Truth: a simple definition of the word would be: (1) conformity with fact or reality; (2) something that is true as opposed to false. It just doesn’t seem that hard to understand, does it? Basic logics apply: A cannot be non-A; black cannot be white; 1 cannot be 2; male cannot be female; right cannot be wrong. How did we get to the place in our culture, where there is no “truth” – nothing we can use to measure untruths by? I could take you down the path of philosophy and discuss modernism, postmodernism and meta-modernism and how each has influenced our society; but that is better suited to a classroom; but, I will summarize it this way: Modernism led to the rejection of absolute truth along with the need for basic logic declaring that we all must determine what truth is for ourselves. Postmodernism led to the rejection of what I call anchor truths – foundational metanarratives that define truth and reality; declaring that we are all writing our own truth – our own story. In meta-modernism truth becomes a pendulum that swings with equal value between any number of poles (i.e., anything can be true and what we hold as true today doesn’t have to be true tomorrow) – the motto of the meta-modernist is “let’s go forth and oscillate!” It is into this worldview that the Church is called to communicate the Gospel of ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The church is commissioned by God to say there is a Truth which is absolute; a Truth which judges all other truth-claims, a Truth that exposes the lies of the devil and the falsehoods we tell ourselves. That truth is God’s truth found in God’s Word. The Church is commissioned to tell that Truth to a world that doesn’t really want to hear it – to let them know that there in only one way to be saved – one way to God – one path to eternal salvation – that path is a Person and that Person is Jesus Christ. He is our only hope of eternal salvation. Isaiah (Isaiah 59:14) speaks of a time when “truth stumbles in the streets and honesty has been outlawed.” He goes on in v15 to say, “Yes, truth is gone and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.” Amos (5:10) echoes the words of Isaiah: “They hate the one who reproves in the gate; and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.” Looking at modern society, one would agree (they attack the one who renounces evil). But there is an eternal, imperishable Truth – the truth found in God’s Word. John Wesley wrote, “I want to know one thing, the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book! At any price, give me the Book of God!” The world may not want to hear it. Tell it anyway.
