Alesaggio
10-11-2005, 11:30 AM
What is truth?
This is a sad response of Pilate. A sincere inquiry? Pilate does not even wait for Jesus to answer. “With this he went out again to the Jews...” Jesus speaks of a kingdom established on truth not tyranny. Pilate’s response is cynical and fatalistic, “What is truth?” He gets in the last word. He is saying, “Nobody really knows what truth is. Truth for you may not be the same as truth for me. I have heard the Greek philosophers wrestle with that issue to no avail. You will never find this thing called truth in the messed up world we live in.”
But the question touches upon one of the greatest issues on GNC (and in the world): “What is truth?” Can anybody really know truth? Is there one truth for me and a different truth for you? Is Pilate’s concept of truth just as good as Jesus’ concept of truth? What is truth?
Truth is something that can be known. Jesus said (John 8:32) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
“What is truth?” The answer that a person accepts will determine eternal destiny. I don’t want to be like Pilate. I don’t want to ask the question, “What is truth?” and then walk away from Jesus before he can give me the answer. Winston Churchill said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” I want to encounter the truth. I want the truth to encounter me. And I want to be changed in the process.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is not just saying I have some ideas about those things to share with you. He is saying that the very definition of those things is found in Him alone.
In contrast, the devil is the father of lies. All truth originates in God. All falsehood originates in the devil. People are embracing one or another.
They do not originate truth. They either accept it or reject it.
Pilate’s question echoes in our time and place. We live in a time where absolute truth is denied and each is left to decide on his or her own what is true. This relativism has created a climate in which a consensus on any given issue is very unlikely. And the tension between those who hold no absolute standards and those who do grows ever stronger as the years go by. There are absolute truths whether or not we choose to live by them. And they are moral/spiritual in nature not political.
What is truth? Is truth only fact. Is truth reality; the way it really is. Pilate was cynical; he thought that all truth was relative. Many people are like Pilate and believe that truth is relative. Some believe truth is whatever the majority of people agree with is truth. This isn’t so. Some people, like Pilate, think whatever helps advance their own personal power and goals is truth for them. When there is no basis for truth, there is no basis for moral right and wrong. Truth, for these kinds of people, becomes whatever works or whatever helps to gain what we want. Or in Pilates’ case killing Jesus would stop a revolt and save his life. So he sentenced "Truth" to die--that he might live.
I recently came across some statistics, we realize that statistics are not always a true picture but they can be interesting in the realm of which they are obtained.
statistics:
64% of Americans believe, "Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims and all others pray to the same god, even though they use different names for that God." (it's all semantics--sound familiar?)
64% of Americans agree with the statement, "All religions are equally good."
62% agreed, "It does not matter what religious faith you follow because all faiths teach similar lessons about life."
72% of Americans agree, "There is no such thing as absolute truth; two people could define truth in totally conflicting ways, but both could still be correct."
72% agree, "There are no absolute standards that apply to everybody in all situations."
53% percent of those who claim there is no such thing as absolute truth identify themselves as born-again Christians.
42% of those who identify themselves as evangelical Christian agree, "There is no such thing as absolute truth …"
Among teens:
55% of all teenagers agree, "It does not matter what religious faith you follow because all faiths teach similar lessons."
55% of teens believe, "Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and all other people pray to the same God, even though they use different names for their God."
...you know that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:21)
No lie is of the truth, that there is no possible harmony between a lie and the truth? It is amazing how many folk have not learned this yet, and still go on echoing the lie of the world that there can be a blending of truth and error, and, therefore, there are areas of life that are gray where you cannot tell the difference between right and wrong. John utterly cuts the ground out from under that. He says it is not true. I wrote to you, he says, because you have found this out, if you know Jesus Christ. You may not have thought through the implications, but you must know that there is no possibility of blending a lie with the truth. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all," (1 John 1:5).
Truth has become nothing more than personal opinion! How wide spread is this thinking? The saddest part to this chapter in American society is that this mentality has crept into oneness churches at an alarming rate. I here people say all the time, “Well this is what I think this verse means.”
Peter says, Scripture is not open for private interpretation! Everyday certain churches close their door for good because of "enlightened" preachers and nucklebrian teachers spewing their destructive and divisive theology.
Scripture is never to be interpreted by subjective experiences or personal feelings! Cults do enough of that already! 2 Peter 1:20,21 “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but by holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
When the Pope literally embraces the Koran, then kisses it and says… “This is a wonderful religion of peace.”
Will someone please stop the spiritual spin?
Then former President Clinton says to a student body at Harvard… “You’re at a university which basically believes that no one ever has the truth…we are incapable of ever knowing the whole truth.” This is the same man who said, “It depends on what your definition of is is.”
Why wasn’t Clinton fully impeached? In my viewpoint, because he is a snapshot of American. He’s America’s “permission slip” for men and woman to behave the same way!
In today’s world...tolerance is enthroned and truth is dethroned. To hold strong conviction about anything is almost a curse in today’s society. One thing I’ve noticed in the last few years…every group and philosophy is tolerated except Apostolic truth.
Why this great distaste in the church world for truth?
Because Truth is irritating. Ben Franklin said, “The sting to any rebuke is the truth.”
Because Truth is penetrating. (and some people do not wish to be probed)
Because Truth is dominating. (and some people do not like authority)
Because Truth is educating. (and many people don't like to acknowledge their ignorance)
Because Truth is elevating. (and many don't like to see them selves where they truly are--low)
Because Truth is liberating. (and many don't like to admit they are bound)
John 8:32 “…The truth shall set you free.”
When Harvard University was founded, its motto was Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae--"Truth for Christ and the Church." Its crest showed three books, one face down to symbolize the limitation of human knowledge. But in recent decades that book has been turned face up to represent the unlimited capacity of the human mind. And the motto has been changed to Veritas--"Truth."
The pursuit of knowledge is praiseworthy, yet learning can quickly lead to pride and a refusal to acknowledge any limits on our mental abilities. When that happens, biblical truth is ignored.
What, then, is the truth about truth? A wise king wrote centuries ago, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7). We must recognize the relationship between God and truth. Without the help of God’s Spirit and the instruction of God’s Word, man will be ever "learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7). When we acknowledge and obey His truth, however, we will be set free from spiritual ignorance and error (John 8:32; 17:17). That’s why we must be diligent in studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15). It is the only book that tells us the truth about truth.
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This is a sad response of Pilate. A sincere inquiry? Pilate does not even wait for Jesus to answer. “With this he went out again to the Jews...” Jesus speaks of a kingdom established on truth not tyranny. Pilate’s response is cynical and fatalistic, “What is truth?” He gets in the last word. He is saying, “Nobody really knows what truth is. Truth for you may not be the same as truth for me. I have heard the Greek philosophers wrestle with that issue to no avail. You will never find this thing called truth in the messed up world we live in.”
But the question touches upon one of the greatest issues on GNC (and in the world): “What is truth?” Can anybody really know truth? Is there one truth for me and a different truth for you? Is Pilate’s concept of truth just as good as Jesus’ concept of truth? What is truth?
Truth is something that can be known. Jesus said (John 8:32) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
“What is truth?” The answer that a person accepts will determine eternal destiny. I don’t want to be like Pilate. I don’t want to ask the question, “What is truth?” and then walk away from Jesus before he can give me the answer. Winston Churchill said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” I want to encounter the truth. I want the truth to encounter me. And I want to be changed in the process.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is not just saying I have some ideas about those things to share with you. He is saying that the very definition of those things is found in Him alone.
In contrast, the devil is the father of lies. All truth originates in God. All falsehood originates in the devil. People are embracing one or another.
They do not originate truth. They either accept it or reject it.
Pilate’s question echoes in our time and place. We live in a time where absolute truth is denied and each is left to decide on his or her own what is true. This relativism has created a climate in which a consensus on any given issue is very unlikely. And the tension between those who hold no absolute standards and those who do grows ever stronger as the years go by. There are absolute truths whether or not we choose to live by them. And they are moral/spiritual in nature not political.
What is truth? Is truth only fact. Is truth reality; the way it really is. Pilate was cynical; he thought that all truth was relative. Many people are like Pilate and believe that truth is relative. Some believe truth is whatever the majority of people agree with is truth. This isn’t so. Some people, like Pilate, think whatever helps advance their own personal power and goals is truth for them. When there is no basis for truth, there is no basis for moral right and wrong. Truth, for these kinds of people, becomes whatever works or whatever helps to gain what we want. Or in Pilates’ case killing Jesus would stop a revolt and save his life. So he sentenced "Truth" to die--that he might live.
I recently came across some statistics, we realize that statistics are not always a true picture but they can be interesting in the realm of which they are obtained.
statistics:
64% of Americans believe, "Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims and all others pray to the same god, even though they use different names for that God." (it's all semantics--sound familiar?)
64% of Americans agree with the statement, "All religions are equally good."
62% agreed, "It does not matter what religious faith you follow because all faiths teach similar lessons about life."
72% of Americans agree, "There is no such thing as absolute truth; two people could define truth in totally conflicting ways, but both could still be correct."
72% agree, "There are no absolute standards that apply to everybody in all situations."
53% percent of those who claim there is no such thing as absolute truth identify themselves as born-again Christians.
42% of those who identify themselves as evangelical Christian agree, "There is no such thing as absolute truth …"
Among teens:
55% of all teenagers agree, "It does not matter what religious faith you follow because all faiths teach similar lessons."
55% of teens believe, "Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and all other people pray to the same God, even though they use different names for their God."
...you know that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:21)
No lie is of the truth, that there is no possible harmony between a lie and the truth? It is amazing how many folk have not learned this yet, and still go on echoing the lie of the world that there can be a blending of truth and error, and, therefore, there are areas of life that are gray where you cannot tell the difference between right and wrong. John utterly cuts the ground out from under that. He says it is not true. I wrote to you, he says, because you have found this out, if you know Jesus Christ. You may not have thought through the implications, but you must know that there is no possibility of blending a lie with the truth. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all," (1 John 1:5).
Truth has become nothing more than personal opinion! How wide spread is this thinking? The saddest part to this chapter in American society is that this mentality has crept into oneness churches at an alarming rate. I here people say all the time, “Well this is what I think this verse means.”
Peter says, Scripture is not open for private interpretation! Everyday certain churches close their door for good because of "enlightened" preachers and nucklebrian teachers spewing their destructive and divisive theology.
Scripture is never to be interpreted by subjective experiences or personal feelings! Cults do enough of that already! 2 Peter 1:20,21 “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but by holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
When the Pope literally embraces the Koran, then kisses it and says… “This is a wonderful religion of peace.”
Will someone please stop the spiritual spin?
Then former President Clinton says to a student body at Harvard… “You’re at a university which basically believes that no one ever has the truth…we are incapable of ever knowing the whole truth.” This is the same man who said, “It depends on what your definition of is is.”
Why wasn’t Clinton fully impeached? In my viewpoint, because he is a snapshot of American. He’s America’s “permission slip” for men and woman to behave the same way!
In today’s world...tolerance is enthroned and truth is dethroned. To hold strong conviction about anything is almost a curse in today’s society. One thing I’ve noticed in the last few years…every group and philosophy is tolerated except Apostolic truth.
Why this great distaste in the church world for truth?
Because Truth is irritating. Ben Franklin said, “The sting to any rebuke is the truth.”
Because Truth is penetrating. (and some people do not wish to be probed)
Because Truth is dominating. (and some people do not like authority)
Because Truth is educating. (and many people don't like to acknowledge their ignorance)
Because Truth is elevating. (and many don't like to see them selves where they truly are--low)
Because Truth is liberating. (and many don't like to admit they are bound)
John 8:32 “…The truth shall set you free.”
When Harvard University was founded, its motto was Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae--"Truth for Christ and the Church." Its crest showed three books, one face down to symbolize the limitation of human knowledge. But in recent decades that book has been turned face up to represent the unlimited capacity of the human mind. And the motto has been changed to Veritas--"Truth."
The pursuit of knowledge is praiseworthy, yet learning can quickly lead to pride and a refusal to acknowledge any limits on our mental abilities. When that happens, biblical truth is ignored.
What, then, is the truth about truth? A wise king wrote centuries ago, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7). We must recognize the relationship between God and truth. Without the help of God’s Spirit and the instruction of God’s Word, man will be ever "learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7). When we acknowledge and obey His truth, however, we will be set free from spiritual ignorance and error (John 8:32; 17:17). That’s why we must be diligent in studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15). It is the only book that tells us the truth about truth.
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