Truth or Consequences

No doubt we live in an era in the history of the United States where “truth” seems to be an amorphous concept. Most of us, more and more, do not trust the media, the government, or even the church. The lack of purity in regards to truth has caused a large number of persons to move away from any formulation of the reality of a pure and perfect deity. Especially among the young “belief” as we know it from the past, is a dying flame. If “truth” is not to be found in philosophy, religious teachings, or the Bible, then where is it residing?

For young Americans it seems to reside in themselves; within their individual hearts and minds. Many ancient philosophers thought this to be true. However, the prize of the search for the “golden mean of truth” has never been found in or among humans. In truth, humans are pretty lousy at discerning the truth as their own desires and foibles get in the way and pollute the search. The search then becomes not an expedition to discover the crystal clarity of truth but of one of what we want the truth to be.

The ancient Hebrews believed that truth was God revealed and that humans could not find it on their own. Listen to David’s confession of sin in Psalm 51 (written after his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband…all of which David presumed he had covered up): Have mercy on me O God, for I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me…behold Thou desirest TRUTH in the inward being…create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

These words are written with the presumption that David alone cannot be truthful even with himself, but God, on the other hand, knows all. David needs God to change his mind and spirit so that he may discern the right path and act accordingly. In the Christian testament the Greek word for “truth” is ALETHEIA. It means “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance.” The obvious meaning is to be very careful about discerning truth based on appearances only, but to dig deep and find the “reality” at the core of it all. It is hard work and requires an open acknowledgement of God’s truth once it is found.

An object lesson in this would be a tomato I picked from my garden this week. It appeared to be perfectly suitable for the table. It was smooth and firm and red, but when cut open, the reality was that it had been attacked by some insect that laid eggs inside it, causing it to be mushy and quite dark in its interior. It was inedible. My tomato was infected by something that had altered it from a healthy fruit into a disgusting mass. It is the same with sin; the human heart, so capable of beauty, love, and creativity, can become polluted by sin
and turned to depravity, bitterness, and evil. What is sin? It is the deliberate and willful denial of God’s authority and boundaries. By sinning we place ourselves far from God and we “miss the mark.” Thus, we are lost in a spiritual fog of our own making and lose the ability to navigate the sea of life and death.

If all that is true, then what is the true path to truth? Jesus is very clear on the answer to that question when he states in John 1:17 that grace and truth come to us only through him.

In the face of the world’s denial that clear and cogent truth exist, Jesus proclaims a contradictory message (something he was very good at doing): If you continue in my words, you are my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8: 32)

Come join us seekers after truth here at Good Shepherd as we worship and seek and are found by the resurrected Lord Jesus who reign in glory.