Chapter 2

​

Relying on human means
Jer 2:13
- just like abandoning a spring of living, running water for broken cisterns made by men. 
- Natural springs were the most reliable and refreshing sources of water in Israel. the most unreliable were cisterns, large pits dig into rock and covered with plaster to gather rainwater. Salty water, if no rain no water, can crack. 
- cisterns were how israelites satisfy their need apart from God, instead of super natural provision, they trust in their own ingenuity and resources.
- This is the essence of modernism: first reliance upon human reason; modernity provides the means through tech. 

- often we depend on the tangibles, our own resource that we never learn to live dependent on god and experience the joy that comes from witnessing the manifest power and love of God. embrace the fullness of faith in Christ and His absolute lordship in every area of our life. 

- don’t confuse what is truth with what is useful or practical

​

Chapter 3: 

- Post modernism assumes that there is no overarching universal truth. modernism places too much confidence in human reason and the idea of rational certitude. christianity resides somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. rationalism n relativism both served to undermine the gospel. 

postmodernism exists in a fragile state because it conflicts with the yearning of a human heart. we are born with a god given desire to know our purpose n meaning of this present reality. it assumes that all religions are diff paths leading up the same mountain. this relativism encourages ppl to ignore life’s most impt questions. 

thus the postmodernist opportunity for the gospel lies with rs. partner with god to meet the deepest most fundamental needs and the illusion of relativism vanishes and the god given yearnings of the heart is revealed. they must exp the authenticity of our faith before he will receive it. 

​

Chapter 4: consumerism
- living in a manner that is measured by having rather than being 
- reduces ppl to mere objects of consumption. 
- christian theology teaches that it’s not possession of material goods or the desire for a better life that is sinful but the possessing or desire without regard for the appropriate hierarchy of where they belong. material should remain subservient to man n available to his service to kingdom and to his neighbor. it’s not just a rich ppl thing. 

- shifts the objective of cultivating virtue and character, knowing truth to being content to an artificially constructed idealized lifestyle that’s continually reinforced through media, entertainment and ads. a superficial culture filled with distractions that inhibit introspective thought n meaningful rs. 

‘as i know not whence i come, neither do i know whither i am bound; all i know is that when i quit this world, i shall fall forever either into nothingness or into the hands of an angry God, without knowing which of these two states is to be forever my lot... nothing is so unbearable to man as to be at standstill, without passion, business, amusement, occupation. ‘Tis then he feels his nothingness, his foolishness, his insufficiency, his dependence, his emptiness'

 

- the only good thing for such men is therefore to be so diverted by business, sport and amusement that they stop thinking about their circumstances; readily embrace the distractions of consumerism. It presents us with a pleasant illusion that conceals the cosmic truth of mans rebellion and subsequent alienation from God. 

​

- Christianity teaches very strong personal responsibility and the idea of doing our best in everything we do. However this does not exclude our responsibilities as husbands, wives, Nor does this prelude our responsibilities as prophets, priests and kings in the world. Why do we always limit our efforts for excellence to the marketplace? The same energy and vigor in self sacrificing svc should apply to God and men too. 

​

- God is not part of the to do list that we need to chiong so that we can make time for God. the love of God is not just giving thanks for His gifts by maximizing productive ‘self actualization’ and love for neighbour is not just providing them with consumer goods

- Instead of being all that we can be, we simply need to be what God wants us to be. 

​

- recognize that consumerism is a tangible philosophy that pervades our culture. learn to filter through in our understanding and decisions. Abandon the lure of the world presented by the empty promises of the consumerist msg and unreservedly commit ourselves to the higher call of Christ. 

​

‘The christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried’

​

​

Chapter 5: Sexualised culture and it’s contribution to unbelief

​

- the phrase accepting christ as saviour can mean anything. a relativistic mind considers that there are many truths all of which for giving individual life’s meaning and helping him live in peace. 
when presented with the gospel, the may conclude that christ is a belief system that happens to work for them. it’s rooted in the individuals choice to belief not the reality that a person existing apart from God because of their rebellion lives in bondage. 

​

- ‘come to Jesus and be happy’ vs ‘call on the name of the lord and be saved’. do i believe in a therapeutic gospel.

​