There are so many different things that seem to demand our minds attention, our hearts affections, and our bodies’ actions. A constant debate in our souls over truth bang on our minds demanding a path to proceed down, only we hardly ever recognize this process consciously. The fact is we demand truth, and need it to survive.
Validation, confirmation….these are things we so desperately desire as a result from our actions or words. Decisions without them are decisions without any truth, any “conviction”. It seems however, that truth has become just a quantitative term. In our “majority rules” culture, truth is ever changing; opposite of everlasting. This contradicts the very definition of what a truth really is, though. If something is true, it is “constant, exact, and correct” according to the dictionary. If something is constant, then it cannot cease to exist. If something is exact, then it cannot be moved from its original position. If something is correct, it can never be made wrong. Truth, if it is in fact true, logically must hold to itself. Intertwined and complete, there are no physical openings, no gaps, and no attitude that can disrupt the consistency of truth.
So, if the view that a different set of truths applies to each culture, how can it match up with the definition? If truth is determined by people, who are defined as “imperfect”, how can it be true? After all, truth is flawless. The scientific name “Human” of our species is a synonym for “marred” at times, yet we consistently buy into the fact that the masses decide what is true and those not in agreement will just have to deal with it.
That’s why I love the Word of God. A book filled with absolutes that provide us with explanations and examples on how to apply them, these absolutes lead to freedom. This freedom today’s society seems to preach but honestly, our world doesn’t seem very free to me. Think about it!
Personally, I know that when I do not take enough time to read the Bible and to think about it I tend to fall into a timid mindset that cripples any growth in my heart, soul and mind. “I don’t understand anything that is in there….I don’t know the context, and can’t apply it….How can words help this situation?” It’s a mixture of laziness, idolatry, and unbelief (lies) that ask these things in my head. Laziness because I don’t want to put in the amount of time I know I personally need to spend in the Word each day. Idolatry because idols I may not be aware of are lurking in my heart, completely blurring my vision. Unbelief that the Word really has helped me in the past, and that it will continue to do so knifing through my flesh and filling up my soul with what it needs. I simply am not myself when I do not fully invest my mind, body and spirit into the Word of God and what is says.
Something happens when I do make that choice though, I return to the one who created me, who knows me entirely, and who never leaves. I become a little more the person he created me to become, I feel like myself again. I have a reason to relax and be joyful, I no longer have to force any of these emotions or pursue a temporary fix. I believe that when somebody experiences that precious time with their Savior, they are restored. All needs are met, no further searching is required. ALL of his book is true, and continues to stand the test of time, amidst a broken world of people hating what is in it, trying to disprove its validity. It is a gift to us, instructing us in ways that fill our needs, not our selfish desires.
Undoubtedly though, believing what is in the Bible to be true is a decision that must be addressed in us individually. The same is true with what each person thinks of Jesus Christ. That decision is one of faith. The evidence is there whether you look for it or not, but I do hope deep down anyone reading this Christian or not, does look for it. Only growth can come from that. Only TRUTH, can come from that.
Word Loose 
Thought provoking Brian. !!!!
Hello Brian,
I’ve read several of you blog posts and found them to be refreshing and well written thoughts on living.
I do disagree with some points in this latest post, but I hope you wont mistake my passion on this subject for malice toward you or what you believe.
“The fact is we demand truth, and need it to survive”
This is not a fact, this is an opinion injected with hyperbole.
“A book filled with absolutes…”
“ALL of his book is true, and continues to stand the test of time”
I don’t doubt that this is a very deeply held conviction of yours, but that doesn’t make it more than your opinion.
When you write that “all this book is true..” do you include the passages that describe to what extent a slave can be beaten?
Or how many women an Israelite soldier can claim as his spoils from conquest?
The only reason the bible is perceived to “stand the test of time” is because material is cherry picked, and/or interpreted to follow our changing cultural norms.
An honest assessment of the content of the bible would leave any but the most religiously myopic, to question its literal truth.
Did noah really build a boat big enough for two of every animal? What about the animals on the other side of the world in the undiscovered Americas?
Before any of the bible was written millions of people were born and died, are those souls damned to suffer for eternity because they were born in the wrong millennium?
I don’t mean to diminish the solace, comfort, and meaning millions of people say they gain from the bible. If the study of the bible improves your life and makes you a better person, than I’m happy you’ve found inspiration.
However, history is full of examples of literal interpretations of the bible being used to justify terrible acts. Acts that fly in the face of modern Christianity. From slave owners citing the bibles verses governing slave ownership, to the draconian laws of African countries that make homosexuality punishable by death. These laws were put in place because of a literal interpretation of an ancient document that too many ascribe to be the one and only font of truth.
Modern Christianity espouses to be the pursuit of living life as Jesus depicted. The answer to the popular question what would Jesus do, I doubt would be to stone, or otherwise put to death those that don’t believe as he did.
Its a mistake to equate modern christian morality with ancient biblical text.
Hi Jeremy,
First off, I want to thank you for reading and for your very diplomatic comment! I really appreciate it.
I would like to address what you said about opinions first. They are absolutely opinions! The statement “The fact is we demand truth, and need it to survive” definitely should have been written in a less hyperbolic, dramatic kind of way. Or, I should have first stated “I believe personally,…” or something along those lines to affirm it was only my stance on the subject. However, regarding the statements,
“A book filled with absolutes…”
“ALL of his book is true, and continues to stand the test of time”…though these are opinions, they are based on what is written in the bible, not something I just thought up. Concerning the first part, 2 Timothy 3:16 states,
“All Scripture is God-breathed…”
For correct context, this was written from Paul to Timothy. Paul was attempting to encourage Timothy in his ministry in the city of Ephesus. Paul, who had been for lack of a better word, a “Christian-killer” encountered God first hand which then changed Paul’s life. He was a man who dedicated his whole life to follow the Jewish law. Christians who believed in Jesus, the son of God that by his death and resurrection on the cross, he fulfilled the old law (by living a perfect life) and created a new law (of grace through faith) posed a threat to his view in Judaism, so he made it a point to kill and persecute them. A dramatic change happened however when Paul was headed to Damascus to bring “disciples of the Lord” bound into Jerusalem. There, Paul was spoken to by the Lord and blinded. Instructed to go to Damascus still even though he was blind, the Lord eventually used a man named Ananias to speak to Paul and share the gospel of Jesus with him. It was then that Paul could see again, and he ended up writing a majority of the New Testament of the Bible. The whole story is in Acts 9.
The second statement I made refers to prophecy. Isaiah 46:9-10 talks about prophecy.
“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.”
Examples of prophecy are all over. The book of Revelation discusses much of what the end times will look like, and many of these have already come true. This is what I mainly was thinking about while writing that. The most important prophecy however is the entire life of Jesus Christ which is 100% confirmed in new testament.
So those opinionated statements are based on what is in the Bible. I did say at the end of the post that believing the validity of the scriptures, and what is to be made about the life of Jesus is a personal decision that only an individual can make for themselves.
In no way am I trying to sound defensive here but when you say…
The only reason the bible is perceived to “stand the test of time” is because material is cherry picked, and/or interpreted to follow our changing cultural norms.
and…
“Its a mistake to equate modern christian morality with ancient biblical text.”
These also seem to me to be opinions.
As far as your questions about Noah’s Ark, salvation before the book was written, and slavery, I would like to refer you to a website that has been very helpful to me and can explain these things… https://answersingenesis.org/noahs-ark/
That link is to a page filled with information, studies, and findings about Noah’s Ark. If you browse on the side bar or use the search bar, they have articles on the other questions as well. When I read your comment I came here and figured instead of trying to paraphrase what these guys said and fail, it would be more beneficial to you and anyone else who might have questions to point you to a reliable source!
The last thing I would like to address is the phrase “modern Christianity/Morality”. Personally, I want to say I totally agree that there are people who identify as “Christian” and crucify others for a belief that does not fall in line with what they believe. The amount of wars and tragedies religion has caused is ridiculous. This brings into question what the belief is all about. What it’s based on, and no doubt, Christianity is based on the Bible…it should be at least. It seems more and more though, that it isn’t. The Bible specifically calls us not to do what so many Christians and people instinctively do. Judge others, be prideful, be selfish, lie, lust, you name it. The Bible also says how “none of us are righteous, no not one”. (Romans 3:10). No matter how hard we try, we can’t be. That’s why Jesus life and death, allows us to be free from condemnation because a holy God must just sin. It’s why it is so important. Realizing our sin against a Holy God, accepting his blood sacrifice (Jesus, the son of God…fully God, fully man), and devoting your life to serving him in love and believing in faith what he promises (eternal life with him among other things), that is what the Bible preaches. That’s why I disagree with you when you say
“Modern Christianity espouses to be the pursuit of living life as Jesus depicted.”
What has been preached from the Bible in the time of Jesus and now should be no different. Following Jesus’s example of living is definitely a helpful guide and place to look. Being a follower of Jesus however as Joseph Stowell describes in his book “Following Christ” is “a relationship, an adventure, a passionate pursuit of Christ.” It isn’t aspiring to be like Jesus as much as it is realizing we can’t, accepting his grace given through his life, death, and resurrection and living out of humble acceptance of his steady unfailing love. It is the work of Christ in our hearts that changes us, and allows of to live a life of faith in Christ. Romans 2:29 says “No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the spirit, not by the written code”.
Objective Truth vs. Belief
The reason I pointed to those lines of your blog as opinion, was to illustrate how difficult it is to have a discussion about objective truth without injecting opinion.
As you suggested, everything I’ve written in my responses thus far, has been my own opinion.
Here is something that is not opinion, but objective truth.
The Earth is billions of years old.
I wonder if you recognize this as truth.
Young earth creationists, such as those who run answersingenesis.org, represent a very conservative camp of christians who subscribe to a literal interpretation of the bible, including the belief that the earth is only 6000 years old.
Answersingenesis.org seeks to explain away the impossible nature of the ark story by qualifying what constitutes a “kind” of animal. Granting this liberal reinterpretation, it still does not explain many other issues with the story.
How did animals cross the oceans that were between them and the ark?
How did the myriad species of freshwater life survive a global flood, that would’ve inundated rivers and streams with the oceans salt water?
This worldview is objectively false, and is an excellent example as to why literal interpretations of the bible cannot by used as a source of objective truth.
Jeremy,
Respectfully, I do not recognize the belief that the earth is million years old as truth. I recognize it as a theory, but it is a theory that I do not believe…
What is your basis for believing that as truth? I feel that you say that something is “objectively false”, or “objectively true” without providing support for either.
Hi Brian,
Preamble:
I appreciate the opportunity to have an honest, and civil conversation about such closely held ideas.
These kind conversations too often devolve into internet shouting matches, and its great when people can have these kind of discussions in a sincere and friendly way. So thank you.
Now, back to our discussion 🙂
Radiocarbon dating, I suppose, is the source of my certainty.
Check it out, its fascinating science, and not a theory. Scientists can date carbon very accurately, because certain elements decay at a very fixed rate. I’m no scientist, but Wikipedia has all the details you could want on the subject. Suffice to say that the Earth is old, very old.
I suspect that this isn’t the first time you’ve heard of radiocarbon dating, and that you learned about it as I did in high school. If this is the case, I am surprised at your ability to shrug off something so well tested, and widely recognized. This is no new controversial discovery, but was one of the fruits of the atomic revolution of the 50’s. Would you deny too the existence of nuclear power plants? The same science governs them…
The main motivation for posting my initial response, was not to provoke or prove anyone wrong.
The modern science of radiocarbon dating, in no way disproves God, but it might force an amendment of certain aspects of our faith. It is a stronger faith though, that is born from honest reassessment, that can stand in the light of modern scientific knowledge, not requiring the dismissal of the inconvenient.
This discussion was born, from your essay titled Truth, and I hope that in your certainty at having it, you haven’t given up on the possibility that there may be some left to find.
I hope your holidays were grand, and I look forward to your future posts.
Jeremy
Hey Jeremy,
I want to thank you as well for a civil and thoughtful discussion! It has been encouraging to me, and I’m sure to other people who may have seen this thread. I also really appreciate your interest and support with my writing even though we may not share the exact same views. It means a lot and has led me to a greater dependence on the Holy Spirit in writing, thought, and life in general!
Where I went to high school, we have been taught from a very young age only one side of the discussion. It has not been taught as a theory, but infallible. The thought of a young earth was never logically considered largely because of it’s implications(in my opinion). My freshman year, I took Biology and there was a whole unit devoted to the origin of life. Raised in a biblical-centered church, I stuck my nose up to the whole unit, never giving it a chance. I remember during the showing of a movie about Darwin and his work. I intentionally went to sleep in class (and got into a lot of trouble too!)…That arrogance and ignorance was an eye-opener for me when I realized the real reason I didn’t want to watch it, and that was fear. Fear that everything I had been taught when younger was a lie, and fear that none of the things I believed in were true. This was the beginning of a work that was done in me and eventually in my Junior year, I made it MY choice, not my parents or my christian friends, that I needed a savior and wanted my life to change. I knew after that point that I would need to be able to defend my faith and understand all the different theories humbly not in the prideful arrogance that I had displayed two years prior. I took Bio 2 my senior year, and the curriculum was centered on the evolution of man. Carbon-dating, Skull formation, and prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell evolution were the most talked about things. So yes, I have heard of carbon-dating and I don’t deny the validity of that science whatsoever. I actually think it supports the view of a young earth. In 1997, a research project called the RATE (Radioisotopes and the age of the earth) group was started to try and find the exact age of the earth. Radiometric dating methods are often based on assumptions, and the objective of the RATE group was to evaluate these assumptions and gather commonly ignored or underestimated data scientists would use while calculating the earth’s age. Carbon-14, which from my limited understanding, is one of the key pieces used to estimate time being unstable and radioactive, thus decaying overtime. This emitted radiation is one of the key factors in telling how old something is, again from my limited understanding. Anyway, scientists from the RATE group collected coal samples from the major coal fields in the U.S. (along with diamonds in a separate experiment) and found that there were high levels of C-14 in these samples. The half-life of C-14 is very short. As a report analysis states, “Because the lifetime of C-14 is so brief, these AMS [Accelerator Mass Spectrometer] measurements pose an obvious challenge to the standard geological timescale that assigns millions to hundreds of millions of years to this part of the rock layer.”…
So there is one view on how Carbon-dating can actually prove the validity of the Bible, and creation of God rather than threaten it. I also believe a world wide flood that would have wiped out living organisms, would have created fossil fuels. Fossil fuels that today are still being discovered deep beneath the earth.