Truth Matrix , part 1, Absolute Truth
Last time we reviewed a couple of definitions.
Let’s first consider “absolute truth.”
Absolute truth – at this polar extreme, people feel that for every question there exists an absolute answer—an absolute truth.
As we think about life’s many questions, we know that some have absolute answers. We may not know all of the details in order to arrive at a complete answer, but we know that a specific answer does exist. As we read our Bibles, it is clear that some absolute truths are well defined. We have all the facts necessary to have an absolute answer. On other issues, we may be given less than complete detailed information.
When discerning elements of absolute truth, it is good for us to know what might be most important. We suggest that an important distinction is as follows:
Essential truth – where essential is defined as those things critical to a person’s salvation—eternal life in heaven
Non-essential truth – these are questions that can be important and usually interesting, but our salvation, eternal life in heaven, does not depend on us having the “absolute answer”
A couple of example questions will help to illustrate the difference.
Essential truth example questions:
Does God exist? This has an absolute answer – yes. Also, the answer is critical to salvation.
Is Jesus Lord? Again, we have an absolute answer – yes. Once again, the answer is critical to salvation.
Non-essential truth example questions:
What is the date of Christ’s return? This has an absolute answer, but the Bible does not tell us. In fact, it warns us to be ready always. Is the answer essential to our salvation? No. It is interesting, and can be the subject of much debate, but our salvation does not depend on us have the absolute answer to this question?
Do spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, still exist? Again, this question should have an absolute answer, but once again the Bible does not clearly define if and when such a spiritual gift might have ceased. There are strong opinions which have even led to divisions in the church over the years. Is the answer essential to our salvation? No. It will likely continue to be debated until Christ returns, but our salvation does not rest on us being 100% sure about the answer to this question.
This simple distinction among questions that have “absolute answers” is very valuable. It can protect us from spending energy on things that are non-essentials, allowing us to focus on those that are essential. Some advice that was shared with me that I really like is:
“We should never compromise on the essential truths of our faith;
We should never divide over those things that are non-essentials truths of our faith;”
The essentials are relatively few in number. We should strive to know these intimately, never compromising on them.
The non-essentials are too numerous to count, and there will always be interesting debate around those questions. Debate, done in a respectful and Godly manner is not a bad thing. These are the very things that have resulted in differences in worship practices among the many denominations of Protestant churches. We should avoid the tendency to judge other groups on things where we have less than complete answers in the Bible and which are non-essential to salvation.
These two distinctions give us the right column in our truth matrix, under the heading of absolute truth.
Next time we will complete the left side of the matrix by defining two categories of “relative truth.”
Blessings,
Larry
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