What is the Truth

Jesus Christ states: “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. (John 18:37b-38) John Macarthur describes today’s society as a “post-truth world”, where “lies have now reached epic proportions to the point that you can’t believe anybody who says anything...because truth doesn’t matter anymore.” In this “post-truth world”, the very idea of an objective truth-that which is absolutely correct, factual, and true despite antithetical opinions-is no longer. In contrast to this is today’s subjective truth, where we have our own personal truths and these personal opinions cannot be argued against even if (and when) they contradict. So why argue? “Live and let live” should be our motto, then. However, this is not the case. The fact of the matter is that these “personal truths” can, in fact be argued against. Those who do not adhere to the popular opinion of the day (read: Christians) are labeled “intolerant” at best, and at worst punished. If truth were subjective, then we as a nation would not have discussions about who is correct. People would not speak harshly and oftentimes out of hatred for those whom they disagree with. Laws would not be passed to silence dissenters by government officials. Liars being empowered by a sense of group identity would not want opposing viewpoints silenced. This is not a war against political parties or of differing opinions, but a spiritual war. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) The fact of the matter is there is objective truth. Romans chapter 1:18-21 speaks about this saying, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made so that they are without excuse.” God’s wrath is shown to unrighteous sinners. All humans have received natural revelation from God. His eternal power is shown in creation. Psalm 19:1 states: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” We see his power in how vast the universe is and the intricacies we see underneath the microscope. God shows his kindness “by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17) We have been fortunate to receive God’s written revelation, The Bible, in this country. Yet the Scriptures are denied as false along with The Gospel of Jesus Christ. “For the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. The nation has suppressed the truth in unrighteousness “loving darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) We did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him (vs 21) as this country once did. The contrast is seen in today’s “practical atheism”, where everything is done by our own human intellects, wills, and abilities and all good that happens is caused by us. Someone may mention in passing that God has “blessed them with health or wealth”, but in reality they are thinking pridefully that have done it by themselves, without God. They will mention medical science’s improving abilities that have helped cure numerous illnesses and how they have taken care of their bodies, yet forget to give thanks to the giver of life and ascribe glory to He who is worthy of praise. We may receive our paycheck and may audibly mention in passing God’s good provision in providing us clothing, food, and shelter but actually think: “I’m such a hard worker. Look how I am able to provide for myself and my family”, whilst forgetting it is the Lord who “satisfies our hearts with food and gladness”. Compare this practical atheism with those who at the conception of our country acknowledged God as the source of every good thing. George Washington said in the Thanksgiving Proclamation of October 3, 1789: “Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th of November next to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that that is or that will be that we may all then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks for his kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation- for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence which we have experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war- for the degree of tranquility, union and plenty which we have since enjoyed- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of governments for our safety and happiness, and particularly to the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.” Romans 1:21-23 says “For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise they became fools and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Our culture is the culprit of this, failing to give thanks to the one true God. We fail to honor Him and give Him glory as we are required and designed to do. When one knows God and rejects him, they become “futile in their thinking.” Yet if the Lord so grants it that a rational thought would be able to proceed out of the clouded mind of a person who has rejected God, (which from time to time will happen) the logical conclusion would be is that there is an absolute truth- whose source is God. Yet this practical atheism denies God, “exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Humans, in short, worship themselves while having a concept of the existence of God, but fail to worship him (Practical Atheism), giving lip service to the idea that two opinions are both valid and although they contradict each other are true. This goes against the Law of non-contradiction which states that contradictory propositions cannot both be true at the same time. Claiming to be wise they became fools. In Romans Chapter 1 verse 24, we see the effects of this rejection of God when it says, “Therefore God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator whom is blessed forever! Amen.” God gives people up to the destructive sin of sexual impurity. This culture has rejected God, worships self, and repudiates God’s written truth, showing disdain for the gift designated for married couples that he has given us. We have not only sinned against God but reduce his gift to a mere biological function, acting as brute animals and selfishly using one another for one’s own pleasure saying, “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”, a maxim used by the Corinthians when they claimed that both eating and sex were biological function and the latter was not a spiritual one. They didn't know that they become one flesh with the person they have just used with no regard for that other person. They have in essence become one soul. “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:17-18). When truth is rejected, we worship and serve the creation, rejecting the Creator and His Truth, making God in our image, and fashion idols that have the same sinful inclinations that we have. As John Calvin has wisely stated, “Man’s nature so to speak is a perpetual factory of idols.” That which we are told to flee the natural man runs to. “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). Romans 1: 26-27 state, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women, and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worships the creature God continues to take his hand off of them allowing people to continue to sink further and further in sin. Notice that when God gives someone over to homosexuality, they exchange that which is natural for that which is unnatural. You would think that in our “enlightened age”, with scientists who push an atheistic worldview to the masses and our children, and claim only the natural order of things exist without the need for a supernatural being would be the first to denounce homosexuality. You would also think the vast majority of people in our culture who have been indoctrinated into this worldview would also see past the hypocrisy that homosexuality is morally correct in light of their atheistic worldview. For if this were the case, that we have come into this world by nothing and have evolved and thrived by processes of natural selection and that our main goal as a species is to reproduce and ensure our species continued existence then the only conclusion would be that those who practice homosexuality have a genetic defect. For how can they reproduce and ensure the survival of the species? They can’t. Such is the folly of sin, that even in the light of the prevalent atheistic worldview the idea that homosexuality is morally correct flourishes despite of this clear contradiction between the majorities’ worldview and their morality. This is because when you reject absolute truth, it must be replaced with lies. When you deny truth, you deny logical and critical thought processes and dichotomies will inevitably and consistently take place in a person’s worldview and beliefs. Romans 1:28-32 states, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what not ought to be done. And they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, heartless, faithless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” They again reject God and God gave them up to a debased mind. The Greek word for debased from which the New Testament was translated means, “not passing the test.” It was often used to describe useless, worthless metals that are fit to be discarded. A mind that rejects God and rejects truth is a mind that is useless. What use is a mind that rejects truth and embraces lies? “Though They know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” People naturally embrace lies, do them, and approve and encourage others that practice them. Our culture glories in what they call a lifestyle but what they truly glory in, as my friend says, is a “death style.” Sexual impurity, homosexuality and the long list of sins noted in this passage of scripture is what our culture sets their minds, dispositions, emotions, and souls on and that produces death. It is the suicide of a nation, the taste and beginning of spiritual death which when followed to its terminus leads to the eternal death of souls in hell. “For to set the mind on the flesh is death. (Romans 8:6). Let us remember, Christians, that you also once rejected Jesus Christ, rejected truth and embraced lies. For outside of the Holy Spirit causing in you a spiritual rebirth and giving you faith and salvation, you would not have searched for God. “For no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:11) We “all once lived in the passions of the flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:3). It is because of the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, for we are no better than anyone else since we all at one time were like the rest of the world. It is only by God’s grace that we have been changed, and yet we still fall so short. Let us be motivated by this great and glorious Gospel to preach it to a world lost in sin. Let us not merely give lip service to the Gospel and the Word that it is truth and able to save but truly believe it, preach it, and live by it. Hebrews 4:12 says “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Let us study it and if we do not, we should be ashamed. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker that has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Let us remember the Scripture is God breathed and profitable for reproof, correction and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) Let it be our first line of defense when standing against the lies of this world. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4). We are not here to make this world a better place to go to Hell from, or to bring about social and political reform. We are here to fulfill the Great commission to go and preach the Gospel and disciple people, that those whom God has chosen will receive the miracle of salvation and that those who God has effectually called will be saved and grow in the knowledge of the Son of God and holiness.