To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
“I want the truth”
“You can’t handle the truth.”
Remember the scene? I didn’t see the movie, but I do. Even if I didn’t remember it, it plays out in my life on a regular basis. I tell dad something and he says, “You may believe that’s what happened but that doesn’t make it true.” Somehow, he doesn’t enjoy hearing it as much as he enjoys saying it. Ask him what happened, and he admits he doesn’t remember, but that wasn’t it. That’s the sadness of dementia.
Our society has the same disease. In some ways, it’s part of the human condition. We all want to believe we have the truth, we know the truth, we tell the truth… but the reality may not be quite that straightforward.
Jesus told us the conditions under which we would know the truth. We must hold to His teaching – not just a piece there and a piece here, but all of it. To the extent that we obey Him and submit to Him, we will come to know the truth. I know some people who say they love Jesus and follow his teachings, but they reject Paul’s even though what Paul taught corresponded with what Jesus taught.
Knowing the truth always involves submission, because the truth doesn’t submit to us. Truth is objective. It doesn’t change based on personal preferences or even culture. Yes, there are cultural standards that may be called truths, but truth corresponds to reality. It’s deep water – and yet so simple. Scientists supposedly look for truth, when money, pride, and politics don’t get in the way. Philosophers pride themselves in looking for truth and then they bury it beneath so many words it will never be found. Religion, or at least the best of religion, seeks truth and proscribes the means by which it can be found.
Jesus said truth is found in His teaching. In my experience, I’ve learned that He told the truth. He was also correct about the truth setting us free. One tiny example of that. Fifteen years ago, when I lost ninety pounds, I discovered that admitting that I was fat took away the power of that word. Admitting it stole its shame, and I was free do to something about it, and I lost the weight. As soon as I started hedging the truth about putting on a few pounds and that being “OK” because I’ll lose it again, I put on weight that I can’t seem to lose. Yep, I got fat again. Curious how that happens.
“You can’t handle the truth.”
Remember the scene? I didn’t see the movie, but I do. Even if I didn’t remember it, it plays out in my life on a regular basis. I tell dad something and he says, “You may believe that’s what happened but that doesn’t make it true.” Somehow, he doesn’t enjoy hearing it as much as he enjoys saying it. Ask him what happened, and he admits he doesn’t remember, but that wasn’t it. That’s the sadness of dementia.
Our society has the same disease. In some ways, it’s part of the human condition. We all want to believe we have the truth, we know the truth, we tell the truth… but the reality may not be quite that straightforward.
Jesus told us the conditions under which we would know the truth. We must hold to His teaching – not just a piece there and a piece here, but all of it. To the extent that we obey Him and submit to Him, we will come to know the truth. I know some people who say they love Jesus and follow his teachings, but they reject Paul’s even though what Paul taught corresponded with what Jesus taught.
Knowing the truth always involves submission, because the truth doesn’t submit to us. Truth is objective. It doesn’t change based on personal preferences or even culture. Yes, there are cultural standards that may be called truths, but truth corresponds to reality. It’s deep water – and yet so simple. Scientists supposedly look for truth, when money, pride, and politics don’t get in the way. Philosophers pride themselves in looking for truth and then they bury it beneath so many words it will never be found. Religion, or at least the best of religion, seeks truth and proscribes the means by which it can be found.
Jesus said truth is found in His teaching. In my experience, I’ve learned that He told the truth. He was also correct about the truth setting us free. One tiny example of that. Fifteen years ago, when I lost ninety pounds, I discovered that admitting that I was fat took away the power of that word. Admitting it stole its shame, and I was free do to something about it, and I lost the weight. As soon as I started hedging the truth about putting on a few pounds and that being “OK” because I’ll lose it again, I put on weight that I can’t seem to lose. Yep, I got fat again. Curious how that happens.
I'm really blessed by this teaching. But can one tell the truth at a critical state of crisis when there is alternative way to protect life?
ReplyDeleteAugustine, your question is a good one, because when we are in crisis, truth can be hidden beneath a lot of emotion and even under a mountain of information. It's harder to find when we're stressed. The key seems to me to be that we seek the truth, and ground ourselves securely to the truth before a crisis hits. That doesn't mean we'll never be unsure which of two choices to make, there is no one hundred percent guarantee, but the more truth we know, the less likely it is that we'll be tricked into believing what is not true.
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