The Truth About Truth

A number of years ago I wrote an article for several newspapers intitled: "Truth is Truth". Many people's response was "Dahhhhh". Others however found the title provocative and controversial. Not surprizingly to me at the time was that well over 50% of those that commented considered the title an outright lie. Why would they say that? Because they are Relativists. They believe that all truth is relative and that absolute truth does not exist. I asked one of these people if their statement that they believed "Truth is Truth" to be a lie was true. They looked at me so funny, because if their statement that "'Truth is Truth' is a lie and that no absolute truth exists" is true, then their claim is self-defeating, meaning that they have made a statement about all truth being a lie, that they claim is true! Shocking? No, actually this is the state of most people like ourselves that have grown up in a Post-Christian, relativistic culture. 

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So why am I bringing this up in a church newsletter? Well, because this relativistic worldview is dictating how many church leaders and pastors are interpreting Scripture. If there is not truth, then the Bible, by definition, cannot be true and all of it is subject to the whims of any interpreter, preacher or Christian in (or out of) the pews. This is a very dangerous and frightening reality that we must address as Christ followers. In John 14:6 Jesus said: "I Am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." This is at the very core of the gospel message and if this statement cannot be said to be definitively true, then the whole of the Christian faith is in trouble. For that matter, so are all people that ever come to a street light, or for that matter anyone contemplating their doctor's latest diagnosis and treatment schedule. If truth does not exist, we have no foundation for living, making decisions or even going to the bathroom when we feel the call.

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I have not written a Truth is Truth article in awhile, so this is my return to the blogosphere and to putting out a Newsletter at the same time. While no major paper will likely ever pick this up again, I am quite content to put out some of my thoughts in writting for all of you that might care to take it in.

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The fact is that every Christian should be very concerned about this trend in our culture that has crept in quietly and slowly over the last 60 or 70 years. We should all learn to recognize and call out self-defeating statements and gently and respectfully show people the absurdity of all relativists truth claims. This is partially the work of Christian Apologetics, and this is one of the reasons, my prayer is that all of you get onboard the ministry train that is pulling into the FBCRedway station. Our Christian witness and calling depends on it. All Aboard! 

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Vox Veritas Vita,

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Pastor Dave Seaford