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People today speak of truth in a manner which distorts what truth is, Biblical speaking. It shouldn't surprise us that the world would have competing definitions, as it so often opposes Biblical thinking. What should surprise us is how widespread the world's distorted concepts have become and how they have replaced a Biblical mindset in our post-Christianized country.End Note 1 Throughout history there have always been two types of truth, one known in scholarly circles as objective truth and the other as subjective truth. To understand which truth is in view throughout the Bible, indeed what the Word is, it is necessary to define each term. Rather than first considering a dictionary definition, everyday examples will provide a more visual point of reference. Proposition #1 Ice Cream is good. A majority would agree with this statement. A few would disagree. (About 1.6 billion gallons are made each year in the US. About 21.5 quarts per person each year! [2004 USDA stats]. #1 is chocolate, tied for 2nd are vanilla, cookies and cream, and cookie dough, 3rd butter pecan and Swiss almond, then rocky road and then strawberry. Only 3 percent of Americans don't eat ice cream [2009 Harris Poll]). Would each accuse the other of falsehood, perhaps sin, or condemn those holding the opposing view to hell? Generally not (though you can probably find a nut-case, more properly an extremist, on virtually any subject). This is subjective truth. It is a true statement resting and rooted in the mind of the one holding to the claim. Is it true for the one who loves ice cream that ice cream is good? Most certainly. Is it likewise true for the one who hates it, that ice cream is bad? Again, most definitely. Proposition #2 Ice Cream is a cure for salmonella (a bacterial infection). In other words ice cream is an antibiotic drug. A majority would disagree with this statement. Even if some agreed with the statement it does not make it true. The unchangeable truth is that ice cream is not an antibiotic and has no antibiotic properties. Regardless of what one thinks of it, the truth of the matter is unchanging because it is intrinsic to the object itself. Ice cream is not an anti-biotic, it has no anti-biotic properties no matter how good you think it tastes or what flavor you might like. This is objective truth. Definitions sub·jec·tive [suh b-jek-tiv] -adjective
ob·jec·tive [uh b-jek-tiv] -adjective
Source of Truth The emphasis of all things subjective is personal. My own reality, experience, or thought is all that really matters in regards to the subject. The greatest problem with all things subjective is that we live in a fallen world which has tainted our minds, our experiences, and our personal reality. In a worldview shaped by godless evolution, truth itself is considered to be merely a product of an evolutionary process. What once didn't exist came to exist or is believed to exist (i.e. perception itself had to evolve). Here the focus shifts again to the one doing this observation. In contrast, the emphasis of all things objective is that which is. This implies an absolute, a perfect and unchangeable truth intrinsic to the object itself. Unquestionably this points to an absolute giver or originator of truth. The Bible reveals who this is:
Did you follow what these verses are saying? Jesus is truth, the Spirit is truth, the Father is truth - and these three who are one are God. In case you missed it; the triune God is truth. The entire idea of absolute and unchanging truth rests in the eternal being of God.End Note 2 From the writings of Moses to the end of the book, God is revealed as perfect in all His ways, incapable of doing wrong or of any falsehood.
There is truth Even the Godless, solely because they live in God's creation, end up tacitly acknowledging that there must be truth. For the one who opposes absolute truth, their very claim that is no truth is an assertion that their claim is true. Their argument falls on the basis that it contradicts their entire premise (as such, their argument commits suicide). Modern Society An overwhelming percentage of people today now choose their religion and ethics subjectively rather than objectively. Even when those within God's church present it to the public, most of their listeners hear the claims of exclusivity End Note 3 as being merely ice cream claims. If you like it that's fine, if you don't that's fine too. If someone wants a different flavor, they're glad it works for you. In effect, it's only good if you believe it to be good; it's only true if you believe it to be true. Postmodernism is the extension of this; everything in life is ice cream. Furthermore, they would claim that anyone who would hold to an absolute objective truth is dangerous.End Note 4 Trust We are called to trust in the One who is absolutely trustworthy. All through Scriptures God demonstrated that He is worthy of our trust.End Note 5 How else could Peter and the apostles confidently proclaim the resurrected Lord to a people that were actually in Jerusalem? God had provided sufficient evidence. It was a historical fact!
Jesus didn't allow a crowd that had gathered the option of subjective truth, having publicly forgiven the sins of a man brought to him. I mean, who can really see or prove that sins have been forgiven? It would have been easy for those in the crowd to turn this into subject truth, for themselves or the one forgiven. If they believed it happened perhaps that was all that mattered, or if they held that the recipient believed it happen, again that was truth for him. Jesus lays all doubt to rest by confirming that He spoke objective truth, providing a clear and visible test.
Likewise it should not surprise us that God provided extraordinary authentication for all of His special messengers, especially the prophets and apostles He used to record His written word.End Note 7 God's word is a wholly sufficient witness that He has revealed His perfect truth to us.
God's Objective Truth Only God's objective truth can set you free. The Bible nowhere espouses the view that your own personal truth can set you free or save you. It is God's teaching, with all of its absolutes, that is the focus. This truth changes lives.
Don't let the world trivialize your trust in Jesus. It is not some leap of faith detached from truth, or rooted in some truth only personal to you. Our faith is anchored in perfect unchangeable truth, equally available to all - it is unquestionably a rational faith.
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End Notes 1. I will not, here, enter into the debate over whether or not this country was once a "Christian" country. What may be said, without dispute, is that this country was once steeped in Christian thought, highly influenced by Biblical thinking, and - in the least - had the appearance of being predominately Christian based on the visibility and prominence of churches and Christian organizations. 2. God cannot change; therefore all truth that is rooted and founded in Him cannot change either.
3. Make no mistake; God makes exclusive claims throughout the Bible, hundreds of them. Jesus makes exclusive claims concerning himself:
These are very exclusive claims, the same claims that are believed and spread by Jesus' followers:
4. Neo-atheists (another significant public group today) are different from postmodernists. They claim to hold to objective truth, namely that there is no God. While this is misplaced, as their fundamental "truth" is a lie, they share one major sentiment with postmodernists; all who hold to an absolute truth stemming from beyond this physical world are viewed as being dangerous. 5. A sampling of God's call to trust in Him...
6. The book of Revelation features the Lamb who was slain, risen with power, not only as true but named True.
7. Not only was Moses specially authenticated before God's people (e.g. Exodus 20:18-22), God made sure that even the godless Pharaoh had sufficient evidence to know that Moses spoke the truth on behalf of God. The entirety of the miracles of the Exodus applies. Take this excerpt for example:
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Written by
Brent MacDonald of Lion Tracks Ministries. (c) 2010
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