Waynesboro Church Of Christ

Welcomes You!

Here are some articles and sermon outlines you may find interesting. Click on any title for the full text.

3

PROVIDENCE FOR A POSTMODERN WORLD

The world has shifted from the modern mindset to an acceptance of postmodernity. With this shift from a rationalistic based faith to a spiritually based faith, the desires that people have concerning Christianity have changed. From much of the literature concerning postmodernity, people are seeking a place in the divine story. Spiritual devotion, the mystery of God, and a relationship with divinity have become common desires in the changing religious world.

This change in worldviews is a response to the rationalism of the 1800’s. During the 1800’s, the modern view of life took full control over the religious thinkers of the day. Supreme confidence was attributed to the human mind, and scientific reasoning was the answer to all of man’s problems. Therefore, modernity pushed the unexplainable mysteries of God to the sidelines and replaced them with scientifically proven doctrine.

Unlike some advocates of postmodernity, a Christian should not throw out the core doctrines of modernity and replace them with the existential beliefs of postmodernity, but rather reemphasize the doctrines of Christianity that were lost during the modernistic age. One doctrine that was de-emphasized during the scientific revolution was providence. Providence is a doctrine that will bridge a postmodern generation with Christianity.

The doctrine of divine providence offers the postmodern world what they feel is missing from Christianity. Through providence a person is intertwined in the divine narrative of God. Also, providence offers the mystery of God that the postmodern person seeks. Providence offers an experience with God that transcends the reason of man and engages his spiritual sensors as he attempts to discern God’s work in his life.

The doctrine of providence

Now that providence has been established as a doctrine of importance to the postmodern world, what is providence and how does it operate on earth? The word providence is derived from a Latin prefix and root. The prefix “pro” indicates “before” or “in front of.” The basic root comes from the Latin “videre,” which means “to see.” When one places the Latin prefix and root together, we have a word that means “to see beforehand.” One may be tempted to conclude that providence simply means God’s foreknowledge of human affairs, but providence includes more than this partial definition. The point is not that God just looks “at” human affairs. The truth is that God looks “after” human affairs. He not only watches us, He watches over us. Providence is God’s behind-the-scenes involvement in the lives of His people. An illustration of this idea is seen when one mother says to another mother “Will you watch over my child?” This watching includes more than a visual connotation—it implies providing for the child’s welfare. The apostle Paul recognized God’s mysterious involvement in human affairs when he said, “For perhaps he was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord” (Philemon 15-17 NASB). Paul was talking about how the slave Onesimus ran away from Philemon, but he met Paul in prison and was converted to Christianity. Paul speculates that maybe this event occurred through divine providence.

The doctrine of confluence

The doctrine of providence can become confusing because of the interconnectedness of God’s will and man’s will. Through providence God never asserts His will over man’s will. Both God’s and man’s will’s work together to create a providential moment. To understand this idea, one must study the doctrine of confluence. The term confluence refers to the “flowing together” of two or more currents. To grasp the idea of confluence, picture two steams flowing together to create a river. Only when God and man are on the same wavelength can providence be created. 1 Corinthians 10:13 helps us understand this idea. The text says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” The text indicates that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to handle at the present time, but will provide a way of escape. God does not miraculously open a door of deliverance from the temptation but through providence provides an escape route for those who are willing to exit from the sin. Therefore, God does Him part and man must do his share in escaping from the sin. When both are on the same page, providence can be created.

The doctrine of disciplines

Since providence is a partnership with God, how can we be receptive to God’s providential undercurrents? The spiritual disciplines of seeking, supplication, and submission will help us flow with the will of God.

Seeking. The Bible says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33). The Holy Spirit is informing us that we do not have to be anxious for our food, shelter, and clothing because God will providentially provide for us. Our role is to “seek the kingdom of God first.”

Supplication. Another way we can participate with God is through prayer. Luke 11:9-10 says “And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.” God is very willing to care for His children, but we must ask for His assistance.

Submission. For providence to work, a Christian must be living according to God’s laws. He must be submissive to the Lord’s Word. James tells us to “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When we are submissive to the Lord, we become partners in the work of providence.

Through the spiritual disciplines and the doctrine of providence, the postmodern generation can be inspired to embrace Christianity once again. The doctrine of providence provides the necessary spirituality that this present generation is saying that Christianity is lacking. Providence offers the postmodern world the mysterious nature of God as well as partnership within the divine narrative. A refocusing on providence will help us reach out to the changing world around us.