Perceptions

Over the past week I've done some friendly verbal jousting on three occasion (in Christian chat) with a couple of people whose opinions on life, God, sin, righteousness and judgment are filtered through a postmodern worldview. I realize that the term, "postmodern worldview" is a bit of a generalization, but it is the only way I know to describe where they are coming from, because they both share a view that everything boils down to one's "perceptions."

It is very difficult to have a discussion with people who say things like, "I'm glad you found something that works for you," or "Your right is right for you and my right is right for me." It seems like one gets trumped by statements like that at every comment that one makes. I would be a liar if I said I didn't get a little frustrated with their reasoning at different points, because for them there is just no right, no wrong, no absolutes. In fact, I could not get them to say that anything was wrong, that is, until I made it personal.

I am not a skilled debater, but that's okay, I really wasn't trying to debate. I was trying to reach their consciences. I have written before, (even though I can't know another's heart) that some of the hearts most hardened toward Christ are those folks who seem to be so detached from emotion when you speak to them about sin. These two are like air. Nothing. Hardly any response whatsoever. Sins are just another perception that people have about certain aspects of life.

I tried to go thought some of the sins of mankind with them, but all I got from them was that it depended on what context the sins were committed in. Might not be sins at all. I finally asked the lady if she thought that mass murder is wrong. Her answer left me flat. She said, "If the mass murderer perceives that what he is doing is for the public good, then who is to say that what he is doing isn't right?"

I immediately asked her how she would feel if that mass murderer killed one of her family members or other loved ones. How would she feel about the mass-murderers perceptions then? Oh of course in that case it would be wrong.

If you could see the look on my face. It's always different when it's happening to me! Because it affects me! That's different!

Normally I would have written both of these two off early on as the type of folks who come into a Christian chat server to stir up trouble, but after talking with them on more than one occasion, I came to know that their beliefs were apparently sincerely held. The man was making a variety of statements about his beliefs and I managed to get him to admit that he is a mystic, more or less. The lady is a "former Christian," whom I can get to admit to very little. Perceptions again.

It is really hard for me to talk with these two without sounding snarky, but the Lord has kept my attitude in check because He has given me a heart for the lost, and of course, that has made the discussions more profitable. Nobody likes a wise guy. (laughing here) These types of discussions for me are the most challenging. In their minds, the Bible has no weight, and the Ten Commandments are not valid for them. They aren't even the ten suggestions. What carries weight for them is their own perceptions.

If you have the chance to dialogue with folks like these, don't let that stop you from reasoning with them from the Law. God's Law makes it personal, and points them to what sin is, who has sinned and why they need a Savior. Using someone else's sin and showing these two people how it affects them is the only thing so far that has cracked their shell, and we are just that much closer to coming to a consensus that there is right and wrong. At least, that's my perception.

All joking aside, if you have the opportunity, pray for me, and pray for them as I fully expect to chat with them again.