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What is truth?

This post was originally written for and posted on True Devotion Ministries page as it’s about the new focus the ministry is going on. Absolutely check them out by clicking on their name above and read the original post here. I’ve modified it to make it more about me.

What is truth?

I find the conversation between Pilate and Jesus found in John 18 fascinating.

“I look for truth, and find that I get damned.”

“But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths, are mine the same as yours.”

Jesus and Pilate, Jesus Christ Superstar.

Let’s examine the first part of that interaction.

“I look for truth, and find that I get damned.”

Jesus, Jesus Christ Superstar

If you’ve been in church for a long period of time, you have probably experienced that while on the search for truth, if truth is found outside the dogma of the particular denomination you can find yourself an outcast even though it’s a true truth that is found in the bible. But it doesn’t stop there, seekers aren’t exactly accepted by the world either. No matter where the truth is being sought it seems there are always people who are content with the truth they know, the truth that they were taught as a child, or the truth that culture taught them to believe and anyone believing different or asking questions should be silenced and ostracized.

Why is this? Ignorance?

Control?

I don’t have the answer for this.
But it happens.

That’s one of the reasons I find the exchange in Jesus Christ Superstar so compelling, I think most of us can relate to looking for truth and being condemned for it at some point.

It’s also why it’s so important that when it comes to interactions with TDMI that we celebrate and encourage the search for truth and help where we can in making sure that those involved have the right tools to aid them in their search.

But that’s not the entire interaction, the second comes from Pilate.

“But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths, are mine the same as yours?”

Pilate, Jesus Christ Superstar

This is the quintessential summation of the argument of relativism which is that there is no true truth. There are some truths that aren’t objectively true, but that doesn’t mean that no truth can be absolute or truly true. But even in Pilates questioning of what truth was he was on to something. True Truth, or Absolute truth has three defining features: It is always true. It never changes.

It is objective.

Either 2 + 2 = 4 or it doesn’t.
Either a god exists or it doesn’t.
Either Jesus was the son of God or he wasn’t.

I believe in objective truth, but I’m not scared of acknowledging that I don’t have all the answers, and therefore need to keep searching.

Finally, I want to touch on the first-hand account of what actually happened with Jesus. It’s interesting.

Jesus after being asked if he was a king responds to Pilate, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and come into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37 NIV).

“Everyone on the side of truth listens to me”

Jesus (John 18:37 NIV)

This coupled with the other words of Jesus declaring he is the truth, is revolutionary. As Christians, we understand and realize that all true truth is rooted in Jesus, and if we claim to be on the side of truth, we have to pay attention to what he says.

In the original article, I brought this into the new focus for TDMI.

If we claim to believe in and be on the side of truth we have to listen to Jesus and what he said. This includes how he told us to do things – including conflict resolution, and loving others.

Truth isn’t something to browbeat others with, but it’s also not something to be avoided when it makes us uncomfortable. Truth isn’t something that we should ignore because of the source. We must affirm truth, regardless of it’s source.

So may you begin to embrace truth as you find it and know that ultimately it is all found in God.

Published inPersonal MusingsTheological Musings

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