. A postmodernist asserts, “There is no absolute truth.” This statement is actually an absolute truth in itself. Thus, if that statement is true, then it is false. Something cannot be both true and false. In response, a post-modernist may assert that he does not agree; he does not believe in the law of noncontradiction. Your reply would be, “Thus you do believe in the law of non-contradiction?” to which he would reply, “No, I just told you I didn’t.” By making such a statement, he is demonstrating that he in fact does believe in the law of noncontradiction, because he believes in the existence of falsehood.

Third, love must be the foundation of our effort. It is the Holy Spirit who must make alive the hearts of those we speak to. The Spirit works through love in the actions and attitudes of believers. Our materialistic culture has bred pride, bitterness, and covetousness, which hinders people from accepting absolutes. It follows that it must be our purpose to reach out humbly, forgivingly, and sacrificially for others. We must “take up our cross daily” to serve Christ in serving those around us.

It is important to recognize that the post-modernist will not be won by logic, although logic is a help along the way.  It may also be that the Bible solely as a book of principles will not win the post-modernist. The post-modernist will be drawn to Christ through the love of God’s people, and the work of the Spirit, as he experiences the adventure of God’s living words!

Post-modernism ends in irrationality since under this way of thinking, the world might simply be our imagination. Presenting the wonderful stories of Scripture is the basis to breaking irrationality (John 20:31), because the hearing of Scripture brings faith (Romans 10:17). Further, as faithful brothers and sisters, our lives corroborate the truth of God’s family (John 13:55).

What would your life tell a post-modernist? Does your life conform to the truth of Scripture? Are you a disciple of the Person of Truth, Jesus Christ, or are you wandering on paths of peril?

By Samuel Young, WA

One secret to wisdom is not knowing what you know, but rather understanding what you don’t. Man’s quest for knowledge on God’s earth has always been a push against the unknown, a digging and bringing to light of truths that would be hidden, and of lies that would cover them up. It is essential that as leaders we learn to accomplish this quest through asking powerful questions; ones that will challenge ideas brought forth in our conversations, in our writing, and especially, in our interacting with public speakers.

You see, questions are a powerful tool.  They can encourage a speaker or rip him to shreds; they can refine a point or reduce it to idiocy.  Like a gun, a bad question in the wrong hands can do as much damage as a good man shooting at the wrong target. The challenge in forming a powerful question is to listen, research, and strategize.

One of the biggest reasons that many people struggle with asking powerful questions is that they hear too much and don’tlisten at all. This may seem obvious, but if you don’t know what a speaker istalking about, you won’t be able to ask any intelligent questions. The thought process does not begin when a speaker asks for questions, but rather as soon as the speaker begins his presentation. To ask good questions, it is essential that you focus on the speaker’s train of thought, understand his logic, and take good notes.

Even though the thought process of a question begins when the speaker starts, the foundations of a good question originate much earlier. A speaker may give you an overview of his subject matter, but many times his weakness lies not in what he says, but rather in his unstated assumptions. The only way to catch this is to research the subject ahead of time and know the points of controversy. Many times a simple internet search can provide talking points.  If the speaker tries to falsely define where the battle-lines are, remind him where the hottest fighting is.

Strategizing is the third element, and arguably the most important. When we start asking speakers powerful questions, we must remember to identify both our target and our objective. At the end of the day, we’re going to hear speakers that we agree with and disagree with and we’re going to face arguments that bless the Lord and curse Him. Targeting our questions to the situation is essential, and to do that, we must consider two types of questions.

On the one hand are questions that would build a speaker up. Asking for clarification, requesting a practical application, or even submitting a common objection, are ways to accomplish this. These types of questions allow a speaker to expand on his argument and give him opportunity to shore up weak areas. On the other hand, questions may tear down and discredit an ungodly argument. These include drawing attention to contradictions, requesting sources, pointing out a conflict with other authorities, or raising logical objections.  If we are not discerning in the questions we pose, we may end up giving ungodly arguments a free pass, while our own men are shot down in friendly fire.

Finally, we must consider the reason that we ask questions at all.  If our motives lie in lifting ourselves up in pride or instigating fruitless controversy and debate, we are no better than those we fight.  It is essential that we stand firmly in our mission to glorify Christ through our acts and honor Him through our lives. In Christ lies our strength, and through Him we will tear down strongholds.

The Bible states in I Samuel 15:23,“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” God is clear throughout His Word that rebellion against constituted authority, which He has set up, is a great evil.

Some today believe the American Founders rebelled against Great Britain when they fought the War of Independence. Modern readers of the 1776 Declaration have been taught to see the document as lawless and revolutionary (in today’s sense of the word).  The American Revolution has been compared to the French Revolution several years later, or to other rebellions, which actually would be better contrasted against the experience of the American colonists. If it is true that the American Founders were godly and wise men who upheld the Truth of Scripture, why would they carry out a rebellion against their king merely because of high taxes?  In fact, they did nothing of the sort. 

The War of Independence was fought to defend a country which had been free for over 150 years prior. The citizens of the American continent had been respected as Englishmen, but under their own legislatures rather than Parliament. With the accession of King George III there was a shift in the attitude toward the colonists. They began to be viewed as subjects of an empire, rather than people with equal rights as their colonial charters (or constitutions) demanded. 

The colonists began to protest. They even held events such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, to keep unlawful acts from being enforced. Yet, very few people wereever harmed, and there were never any mobs in the streets or storming of castles, as in the French Revolution. The colonists sought every possible way to attain reconciliation with the king. However, on April 19, 1775, British soldiers invaded the inland of Massachusetts in the battles of Lexington and Concord. The British government had declared war on its own citizens. Still, the Continental Congress implored the king to cease this tyrannical treatment, sending him the conciliatory Olive Branch Petition. Instead of responding, the king declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. 

Finally, in December of 1775, the British government approved the Prohibitory Act, banning all trade with America and declaring the colonies out of the king’s protection. 

***  To be continued…

The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes

By R. Josiah Magnuson

Q. Why is law from the Creator necessary?

A. Law from the Creator gives an absolute moral standard to secure freedom. Without such a standard, governments have no purpose but to achieve dictatorship status over their people.

Q. Does the First Amendment allow government to acknowledge the Creator?

A. Yes. In fact, the United States Congress has opened each of their sessions with public prayer since 1777. The early constitutions of the states also each spoke of dependence on God. The First Amendment only prohibits Congress from enacting legislation regarding "an establishment of religion," meaning Congress has no jurisdiction over what particular doctrines or traditions the country as a whole must support. Incidentally, the First Amendment also prohibits laws infringing on the free exercise of religion, which thus allows the acknowledgement of God by public officials.

Q. Were the Founding Fathers really Deists or atheists?

A. No! Almost all the Founding Fathers claimed unabashedly to be Christians. In fact, many declared that liberty could not exist without the acknowledgement of the Creatorship of God. However, it is true that several may have held less than orthodox beliefs regarding the inspiration of the Bible, miracles, and other divine acts.

Next Post: The Role of Government

Frequently Asked Questions on the Nature of American Republicanism

By R. Josiah Magnuson, YCLA President

The following post is the first in a series.  Note that the phrase "constitutional republican" does not denote a political party affliation, but rather a set of principles which we believe agree with those expressed by the Founders of the United States.  The ideas expressed in these posts have become the opinion of the author after much historical and philosophical research.

Democracy and Republican Forms of Government

Q. What is a republic?

A. A republic consists of two defining elements: the fact that the government is limited by law, existing only to protect the rights of its citizens, and the fact that the government is elected and accountable so that it will abide by that law.

Q. What is a democracy?                         

A. A democracy consists of the absolute rule of the majority of the people. A democracy is not based on the existence of individual rights.

Next Post: The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes.

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