Postkiwi

Reading through Don Carson’s critique of the Emerging Church movement, I came across his concern about Brian McLaren’s interpretation of the prefix, “post”. McLaren interprets the prefix as meaning ‘flowing on from or coming after’, implying continuity as well as discontinuity. Carson says he doesn’t get it. “Post”, according to his dictionary, means ‘after in time, later, following’ as in postgraduate or postglacial, or after in space, behind, as in postaxial.

I believe McLaren’s interpretation is in tune with the dictionary definition. He’s taking a non-linear approach, allowing for the concept of emergence alongside abrupt switch of states. Moving beyond or past a phase or state does not necessarily mean being ‘anti’ that phase or state.

My argument is that ‘post’ can be used to describe ‘this and more’. For example I don’t fit inside the agreed perameters of ‘charismatic’ culture. Even though I value and have integrated spiritual gifts (a broad range) in my life, I wouldn’t easily fit in a charismatic church. It’s partly because of my engagement in critical engagement of Biblical texts and refusal to buy into the constant expectation of high power in worship. I now explore and express faith through a ‘post charismatic’ lense. I no longer fit inside the charismatic box, but I still value and retain much of the substance of what is in the box. The old categories and containers of meaning are no longer adequate. I am charismatic and much more.

At a conference a couple of years ago I explored the concept of ‘post’, giving participants the opportunity to add their subtleties to dictionary definitions. Here’s some of the definitions (Post A to Post E). Apologies for the exhaustive nature of the list!

Post Apocalyptic Science Fiction
Set in a world devastated by nuclear war or some other general disaster.
The time frame may be immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the travails or psychology of survivors, or considerably later, often including the theme that the existence of pre-catastrophe civilization has been forgotten or mythologized.
Mad Max, Matrix, Animatrix, Waterworld.
“Too close for comfort”. “Discovering that I still am…” “I am, Thou art”.

Post Bellum
of or during the period after a war, esp. the American Civil War
[ETYMOLOGY: 19th Century: Latin post after + bellum war]
“When families have to start talking and loving again”.
“The noise bellringers make when they realise they have rung the wrong bell”.

Post Charismatic
Used to describe the experience of people who have ‘moved on’ from the charismatic movement. Also to describe subsequent ‘waves of the Holy Spirit’ as in the Vineyard movement.
Enthusiasm tamed by reality.

Post Christendom
“Evangelism in a post-Christendom context is faced with the task not just of persuading people that Christianity is true but of even gaining a hearing for something widely regarded as passé.” Alan Roxburgh.

The physical kingdom is dead. Long live the King!
Recognising that there are other paradigms that we can hear and learn as well as teach. Christianity that serves that subverts rather than dominate.
The end of what is only the beginning.
The end of assumed power over this throng! Truth – the beginning of wisdom.

Post Classical
Of, relating to, or being a time following a classical period, as in art or literature.
“At the end of a controlled or highly structured era and at the birth of a dynamic pre-trend era.”
“We no longer know the rules”
“At the end of highly patterned, ritualized, perfected structured way of being.

Post-coital
happening or existing after sexual intercourse
“What’s your name?” “Now that is what I call a personal question… why do you want to know?”

Post Colonial
Of, relating to, or being the time following the establishment of independence in a colony
(as in postcolonial economics)
I actually like “The way we were” – Barbara Streisand

Post Diem
after the appointed day
Missed it by that much

Post Diluvial
existing or occurring after the Flood
Post diluvian - a person or thing living after the Flood
Can you have a ‘living thing’?

Post Doctoral
of, relating to, or engaged in academic study beyond the level of a doctoral degree
“You wish, Duncan!”

Post Echo
A position of an echo send control after the main channel fader.
On layers played back before loud passages a magnetic tape gives a pre-echo, whereas on playback following the loud passage it gives a post-echo.
Silence

Post Embryonic
following the embryonic stage of development
Let’s break out! From gooeyness to gorgeous!

Post Entry
Prison

Post Evangelical
Movement initiated by book of same name by Dave Tomlinson.
A name for people who didn’t fit. In through the out door

Post Exilic
Of or relating to the period of Jewish history following the Babylonian captivity (after 586 b.c.)
Return from the dog house. When you are finally allowed back after upsetting the Ladies Fellowship

Post Existence
Do we believe in pre-existence? Getting closer every day!