Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 62:1 (Mar 2019)
Article: Postmodernism’s Deconstruction Of The Creation Mandates
Author: Brian Neil Peterson

JETS 62:1 (March 2019) p. 125

Postmodernism’s Deconstruction Of The Creation Mandates

Brian Neil Peterson*

* Brian Neil Peterson is associate professor of OT and Hebrew at Lee University, 1120 North Ocoee Street, Cleveland, TN 37320. He may be reached at bpeterson@leeuniversity.edu.

Abstract: Western society continues to feel the effects of the philosophical tenets of postmodernism and its attack on basic morality and sexual ethics. Evangelicals have not been left unscathed. In light of these concerns, this paper examines postmodernism’s rapid onslaught and deconstruction of the basic Genesis mandates related to sexual ethics and the order of the species as sanctioned by God in the opening two chapters of Genesis. I will conclude that due to these strong influences by postmodernist values, Western society has seen the devolution and deconstruction of five basic mandates—in a somewhat reversed order—as decreed by God. These mandates include: the distinction of the species (1:24–26), the institution of gender (1:27), marriage (2:18–24a), procreation (1:28; 2:24b), and the centrality of the family (2:24; 4:1). The result has been not only the fracturing of society and the secularization of the church in the West, but the eroding of these God-given mandates even within evangelical churches.

Key words: Genesis 1–2, sexual ethics, postmodernism, marriage, procreation, homosexuality, deconstruction

I. Introduction

Author and social critic G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) once noted, “Don’t ever take down a fence until you know the reason it was put up.” In the past half century or more, and with ever increasing speed, Western society has been tearing down fences related to sexual ethics and morality in general that had remained firmly fixed for millennia. More importantly, though, these fences, at least the ones I will address in this paper, are not mere social constructs erected by well-intentioned societies. On the contrary, the fences that Western postmodern and “enlightened” society is tearing down were put in place by none other than the Creator himself. These fences, what I have labelled the Genesis mandates, were put into place by God in order to allow for human flourishing and for the growth and wellbeing of society in general. The warping and/or rejection of these mandates is sure to create chaos in any society in which individuals place self above th...