What Is Truth?

Welcome back to A&Q. We're sifting through some really great questions about faith that I hope are going to spur on even better conversations between you and your friends, at home, at work, wherever. So today we have a bit of a philosophical question. What is truth? Now that's an interesting question because when I say truth, not everybody even agrees on what that means. Is it your truth? Is it my truth? Is truth just whatever happens to be my opinion in the moment? On the surface, that sounds like that might be the easy way to keep a conversation at a certain level. But I think this question of truth is a tricky one and it would be helpful if we slowed down and really began to consider what it is we're talking about. So the word truth, it means something that is real, something that reflects reality. And the root of the word is in the word faith. It means that it's something we don't just blindly adhere to or loosely pay attention to. It's something people wholeheartedly and sincerely believe. Now, you may have heard phrases like, be true to yourself. And I think that gives us a hint of it. But truth isn't a matter of just empty platitudes. It's what we choose to place our trust in. So if you, for instance, were to say that God created human beings in his own image, that would be a truth statement. And it ought to be reflected in the way that you treat people, right? I mean, if it's really truth and not just a slogan or a bumper sticker, well, then it has the power to shape how we live our lives. Now, on the other end of the spectrum are those who have said there really is no absolute truth and you can't make absolute truth claims. And in spite of lots and lots of ink that's been spilled over this idea, even saying that out loud is an absolute truth claim. And besides, it doesn't really give us a chance to live that difference-making life that we want to live. It doesn't help us as much as when we courageously and honestly try to figure out the answer to the question, what is truth? And that's where it comes to you and me. Because the reality is, there's a lot about us that shapes how we answer this question. Our assumptions, our attitudes, even the way things we want to be true ahead of time don't seem to add up sometimes. See, we can get deflated about the pursuit of truth. We can give up. We can say, you know, whatever, it doesn't matter. But I think it does. After Jesus was arrested on false charges, he was taken to a now infamous Roman leader. His name was Pontius Pilate. He could tell that the one standing before him, this Jesus, was innocent. When Pontius Pilate began to question Jesus and asked why he was even being brought in front of him, Jesus says in the Gospel of John, this would be chapter 18 verse 37, he says, the reason I was even born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. And everyone on the side of truth listens to me. And then Pilate responds with this very famous question, what is truth? Now you think about it, standing in front of Pilate was the wisest man who had ever lived and the one who offered the most loving, gracious, unifying message the world has ever heard. We call it the Gospel, the good news. I think there were many reasons why Jesus didn't respond to Pilate's question in that moment. But I think part of it, like one possibility, is that he was already living out the very truth he had declared to everyone. He was living out that truth in front of Pilate. Now if you go a little bit earlier in the narrative, Jesus famously utters these words, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Now let's just slow down again. Did you hear that? Jesus says that he is the truth, which I believe is an astounding claim. I think it's a claim of absolute truth. It means the truth is a person, and specifically a loving, all-knowing, eternal one, Jesus Christ, in the flesh. That means that truth is not wishy-washy. It doesn't change with the times because we've learned that Jesus is never changing. In fact, later in the New Testament, a book of Hebrews 13 verse 8 says a famous verse to some of us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That gives some of us a lot of comfort. There is one who is like above our ever-changing world. He is solid. He is consistent. He is someone we can cling to in times of trouble and in times of great blessing. That was a big philosophical question, and we began to answer it, but I love that no matter how long we talk about this, for us, the answer will always come back to a personal one. The answer is Jesus. So let's keep figuring this out. Let's keep talking to each other. Thank you again for joining us for A&Q. Our team really enjoys reading your comments and hearing what you guys are learning along the way. So keep reaching out. Keep diving deeper into your faith, and if you haven't already, subscribe to this channel, and we'll see you again soon.