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New Testament New Testament Christianity In Christianity In A Postmodern A Postmodern World World Making Jesus Viable Making Jesus Viable

New Testament Christianity In A Postmodern World Making Jesus Viable

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New Testament New Testament Christianity In A Christianity In A

Postmodern WorldPostmodern World

Making Jesus ViableMaking Jesus Viable

First A Little Look At The PastFirst A Little Look At The Past American American

Christian ReviewChristian Review – 1856 – Editors: – 1856 – Editors: Benjamin Benjamin Franklin, John F. Franklin, John F. Rowe, & Daniel Rowe, & Daniel Sommer: Sommer: Voices Of TruthVoices Of TruthAmong 19Among 19thth Century Century Christians Christians

Ten Years LaterTen Years Later

Isaac Errett Isaac Errett Begins A Paper Begins A Paper In Reaction To In Reaction To The The Conservative Conservative Sound Of The Sound Of The ACR And Calls It ACR And Calls It The Christian The Christian Standard - 1866Standard - 1866

On The Home FrontOn The Home Front

Georgia Had Been Georgia Had Been Hit By General Hit By General Sherman By 1865Sherman By 1865

The Civil War Took The Civil War Took It’s Toll On It’s Toll On BrethrenBrethren

Through The War Through The War The Church Was The Church Was Held Together In Held Together In Georgia By Some Georgia By Some Faithful Gospel Faithful Gospel PreachersPreachers

Preachers In GeorgiaPreachers In Georgia

Acworth/Marietta, GeorgiaAcworth/Marietta, Georgia

Nathan W. Smith Nathan W. Smith Strengthened Strengthened Churches All Through Churches All Through North GeorgiaNorth Georgia

However, The Winds However, The Winds Of Change With The Of Change With The Financial Stress Of The Financial Stress Of The Civil War Took Its TollCivil War Took Its Toll

Influence Of The ACMS Influence Of The ACMS & The Instrument & The Instrument Brought ApostasyBrought Apostasy

Why The Changes?Why The Changes?

Cultural InfluencesCultural Influences PragmatismPragmatism Growth Among EvangelicalsGrowth Among Evangelicals Desire Not To Be Seen As Desire Not To Be Seen As

DifferentDifferent

Some Of The ChangesSome Of The Changes

American Christian Missionary Society – American Christian Missionary Society – 18491849

The Addition Of The Instrument – 1860The Addition Of The Instrument – 1860 The Christian Standard – 1866The Christian Standard – 1866 Titles Appeared – “Pastor, Reverend” etc.Titles Appeared – “Pastor, Reverend” etc. By 1906 Census A National Recognition By 1906 Census A National Recognition

Of Difference Between Churches Of Christ Of Difference Between Churches Of Christ And Christian ChurchesAnd Christian Churches

Some In Georgia Some In Georgia Stayed The CourseStayed The Course

Pleasant Grove Church – 1850 – Lower Pleasant Grove Church – 1850 – Lower Roswell Rd @ Little Road. Roswell Rd @ Little Road.

Liberty Hill Church of Christ, Mableton.Liberty Hill Church of Christ, Mableton. Dasher & Central, Valdosta, GeorgiaDasher & Central, Valdosta, Georgia By 1906 The New Testament Church By 1906 The New Testament Church

Was Re-Established In Atlanta’s West Was Re-Established In Atlanta’s West End Where Many Of The Churches Of End Where Many Of The Churches Of Today Find Their RootsToday Find Their Roots

What Is Postmodern?What Is Postmodern?

““Its central "doctrines" all seem Its central "doctrines" all seem to spring from a denial that there to spring from a denial that there are any rules for anything. So the are any rules for anything. So the postmodernists say that "There postmodernists say that "There is no such thing as truth," is no such thing as truth," "Reality is merely a political "Reality is merely a political construction" and "morality is construction" and "morality is meaningless.” meaningless.” – John Ray – John Ray

Who Is The Postmodernist?Who Is The Postmodernist?"Postmodernists claim that there is no "Postmodernists claim that there is no objective truth, that there is only objective truth, that there is only interpretation, and that it all depends on who interpretation, and that it all depends on who is in power. According to the postmodernists, is in power. According to the postmodernists, we are so biased by our race, class, and we are so biased by our race, class, and gender that knowledge is impossible. The gender that knowledge is impossible. The postmodernists allow freedom of speech only postmodernists allow freedom of speech only for those who share their Leftist political views for those who share their Leftist political views on issues like feminism, affirmative action, and on issues like feminism, affirmative action, and free enterprise versus socialism. They hire and free enterprise versus socialism. They hire and fire on the basis of ideology rather than fire on the basis of ideology rather than scholarship, and they try to prevent speakers scholarship, and they try to prevent speakers of whose views they don't approve from of whose views they don't approve from appearing on campus.” appearing on campus.” – Joe Willingham – Joe Willingham

1st Century Christianity1st Century ChristianityWe Understand . . .We Understand . . .

Jesus said he would build His church. Matt. Jesus said he would build His church. Matt. 16:1816:18

That Church was established on 1st Pentecost That Church was established on 1st Pentecost after the D.B. & R. of Christ. Acts 2.after the D.B. & R. of Christ. Acts 2.

To be a part of that church we must emulate it To be a part of that church we must emulate it in every way through devotion to Biblical in every way through devotion to Biblical Authority.Authority. Follow its teaching on salvation.Follow its teaching on salvation. Follow its teaching on church organization.Follow its teaching on church organization. Follow its teaching on God-centered worship.Follow its teaching on God-centered worship. Follow its teaching on daily Christian living.Follow its teaching on daily Christian living.

1st Century Christianity In A 1st Century Christianity In A Postmodern World Avoids: Postmodern World Avoids:

Relativism – John 8:32; Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Relativism – John 8:32; Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Jesus is the same, yesterday today and foreverJesus is the same, yesterday today and forever We will speak where the Bible speaks and remain We will speak where the Bible speaks and remain

silent where the Bible is silent.silent where the Bible is silent. See the subtle movement in the church to move See the subtle movement in the church to move

away from this mentalityaway from this mentality With relativism there is no sin — But Jesus — Luke With relativism there is no sin — But Jesus — Luke

19:1019:10 Materialism – Matt. 6: 25-31Materialism – Matt. 6: 25-31 Individualism – Matt. 16:26; - God’s way is Individualism – Matt. 16:26; - God’s way is

right, not man’s.right, not man’s. Denominationalism – 1 Cor. 1 – Be one, Speak Denominationalism – 1 Cor. 1 – Be one, Speak

the same things, etc.the same things, etc.

How A Teacher Brings This About How A Teacher Brings This About Understand Your Value In This Process.Understand Your Value In This Process.

You’ve got something to say.You’ve got something to say. You are not just a warm body filling a position.You are not just a warm body filling a position. You are not just preparing lessons.You are not just preparing lessons. You are a viable part in God’s plan to mold You are a viable part in God’s plan to mold

minds into being what they should become.minds into being what they should become. Expose The Reality Of The Postmodern Expose The Reality Of The Postmodern

Culture For What It Is To Your StudentsCulture For What It Is To Your Students Give Students A Viable Alternative – Christ!Give Students A Viable Alternative – Christ! Find Tools That Help Keep Them On TrackFind Tools That Help Keep Them On Track Personalize Your Work Through AvailabilityPersonalize Your Work Through Availability