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A Truth Matrix , part 2, Relative Truth
3/26/2010 12:17:27 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

truth


This time we review another definition.

Relative truth –truth that can depend on circumstances. Those questions for which there is not an absolute “right” answer.
Some people have a difficult time with relative truth. They might think that everything ultimately should have a distinct answer. The truth is, sometimes it really does depend…
Once again we must consider that our Christian life is full of questions. Some are easier to answer than others. Studying our Bible is important preparation for us to equip us to best answer challenging questions. 
When discerning questions involving answers that are relative truths, we will again make two distinctions. 
  • Situational questions relative to beliefs—these are questions in which the answer depends on the situation, circumstance, or perhaps the context 
  • Autonomous questions—these questions have answers that depend on the individual person
Let’s view some example questions to add clarity to this. It can be a little confusing.
Situational questions:
Is it okay to drink a glass of wine? The answer is “it depends”. A glass of wine as an accompaniment to a meal won’t be a sin. For some people, wine is even a medical prescription required for health. Even in the New Testament, we saw an example of Paul encouraging Timothy to drink some wine for his stomach’s health. At the other extreme, if the situation involves a person drinking to achieve drunkenness, the Bible warns us against the sinful nature of this behavior. In this case, it is not okay.
Is it okay to attend movies? Again, it depends. If attending a movie is simple and wholesome entertainment, it is okay. On the other extreme, if the situation involves attending and viewing X-rated films as a lustful pursuit, it is not okay. 
These are simple, yet not uncommon examples of questions that can receive a lot of debate among different Christians. 
Autonomous questions:
Is the temperature in the church too warm? This is a very simple question, but it really illustrates the point. The temperature in the church can feel warm to one person, yet requires others to reach for their jackets or sweaters. It is “truly” warm to one and equally truly cool to the other. One person’s answer/truth is autonomous from the others person’s answer.
What is the best type of music for the church? Your answer may very well be different from mine, yet both can be true for each of us. Traditional Christian hymns may aid the worship for one person, while other draws close to God through the music and lyrics of contemporary praise and worship songs. Each has an “autonomous” yet for them, equally true answer.
With these categories under the heading of relative truth, we now will have the left side of our truth matrix.

 
These have been simple examples. Many questions are more complex, as the Bible really provides a range of detail on many issues. Therefore, a tool such as a truth matrix is very valuable to help us understand that we, as humans, will have differences as we each seek to discern the truth. We were introduced to this concept in The Theology Program by the founders of the program, Michael Patton and Rhome Dyke. We have found this conceptual way of sorting through possibilities for “truth” to be a great help. Many thanks to Michael and Rhome.
To expand on our quote about discerning truth, we would add the following per Pastor Charles Swindoll.
“We should never compromise on the essential truths;
We should never divide over those things that are non-essentials;
We should use grace in all things…”
I value this advice. As we continuously explore the truth as presented in our Bible, we will have different levels of understanding when it comes to “non-essentials.” I am okay with that. It shows that we are studying, we are into the Word, and we are working to interpret God’s Will in our lives. As our interpretations on non-essentials vary, we can act with grace and tolerance for each other. If we will listen to each other, instead of jumping to judge each other, hopefully our combined understanding will continue to grow.

Blessings,

 Larry

Truth Matrix , part 1, Absolute Truth
3/17/2010 1:45:45 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

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

Types of Truth
3/10/2010 12:16:53 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

truth


Some people may wonder why we would even bother with trying to define categories of truth. Perhaps they think that “Truth is simply the Truth.” Truth is what is true.

However, it is not that simple. In our societies around the globe, at different times we even tend to see people gravitate or move toward extremes on a “truth continuum.”
Absolute truth – at this polar extreme, people would feel that for every question there exists an absolute answer—an absolute truth.
Relative truth – at this opposite extreme, people would tend to think that nothing is absolute—truth always depends on other circumstances.
Observable truth – this would include things that we determine to be true based on our personal observations. Often these are things that we can discover with our senses or measure repeatedly. But, sometimes our observations are inaccurate, so observable truth may not always be “true.”
Our senses are flawed. An easy example is when we have any eye-witness accounts of an incident or accident. Law enforcement officers are highly trained to take witness accounts. They tell us that two or more witnesses that have observed the exact same event, at the exact same moment, perhaps from different angles or locations around the accident, almost never have the same set of observable facts about the event. It was the same event, but viewed through different sets of personal filters in the process of observation and discernment of what occurred.
From the two extremes we noted above, absolute truth versus relative truth, I want you to realize that both do exist.  It is not a matter of one or the other.  In discerning truth, we need to develop a capacity to recognize the difference.
Next, we need to understand a couple of distinctions within each category.  In other words, we will consider that that there is more than one type of “absolute” truth, and more than one time of “relative” truth.
From this, we will create a “truth matrix” which can serve as a tool in our spiritual walk with Christ.  We will continue this discussion in a couple of days.

Blessings, 

 

Larry

Truth
2/26/2010 9:03:02 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

truth


Our thought processes and our attitudes are very important.  The Bible makes this clear.

23Be careful how your think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)
23There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)
2Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
The issue of “truth” is fundamentally important in our thought processes. It is a fascinating topic, also.
Definitions of Truth
Webster’s Dictionary gives us some starting points. There we find the following meanings for truth:
  • Sincerity in action, character, and utterance
  • A transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality
  • A judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true
  • Fidelity to an original or to a standard
  • The quality or property of keeping close to fact and avoiding distortion or misrepresentation
The Bible tells us a lot about truth. 
17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:17
God’s word is truth. It is the most important reference point for us. It transforms us and is an absolute. 
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32
13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16: 13
3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him.
1 John 2:3-5
18God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made.
James 1:18 (NCV)
Our view of “truth” is fundamentally important in our Christian faith.
Next time we will explore “Types of Truth.”  We will begin to see this as important in our Christian life and practices.

Blessings,

Larry

 

The Bible Authenticity __ Why We Know It Is True
2/19/2010 12:32:41 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

Bible, truth


First, we recognize the blessing of our belief by faith. Christ assured that those who believe, even without physically seeing his after his resurrection, would be truly blessed.

John 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Our discussion here is simply to make you aware that in addition, we have tremendous documentary evidence about the authenticity of the Bible.
My comments are drawn from the wonderful book by Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ. I highly recommend it to you, or to any of your friends who may wonder about the evidence supporting the validity and accuracy of our Bible.
In his work on The Case for Christ, Strobel worked with many of the most renowned Biblical scholars, such as Bruce Metzger, Ph.D.
Dr. Metzger points to the “mountain” of ancient manuscripts of the Greek New Testament – more than five thousand exist, 5664 to be exact. Some of the oldest date back to between 100 – 200 A.D.
There is no other ancient literature in the world with that volume of ancient copies. The closest comparison of documents of an ancient literary work is Homer’s Iliad, of which there are fewer than 650 Greek manuscripts today.
In addition to these manuscripts in the original Greek, there exist some 24,000 ancient copies in other languages.
According to another famous Princeton theologian, Benjamin Warfield, “If we compare the present state of the New Testament text with that of any other ancient writing…declare it to be marvelously correct…”
In addition, there is rich corroborating evidence by historians of the time, such as the famous Josephus, a famous Jewish historian.  Their historical accounts attest in a marvelous way to the life and message of Christ that we treasure in our Bible.
Strobel, in one of his interview steps put it well – “Your Jesus—the Jesus you relate to—is both a Jesus of history and a Jesus of faith.”
We have only scratched the surface, but I hope you see that history and archaeology’s findings all bear witness to the truth of Jesus our Lord who we accept by faith.

Blessings,

 Larry

 

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