Truth

“Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked” (John 18:37-38a).

What is truth? This was Pilate’s question as he considered the charges against Jesus. I think he knew Jesus was the truth. He stated, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” Yet, Pilate gave in to the crowd and “The Truth” was crucified. Can we say the truth is being crucified again today, even in the halls of our Congress?

Last week the House of Representatives passed the “so called” Equality Act. We must do all we can to stop such “inequality” from going any further. That legislation would have taken away the rights of any who want to practice their faith with regards to the gender issue. Families and businesses who believe that God created humans as male and female, who believe the Bible teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman, and who practice a moral lifestyle according to the Bible, would be breaking the law to act upon their faith. Where are the rights for the Christians?

Romans 1:25 states that people have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. That has a contemporary sound, doesn’t it? In Old Testament times, Isaiah pronounces, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). In the New Testament Paul refers to those who refuse to love the truth (2 Thess. 2:10). There are those today who refuse to love the truth. Truth isn’t something we make up in our own minds.  Truth comes from the Word of God. And that is where the problem lies. It seems to me, those who refuse to love the truth are also refusing God’s authority.

Perhaps the Christian’s best response to our present-day situation is found in Paul’s words to young Timothy. At least, it’s a good place to start.

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:22-26).

Are we willing to accept the challenge?