Articles
Nothing To Do With Truth
Knowing the truth is what makes us free from sin (John 8:31-32). Nothing else can compare. The problem is that too many people are like Pilate, asking, “What is truth?”, implying that truth cannot ultimately be known. Therefore, each person is basically free to make up his or her own truth. Often we hear people say, “That’s my truth.” With such attitudes prevailing, the Scriptures fall by the wayside and get trampled underfoot. Ironically, it is these same ones who claim to believe in the God of the Bible.
How do we know whether or not something is truth? Do we put it to a subjective test of our own, make a decision based upon what we think is good, and then live by it if we deem it convenient and practical? It is an arrogant people indeed who think that truth is found in their own imaginative schemes.
When talking to people about truth, I have heard at least three different ideas expressed which are used to justify something. In other words, all they have to do to prove (?) something as true is to give one of these three reasons: (1) they had some sort of emotional experience; (2) look at how many people believe it; and (3) we’ve been doing this a long time. In all three attempts at clarifying “truth”, the Bible is missing. Therefore, we must understand that these things have nothing to do with truth.
- EMOTIONS have nothing to do with truth. They do not determine whether or not something is true. A person can be very emotional over something that is false. Those who believe and are emotional about a lie will be condemned (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Although there is a proper outlet for emotions after the acceptance of truth (Acts 8:39), let’s avoid appealing to emotions in order to determine truth. Emotions can respond to false doctrine (e.g. – the prophets of Baal – 1 Kings 18:25-29).
- How many people something has nothing to do with whether or not it is true. We hear, “Can thousands of people be wrong?” or “If you are right, then look at how many people would be wrong.” “Surely this position must be right since so many people believe it.” Wrong! Truth is not a democratic process left up to the majority of the people to vote on. Truth is truth, whether it is accepted by any or all. See Matthew 7:13-14.
- How long something has been believed has nothing to do with truth. People try to justify their actions by saying, “But we’ve been doing this for years. It can’t be wrong.” False doctrine has been around about as long as man has (See Genesis 3). Time doesn’t turn false doctrine into truth.
So how do we know what is truth? The truth which makes us free is the revealed word of God. The Bible is the objective standard to which we must go. Let’s truth it!
John 17:17
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
