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Oxford Dictionaries has selected "post-truth" as 2016's international word of the year.
The Washington Post immediately published an article following the announcement by Oxford, saying, "It's official: Truth is dead. Facts are passe."
They "prove" their point by reviewing the 2016 presidential election.
First, we're told "God is dead," now we're told, "Truth is dead."
And a group of satirical "Progressive Left evangelical Christian theologians" are leading Christians into the "post-truth" era to make their point.
Welcome to the new age of "no reality"--"no truth." No problem?
The Washington Post says, "The dictionary defines "post-truth" as "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are far less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief."
"In this case," the Post says, "the 'post-' prefix doesn't mean 'after' so much as it implies an atmosphere in which a notion is irrelevant..."
The Babylon Bee is a Christian satire website. Note the word "satire." They recently "reported" on a meeting in Portland, Oregon with this headline: "Progressive Evangelical Leaders Meet to Affirm Doctrine of Sola Feels."
Adherents to this made up creed say the new doctrine of "Sola Feels" translates to "By feelings alone."
They put out a press release that says:
“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in our feels, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from our feels: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by the Scriptures, church history, or theologians.”
They explain that "Quite simply, 'Sola Feels' means that all spiritual truths only become true once they're filtered through and accepted by our feelings---or 'all that feels'---thus, the things that make us feel bad, those are wrong. The things that make us feel happy are good and true and perfect."
This, of course, is satire, but it's frightening how closely it mirrors Progressivism in America---including the religious Left in the church.
John Stonestreet, president of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, also noted the article in the Babylon Bee.
He wrote, "Now, of course, the scary part about the satire is how closely it often mirrors reality."
Is our culture losing touch with reality? Clearly, the Webster people think so.
Post-truth?
Stonestreet says, "I can hardly think of a better description of where we are right now as a culture. In fact, for those of us who've spent years calling out what Pope Benedict called 'the dictatorship of relativism' it's tempting to say 'welcome to the party guys."
He says "But the concept of 'post-truth' is a bit different from garden variety relativism. It doesn't discount the existence of truth. Rather, the post-truth society is one in which truth takes a backseat to emotion---where feelings effectively replace facts.
That's exactly what we have seen in the march to redefine marriage, call abortion "women's health services"---and in our recent presidential election.
Stonestreet says, "For example, the meltdown among what many are calling 'snow flakes' on college campuses over President-elect Trump is the most obvious example. Despite exit polls showing that a huge percentage of eligible millennial voters stayed home on Election Day, many of these students just can't handle the outcome. Their schools are sending letters of condolences, canceling exams, even offering hot chocolate and hugs from administrators. Faced with a reality that contradicts what they feel should have happened, many just can't cope."
The sky is falling.
This new "post-truth" culture also leads people to equate disagreement with hatred. If you don't agree with me you hate me. Or---if you fail to affirm my lifestyle, you hate me, are bigoted and intolerant.
When feelings are equated with a person's identity---LGBTQ---and even "reality," contradicting those feelings is the same as attacking that person, which is equated to a "hate crime."
This "post-truth" culture is nowhere more vivid than on social media. And it's the "post-truth" myth that has created the phenomenon we are now calling "fake news."
Even biblical Christians often fall for completely fabricated headlines and hoaxes---and it's usually because they validate our feelings.
The Bible says much about the Truth. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the Truth and the Life.
"My Truth," He told his followers, "Will set you free."
Truth must govern our emotions, not the other way around.
Stonestreet notes, "The doctrine of 'sola feels' is supposed to be a joke. So let's make sure it stays that way."
Be faithful to God's Word.
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Free.