Why So Many People Don’t Want Truth

Why So Many People Don’t Want Truth

by | Sep 1, 2020 | Truth

What Is Truth

What is truth?” said Pilate. John 18:37

In a previous post, I started a conversation on truth. As we move forward, we must bear in mind that our purpose is not a barren academic search for ultimate truth. “God is not nearly so interested in what I know as He is in who I am and how I behave, with respect to His word.

Scripture was given not to increase our knowledge, but to change our conduct.

The Bible was not given only to teach us what to believe and what not to believe; it was also given to show us how to behave (2 Tim. 3:16).

All of our rigorous Bible study must be for the purpose of making the application to life, transferring the truth into day-by-day living.

Why is this topic of importance to Christians? Jesus said, you will know the “truth” and the “truth” will set you free. (John 8:32)

Here we gave several definitions of truth.

According to the Correlation View, any statement is true if and only if it corresponds to or agrees with factual reality. The Correspondence view of truth entails that propositional or declarative statements are subject to various kinds of verification and falsification. A statement can be proven false if it can be shown to disagree with Objective Reality.

i.e. a photograph from outer space showing the earth as a blue orb falsified any stubborn flat-earth claims.

Jesus said, you will know the “truth” and the “truth” will set you free. (John 8:32)

Strong’s Number: 225 Browse Lexicon
Original Word Word Origin
ajlhvqeia from (227)

Transliterated Word TDNT Entry

Aletheia 1:232,37
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
al-ay’-thi-a

Noun Feminine
Definition
1. objectively
a. what is true in any matter under consideration
1. truly, in truth, according to truth
2. of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
b. what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
1. in the greatest latitude
2. the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
c. the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
2. subjectively
a. truth as a personal excellence
1. that candor of mind which is free from affection, pretense, simulation, falsehood, deceit

Currently, there is an ideology in the world that seeks to refute the Correlation View of truth. It is called Relativism.

Relativism says that the truth of a statement depends on the views of persons or cultures, not on whether statements correspond to objective reality. For a statement to be true simply means that a person or culture believes it to be true.

According to this view, one person can say “Jesus is Lord” and another can say “Allah is Lord” and both statements will be true if they accurately express the statements of the speakers.

When the truth is deemed dependent upon the person or culture holding the belief, anything can become “true,” which is absurd.

Accepting the truth is often hard. And, it can put us at odds with family, friends, co-workers, and the like.

Knowing the truth and acting based on that knowledge can put us in the minority or make us unpopular, but that is what Christians are called to be.

For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I have not been ashamed or humiliated. Therefore, I have made My face like flint, And I know that I shall not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7

Isaiah had to deliver the truth to the Israelites. It wasn’t what they wanted to hear and he was reviled and attacked for taking the LORD’s position.

How do (will) you react when you’re attacked because you choose the truth?

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

 

 

 

 

The Truth Is Dangerous

The Truth Is Dangerous

by | Aug 31, 2020 | Truth

Why So Many People Don’t Want The Truth

 

In the current political and even religious climate, truth is under attack. Many people, even those with supposed higher education have chosen to argue what the truth is from their emotional or cultural perspectives.

“What is truth?” said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging Him. John 18:38

 

Like politicians of today, Pilate subsequently bowed to the wishes of the populace; and Jesus, albeit innocent, was crucified.

In this short introduction to a series on truth, my purpose is to define the parameters for future discussions about truth. Truth is not subject to our emotions, prejudices, cultural proclivities, or even our intellectual predispositions. Truth is simply the truth.

Below, I have presented the “rules” for my future posts about the topic of truth. Hopefully, this will allow for open and intelligent discourse as we move forward.

Truth – What It Is

Correspondence View – Any statement is true if and only if it corresponds to or agrees with factual reality.

The statement, “the desk in my study is brown,” is true only if there is, in fact, a brown desk in my study.

The statement, “there is no brown desk in my study.” Is false because it fails to correspond to any objective state of affairs (i.e. the facts of the matter)

Basic Laws of Logic

Bivalence – stipulates that any unambiguous, declarative statement must either be true or false.

It can be neither true nor false, nor can it be both true and false.

There is a brown desk in my study is true or false.

The Law of Excluded Middle – affirms that “either A or non-A.”

There is a brown desk in my study or not.

The principle of Contradiction states that A cannot be non-A in the same way and in the same respect.

It cannot be true that there both is and is not a brown desk in my study.

Questions, commands, and exclamations are neither true nor false because they do not make claims about objective reality.

Objective Reality – whatever remains true whether you believe in it or not.

Wisdom

Wisdom

by | Aug 12, 2020 | Truth

As a counselor and coach I listen very often to people who shipwreck their lives. Some of these individuals were well meaning and sincere; be it noted that sincerity is not the test of truth. I have often been sincerely wrong. The times I speak of were destructive mainly because I operated unwisely.

Wisdom is required for maintaining and providing for a home. The dispersing or investing of funds should be done with wisdom. A family must use wisdom when picking a ministry for the family. Unfortunately many people get married very often using how they feel as the qualifier. Too many individuals spend money and make purchases for very wrong reasons. Families attend churches where felt needs have become the priority over spiritual excellence. The opportunities to heal and mend broken connections in the family were ignored because of the lack of wisdom. Proverbs states “ By wisdom a house (or home) is built, and through understanding it is established. Wisdom speaks of maturity and its results are relational insight. It is reflected in good judgment. Are you wise? Or does wisdom rule your life?

“For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”. This statement from proverbs 2 is an indictment against lives that are unproductive and mediocre. Wisdom is not the result of a miracle it is freely given by God. The New Testament says if any man lacks wisdom let him ask God. (James 1:5)

The truth is that the masses are superficial in pursuing essential ingredients to create a loving and productive persona. Instead requests are made for trinkets, and social positioning. Too many bargain and trade for notoriety and status. Wise men and women are not shallow. Their lives reflect intimacy in prayer and long hours with the Sovereign. Wise people hang out with God. Remember who you associate with reflects the state of your inner being. Observe the people in your circle how many reflect the character of our Lord in their conversations and behavior. I remind you that the people around you are your choice. They are in your world because of the decision you made to allow them in. You cannot soar with eagles if you hang out with turkeys

Proverbs teaches a powerful insight. It states “happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gets understanding” Wisdom is the proper use or allocation of information and knowledge. One cannot make wise choices without information and very often some experience. Christians who would be wise pursue a path to the feet of God asking Him to pour into their hearts and spirits His Spirit. Wisdom my friends is an invaluable gift from God. It is a virtue of great importance to a life of meaning and purpose. Wisdom becomes the ability to see matters as the Lord would. From this we understand clearly that an extremely high I Q is not an advantage with regard to the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God does not depend on human senses or intellectual acumen. The pursuit of wisdom starts with reverencing God and holding Him in high esteem.