What is truth?

“What is truth?”
Pilate’s rhetorical question, now 2000 years removed, still has the same stinging volume as when he asked it of Jesus. Perhaps a better question today might be, “IS THERE truth?” Most of us would provide a resounding, “YES!”, but with what proof, with what explanation? What determines if something is true or not? How can we claim to have truth in these days of absolute uncertainty, when it seems better to just be sincere than right? What if someone is sincerely wrong? Why do we ask so many questions?!

Is it true if it works?
When we seek to explain to children that a math equation or science theory is true, our subconscious definition may be as simple and sorry as, “It works”. Is that the way truth can be defined? It is true as long as it works? What about when it doesn’t work? What if “it works” is really just a proof, or validation, of what is true? The answer to a math equation works because it is the right answer, not the other way around. We can’t base our lifestyles and values on the shaky ground that something seems to work. One has suggested that the Christian life is the best life because it works the best. I would disagree! The Christian life WORKS because it is based on the truth of God’s Word and the person of Jesus Christ. And even so, the Christian life doesn’t always work according to the pattern or expectation of this world, because we are living for eternity, not this present life. The foundation we base our lives on should be greater than “it works”.

Right or WRONG?
Instead of worrying about what is true, what about thinking for a moment if anything is wrong? Is it wrong to kill, steal, rape, lie, or cheat? If we all agree that some things are wrong or false, or that life seems unjust or unfair or people seem to always be lying, doesn’t that presuppose that we long for or expect something that IS true? Doesn’t our conscience or consequence expose the reality that there is an underlying truth beneath all of our excuses and ignorance? Romans 2:2 says: “Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth”. With that being said, can we really say right and wrong are only based on culture?

Morals or truth?
What one believes as “true” will inevitably shape their ethics and will establish moral authority. All cultures have moral boundaries and structure that help define “right” and “wrong” in a strictly moral sense. Whether one culture sees abortion as “right” or another sees it as “wrong” isn’t so much a truth issue as a moral issue. But it is the foundation on which these morals rest that matters. No culture or conscience, even the most hardened and brutal, would disagree that murder is wrong. That is the truth, the foundation, and it does not change or compromise from North America to Asia. The disagreement is when some cultures define murder differently, or brazenly ignore the foundation and suffer the ill-received consequences (Romans 1:32, 2:8; Ephesians 4:18). If the light on your dashboard says, “Oil Low”, you have the choice to heed the warning: “I need to get some Pennzoil!” Or, you could question the truth of the warning: “I don’t think that light works correctly”. Or worse, you could ignore the light: “Oh well, I don’t think it will affect the engine at all”.
Psalms 11:3 puts it well: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" The foundation of our Christian faith is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11), who revealed that He was “the Truth” (John 14:6). His inspired Word to us allows us to build a belief system and moral boundaries based on that foundation of truth. Without a foundation, there is no “ground to stand on” or more literally, no moral authority with which to rest under. When the foundation is questioned, or removed, we find ourselves where we are today.

Moral relativism?
In these post-modern days there is a philosophy that says all of our morals and beliefs are equally true and relative to one another. There is no absolute truth, and truth changes, and just because it is true today doesn’t mean it will stay true. But the statement, “there are no absolutes” is itself an absolute statement!
It is impossible for there to be two opposing views that are absolutely true. Two opposing views can both be false, but not both true. If I say that Starbucks opens at 6am, and you say, “No, it is 5am”, can we both be right? If Starbucks opens at 4am then we are both truly wrong!
If everyone “might” have the right opinions or beliefs, and everyone’s belief could be true, what about when those opinions and beliefs and truths contradict one another?
Without giving you a scripture reference, I can tell you that walking up to a stranger and hitting them in the face is wrong. This is not a moral or cultural issue, it is simply true! But if it is “right” to me, and I struck a person who believes in moral relativism, could they argue with me? Isn’t it my right to be right?
You hear the word, “tolerance” being used a lot these days. The original idea of tolerance was that we will not persecute someone we disagree with, but we “tolerate” them even when there are major disagreements. But today, we have redefined “tolerance” to mean you should embrace and equalize any and every idea EXCEPT one that acts exclusive. In other words, as long as you agree with me, I’ll tolerate you, but once you disagree, YOU are intolerant. This whole attitude is laughable.
I will tolerate someone who smokes cigarettes, and still love them like a brother. But when they decide to light up at the gas station, in front of an open pump, out of love for them and concern for myself, I’m going to speak up! To be tolerant of someone’s obvious wrong behavior in that situation would be foolish and inconceivable.


Can I stand on the truth of Scripture?
In an age where even biblical absolutes are being questioned, it is imperative that we know not only what we believe, but why. When cult members come to your door, are you able to back up what you believe with scripture? That’s why it is so important for us to grow in God’s Word personally and corporately through solid Bible teaching. Paul warns us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” The pastor has been gifted by God to equip and teach the saints, but have you been the Berean and investigated what is taught, compared it with scripture and then believed and lived what you have learned?
The Bible makes exclusive claims about itself, claiming to be God-inspired and useful to make the person of God complete in every way (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the complete and perfect revelation of God’s truth, made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The textual support alone can vouch for the reality of God’s truth in written form. The hundreds of fulfilled prophecies give us confidence and faith in its reality and power. The variety of authors, backgrounds, and themes, yet single message of redemption and love shows a oneness of thought without error or contradiction. Over thousands of years the critics have come and gone and the Bible remains steadfast and uncompromising in the waxing and waning of fads and trends. The question shouldn’t be: “Is the Bible true?” But rather, “What excuse do I have to not obey it?”!

We meet regularly as a church to learn these truths more clearly and apply them personally. Paul said that “we speak not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words (1 Corinthians 2:13)”. Jesus said that another Counselor would be coming, “the Spirit of truth”…whom…”the world cannot accept… because it neither sees Him nor knows Him” (John 14:17). We have God’s Spirit to teach us the spiritual truths of God’s Word, allowing us to stand on the sure foundation that He has laid for us. We can build on this foundation with a moral authority constructed with scriptural command, and share our beliefs joyfully with others as Paul would exhort us to: “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).
My prayer is that our excuses and doubts would be satisfied and set aside as we grow deeper in our understanding of who God is, and what He wants to communicate to us. 2 Timothy 2:15 in the Living Bible says: “Work hard so God can say to you, "Well done." Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means.” May it never be said of a Christian: “You can’t handle the truth!”
-Pilgrim