Is Truth Dead?
That’s what the recent cover of Time Magazine asks. Time magazine reached back to 1966 in form and color when they posed the question “Is God Dead?” While God may still be “dead” or a non-issue to many people today, questioning the existence of “truth” is very much “alive” whether debated in the context of politics as Time does or in the cultural exchanges of “religious” and “non-religious” people.
As Pilate cross examined Jesus prior to sentencing him to death, Jesus alluded to the fact that he “came into the world to testify to the truth” and that “everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” However, when Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth,” he got nothing. Why do you suppose that was? Webster’s Dictionary would define truth by saying truth is conforming to a fact or actuality; a reality. That doesn’t seem to satisfy our culture today. We have even coined a word, “truthiness” to describe the quality of “seeming” or being “felt” to be true, even if it is not necessarily true.
Noted scholar and author Francis Schaeffer pointed out that “unlike previous generations, people, though they speak of truth and falsehood, are not speaking of truth in the biblical sense or even in the traditional sense to mean that which is true now will always be true universally. Rather, they mean that which is true now but not necessarily tomorrow or yesterday; or it is true for me but not necessarily for you.” In other words, truth for contemporary men and women is relative. Interesting, isn’t it, that in John 14:6(ESV) Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” Did you note he didn’t say “I’ve taught you a lot of truth?” He said he IS the truth. Jesus was and is the embodiment of truth in thought, word and deed. His words and examples were not exclusive to a first century generation, but to all men for all times for all needs. His voice spoke truth, and the scriptures we ascribe to today and call the Bible are, as it were, God’s voice.
Lest we become derailed by the voice of culture or even by some misleading within the church, we are exhorted to believe and understand “All scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” (1Tim.3:16) Culture tells us what we rely upon from the Bible is a combination of myths, legends, and fables bent by man to guide and influence the naïve and lazy thinker. Scripture negates that notion by saying “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of the human will . ..” (2 Peter1:20-21) So who or what is the source? Scripture says . . . “but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (Interesting point here is the word “moved” is translated from a Greek nautical term referring to a ship that had lost its sails and rudder and moved along apart from its own power.)By the way, this Spirit we mention here is also called the Spirit of Truth.
The longest recorded prayer of Jesus is in John 17. Jesus could not be clearer about his convictions about the word of God, Jesus’ teachings and what we have recorded in the entirety of scripture. We would do well to consider believing likewise. “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart and establish them) in the truth. Your word is truth.” Is “truth” alive and well with you? Think About It.