View: Emotional baggage of postmodern generation

I was in a consultation that was discussing about the recent Delhi High Court judgment that decriminalizes 'unnatural' consensual sex. There were activists from Faith based organizations, liberal theologians, evangelical theologians, Bishops, Pastors, Christian professionals, Social Activists and others. The discussion was typically within postmodern paradigms.

Modern generation emphasized on 'reason' or 'thinking capacity' of human being. But, postmodern generation is obsessed with 'feeling' or emotional aspect of life. The whole advocacy movement for obtaining special rights for People of Different Sexual Orientation (they do not like to be termed as homosexuals or lesbians). And they have included transgenders into this category to become politically vocal and powerful. "There are something like 7.5 million gay men and 3.5 million lesbians in America."[1] And they are powerful vote bank and politicians like to get their votes to gain power.

Adam and Eve were the first human couple of humanity. God created them and placed them in the Garden of Eden. They had the freedom to eat all fruits except from one tree. But, the first couple made a choice to disobey God's commandment. They rebelled against God's commandment, chose to be independent of God and thus disobedient to Him.

The First Sin was very costly for humanity and it had holistic impact on human beings. They were not only affected spiritually, they were affected emotionally, mentally, socially, economically, physically…etc. That means the impact of sin was 'holistic' embracing all aspects of human life.

The emotional impact on the first couple was enormous. At least, these negative emotions overwhelmed them: Guilt, Shame, Fear and Rejection. The consequences of disobedience and rebellion were obvious. Even today, human beings suffer and struggle with these emotions. The root is disobedience; the fruits are: guilt, shame, fear and rejection. But, in the whole history of humanity, people tried to handle the negative emotions (fruit) without dealing with the disobedience and rebellion (root). And every generation failed, but generation after generation people do not like to deal the real issue. A good case study is regarding the homosexuals.

Handling negative emotions

Guilt - Adam and Eve were guilty of violating God's commandment. How can this emotion be dealt? There are two ways: positive or negative. The positive way is to acknowledge they were guilty of rebellion and seek forgiveness. The negative way is to justify the action or blame somebody or something or some situations. Adam and Eve chose the negative response. Adam blamed his wife, Eve blamed the Serpent. In fact, Adam was blaming God Himself for providing an incompetent wife.

This game of life is played over and over again in the lives of individuals daily through out history. Human beings are not willing to acknowledge that they are sinners. The Postmodern generation likes to justify homosexuality as 'natural' and rebels and questions, "Who defines 'natural' and 'unnatural'?" Each person desires right to define his/her experience as 'natural', best and valid. Instead of looking up to God's standards, human beings want to create their own standards or bench mark.

Another ploy of Postmodern to deny that there is guilt. For them experience is always valid way of arriving at truth. They forget the proverbial blind men who tried to experience elephant and failed. A homosexual experiences pleasure in that experience, and that becomes the yardstick for evaluating. So, it is not wrong or sin but relevant and good. In the similar way, a man feels he gets more pleasure with other women than his wife, his experience is valid and there is no sin or stigma in this. As Adam and Eve perceived that eating the fruit would mean 'good' for them; but their perception and decision was a delusion that led to human misery.

Repentance, which includes being sorrowful for sinfulness and sinful behavior and resolving to turn from it, is not in the vocabulary of post moderns. But, the bible demands repentance.

Shame - Adam and Eve were ashamed when they committed sin. They could not tolerate one another. Shame is an emotion that emerged from sin and rebellion against God. This emotion drives people in many cultures crazy. 'Honour and shame' culture has been merciless in 'honour killing'. To retain the imagined or perceived honour of a community, individual deviants are murdered or lynched. Value judgment of every act is determined by the perception in the eyes of public, what it brings – honour or shame for a particular community. .

Adam and Ever tried to solve this problem by covering themselves with leaves. They lost the divine glory or halo provided by God and had to opt for leaves as hiding material. The emotion of shame had kept people from becoming more wicked or weird. One of the strategies is to brazen out, if the public opinion is not favourable. At the same time, when there is some vocal support for such acts, they turn the shame in glory. The things that should happen in bed room, is done in public view. Female and male stripping is matter of pride and not shame for postmodern generation. So, Postmodern homosexuals and lesbians need not be ashamed but should be proud of it, celebrate it. And media is happy to declare them as celebrity. It is no wonder they organize 'Pride March' in various cities around the world.

Fear - Adam and Eve were afraid when they realized, they have rebelled against God. They went into hiding. They were not able to be in the presence of Holy God. The fear was reverential fear of God, and also fears of facing the consequences of sin. God had to summon them into His presence. The fear could be dispelled only with the knowledge and experience of God's mercy and grace. They had to trust God that was based on God's love and mercy.

But, postmodern would prefer to remove the 'source' of fear. Or redefine those sources. God is the 'source' of fear for Adam and Eve. Now God would be redefined for postmodern as one who loves and never judges. They magnify his attribute of love and banish his attribute of justice. As he is loving god there is no need to fear him. Postmodern deny the moral laws or redefine and reinterpret the moral laws. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." (Psalm 2:3) Another 'source' of fear is law of the land. These laws should be repealed. The other source of fear is people or traditional society. They should be intimidated to silence, by imposing 'hate crimes law'.

Rejection - Adam and Eve were banished out of the Garden of Eden. The sense of being rejected by God and exiled from Eden overwhelmed them. It was painful for the couple to move out of familiar surroundings into unknown place. But, they had no other option and had to go.

But, postmodern homosexuals and lesbians seek acceptance by law, government, and society as fight against rejection. They are unable to adjust to this rejection: morally, socially, physically, spiritually and mentally. Very diplomatically term this rejection as 'discrimination'. They want to come into the society in their own terms. So, they make this as political issue by making alliance with transgenders (and other sexual minorities) and fighting for equal rights. Collective bargaining tactics is used to achieve this. Politicians who are power hungry are willing to give concessions and develop a loyal 'vote-bank',

Challenge

As the society becomes more and more individualistic, individuals are unable to see beyond themselves. Worshiping themselves as god seems to be the new lifestyle. The body is not the 'temple of Holy Spirit' as Christians believe; but is both temple as well as deity for self serving postmodern. Instead of dealing with the core issue of sin and rebellion; postmodern tries to handle the just the fruit or consequence, i.e. Problem of emotions- disconnected from the central issue. Hence, it is not possible to find solution, but only complicate the existing problem. As Lord Jesus Christ taught, it is essential to acknowledge the sin, feel sorrow for sin, repent from the sin, forsake it and take refuge in God's Presence, Provision and Protection.