What is Truth?

I find that my view of truth is in conflict with the majority of thinkers and Christian leaders. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish my definition of truth from the majority. That way you can decide on which is the more correct way of using the word, “Truth.”

Let me first refer you to Wikipedia, an on-line “unofficial” encyclopedia. There is a very useful source of information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth#Performative_theory_of_truth

Focus on the Family introduced Dr. Del Tackett and the Truth Project. The first lesson is introduced by: “defining truth as “that which corresponds to reality.” Thus truth is substantive, but corresponds to reality. It sounds like “truth” is reality, unless there is a separate reality, that mirrors reality. Which explains their next statement, “This absolute and eternal truth,..” Truth is “some thing,” therefore, we can refer to truth as “absolute.”

To avoid this redundancy, I define truth as a statement. Truth has to do with words that purposely describes a reality. It is not the reality. It is not “some Thing” that corresponds to reality. Instead, truth is simply an accurate description of reality. By understanding truth as a description, the appropriate adjective would be “reliable” rather than “absolute.” “Is the purportedly accurate description, reliable?

Let me put it another way. Our understanding; does truth enable us to understand truth (some thing), or does it enable us to understand reality? What do we need, to know the “absolute truth?” Or do we need to know, from a “reliable truth,” the reality.

Whether it is life science, or technology science, or religion, etc., the definition for “truth” applies. Truth is simply an accurate description of reality. Philosophy wants to create a different meaning for “truth,” making it substantive. Unfortunately, I think Christianity has bought into that. Probably because they did not recognize the metaphorical use of “truth” by Jesus, when He said, “I am the truth.”  Their philosophical approach to truth has led to heated debates about truth itself, but has not led to a clearer understanding of the use for God’s Truth (the Bible) in our lives.

Faith provides knowledge of spiritual realities

Sorry for the extended delay for this blog.

We have discussed the biblical exhortations to walk by truth and to walk by the spirit. Walking by the spirit is described in Romans 8:5, as setting our minds on spiritual things, rather than on physical things. We suggest that it means to orientate our minds on the spiritual factors, when evaluating a situation or in making decisions. Thus we will be learning to walk by the spirit.

After one of my classes, one student asked, “How do we know what are the spiritual factors?” The answer is found in the third biblical injunction, to walk by faith.

Faith is like one of our five physical senses, but instead of enabling us to perceive the physical world, faith enables us to perceive the spiritual world. None of our physical senses can do that. Notice how the epistle to the Hebrews, described the effects of faith on our minds, in the areas of the invisible.
Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of {things} hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
:2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Our physical senses allow our minds to know, to understand and be convinced of the physical world. Faith does the same thing for us in the invisible world. Knowledge and understanding of the physical world allows us to decide and make plans for our lives. But it is necessary for the Christian to know and understand the spiritual things, in order to not be enslaved by the physical things, called the “flesh.” (see Rom. 7:17f)

What are the factors involved in our desire to buy a car? Make and model, color and cost. Or do we consider motivation, impact on our tithing, uses intended for the car. Recognizing the spiritual factors is a first step.

The Christian must grow in faith to know what are the spiritual realities that should govern the way he lives. Rom. 10:17 tells us, “So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Faith grows as we hear God’s truth describing spiritual realities for us to know.

In the Gospels, Jesus, on two occasions commented about “great faith,” which He observed in two gentiles. What is great faith? What did Jesus observed in these two gentiles? (Luke 7:2f)
:6 Now Jesus {started} on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;
:7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but {just} say the word, and my servant will be healed.
:8 “For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
:9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.“

The centurion understood a spiritual reality, authority. Authority does not require a physical contact. If Jesus had authority, He could just “say the word.” Faith perceives the spiritual realities. Great faith perceives a greater reality.

Truths which describes spiritual realities enable faith. Faith gives us the knowledge of spiritual realities, which is what our minds focus upon to guide us in our daily living.
Hopefully, this summary connects with your understanding of truth-based living.

Consequences in Singleness Concept

Last week, our local newspaper declared, on the front page, “51% of women in U.S. living without spouse.”  This statistic for 2005, grew from 34% in 1950.  The article reminded us of an earlier post that in 2005, married couples became a minority for the first time in America.  It suggests that “several factors are driving the statistical shift.”

As a man, I feel a responsibility for the women in our community.  I believe it is built into us, because God created the women for the man.  It is personally disturbing to know that so many women, they who love relationships, are alone.  Going out on the limb again, it may be that men who are single are not simply afraid of commitments, but are actually shirking their responsibility.

I believe that a primary cause is the lack of affirmation that God designed Man as male and female, for the purpose of marriage.  America is experiencing an aberration to God’s design.  We may learn to cope with this problem, but, in final analysis, it is not good.

To correct this trend and condition, the Church, which is suppose to teach God’s Word, must speak out and illuminate this design of God, for Man.  We cannot expect the world’s experts to have the light necessary for an answer.  Perhaps, if men and women understand marriage is God’s design and purpose for mankind, they will make greater efforts to maintain their marriages.

The Christian’s Defining Activity

In my reading today, I came across a truth in Psalm 58.  Connect it back to my blogs about walking by truth.

Ps. 58:1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
Ps. 58:2 No, in heart you work unrighteousness; On earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.

What does it mean, “you weigh out the violence?”
It suggests restraint.  “You limit the amount of violence”
Why?  In order to not appear as evil as we are.  So we can appear righteous.
How prevalent is this practice in our days?
Are we, even Christians, showing restraint in our pursuits?
Do we not, weigh out the amount of greed, by trying to share?  being “generous?”
Do we weigh out the amount of revenge, “getting even?” by controlling anger?
Do we not show restraint in the amount of pleasure we seek? by limiting how far we will go.
Do we show restraint in the expressions of our rebellion against God?  by making concessions?

Is our attitude to seek moderation?  To take a middle-of-the-road stance, instead of insisting on the right?  Isn’t that what a good Chinese would do?  Isn’t that what a respectable American would do?  But is that righteousness?

I propose that the defining activity for a Christian is not moderation, but to walk according to truth.  Living as a Christian is to walk according to truth.  But if we do not know what it is, and we have not made it a personal goal, will it be done?

What is Spiritual Maturity?

Let’s restate the importance of our blog’s discussion. Our concern with truth and reality is because apostle John made so much of “walking according to truth.” We tried to affirmed that view by considering the purpose of truth, and our vital need, in this life, to know reality correctly. I believe knowing reality correctly is the fundamental motive for all sciences, math, research and development. Understanding the purpose of truth is to reveal reality, we may even understand the thoughts behind the statement, “.. and the truth shall set you free.”

I have noticed two other exhortations expressed similarly:
Walking by the spirit (Rom. 8:4-6)
Walking by faith (2 Cor.5:7)
As well as, Walking by truth (3Jn.4)

Often times the New Testament uses the words, “walk,” and “walking” to indicate a way to live. “Walking,” suggests the Bible is addressing the way we are to live. (It is being used allegorically.)

Being new creatures, in the old world of sin, HOW are we to live? Clearly, Scripture warns Christians not to live the way we used to. Jesus has brought us into a new life, and therefore, a new way to live. We need a new “wineskin” for the new “wine.”
Rom. 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

These three exhortations fit well into a single concept, rather than being three separate concepts. They make up the manner for living, which a Christian needs to learn. Maturity is the degree to which the Christian has understood and learned to practice these. “Babes” are those who retained the old way of living.

Feeding on the Truth (Word) of God nourishes our minds in what are the realities as God designed them to be. Thus, our minds are renewed and we will know how to walk in harmony with God’s design and purposes. (1Pet.2:2)

Why the exhortation, “walk by the spirit?”
The reason and its description are summarized in Rom. 8:4, “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
:7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able {to do so};
:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Romans 7, and Galatians 5, warns of the severe consequences to walking by the flesh, including “death.” Walking by the flesh or walking by the spirit is described as an orientation of our minds, “set their minds.” The choices are “the things of the flesh” or “the things of the spirit.” (please examine my thinking on this.)

What are these “things?” I concluded that they are either physical things, or spiritual things. They are either from the visible world or from the invisible world. Both are real, but we are told that the spiritual things are eternal. Therefore the physical things cannot hold true values.

The Christian must learn to set his mind on the spiritual things. This means that when he considers a decision, or is evaluating a situation, he is not to be focused on the physical factors, but on the spiritual factors. Consistency in doing this is spiritual maturity.

I was amazed by my discovery, when in reading the Gospels, I asked myself, “When Jesus is speaking, is His mind focused on spiritual factors or on physical factors?” Then I asked the same question of those speaking to Jesus, “Are their minds focused on physical factors or on spiritual factors?” So, I begin to ask, “What would be different in my understanding, if I focused on the spiritual factors instead of the physical factors?”

I now believe that if church leaders practiced setting their minds on spiritual factors, the experience of their church will fit Gal. 5:22f, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
What is sad, is that so many churches are experiencing the other results. Does the apostle Paul’s verdict of the leaders in Corinthian, apply to today?
1 Cor. 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.
:2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able {to receive it.} Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

Is Singleness a Sin?

Is singleness a Sin?

This is an example of using God’s truth to reveal a reality.

The reality is marriage. Our last blog said that marriage is the purpose in God’s designing of Man as male and female. “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” God had also declared that it is not good for man, the male, to be alone. (of course, marriage is described as a male and a female becoming one flesh)

We are on the verge of deciding that to chose singleness, rather than marriage is a deviation from God’s purpose and will for the male, and fits the Greek word for sin, “to miss the mark.” Would you agree?

We had proposed that when we act in harmony with God’s design and purpose, we are doing the good. It is the way to live righteously. Accordingly, when we act in a way divergent from God’s design and purpose, we will be failing to live as God wills, and are doing evil.

How would this fit in with our view of sin as the transgressions of God’s laws. Because God is consistent, we would expect that His laws are in harmony with the design and purpose in His creation. Like an owner’s manual for a car, the instructions are to guide the owner to act in harmony with the car’s design and purpose. In a sense, the owner’s manual is a law book.

Back to marriage, Ken had noted the Scripture passages which advocate singleness. It is not within our scope to deal with all of them. But let me make some observations for our consideration.

1 Cor. 7:1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
I doubt that “the things about which you wrote,” is an issue about marriage in the usual sense. Marriage is a foregone conclusion for the Jews. One had suggested that to not marry is to kill one’s posterity.

My sense of this passage has to do with re-marriage. I understand that to be a Pharisee, one had to be married. (that important for them) Thus, I believe that Paul had been married at one time.
1 Cor. 7:8 ¶ But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.
Note the use of the term, “unmarried,” while elsewhere he used the term “virgin.” I believe it refers to the divorced, along with widows.
1 Cor. 7:28 But if you (the unmarried) should marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin should marry, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
I know that we evangelicals prefer to have the issue of divorce and remarriage decided in the negative. But I think Paul is dealing with that very subject in 1 Corinthians 7.

A further note, is Paul referring only to women, when he writes about “virgins.” So that young men should not accept this as instructions for them. But even if it does, there seems to be a pattern in the Bible’s exhortations to remain single. They are presented as exceptions, due to a specific condition, such as the Nazarite, or the choosing to be a “eunuch” for the sake of the Kingdom. Singleness is not presented as a norm for mankind.

My belief, from God’s truth, is that marriage is revealed as a normal, expected condition in the life of a man. To not accept or expect marriage is a rebelling against God’s will for the man (with exceptions). Is it good, what God has made? Is God right when He announced after the sixth day of creation, “very good.” Why is marriage shunned and excused, rather than pursued?

Allow me to add one more concern. There are many young men and women who are pursuing marriage. What is an apparent lack, is adult assistance and guidance. Besides creating opportunities to meet singles, why isn’t the church leaders assuming some responsibility to guide and promote marriages? We seem to fear the label, “match-makers.” Call it what you will, but shouldn’t mature minds be actively involved in the creating of sound marriages?

Joy!

I wonder if there is any true Joy, apart from the birth of our magnificent Lord?
Let us celebrate the birth of Jesus with gladness of hearts.
Have a marvelous Christmas Day.
My next blog will be in the first week of 2007.

Using the Bible to Guide our Lives

Chin-Lee asked (thank you), “What is the first truth in the Bible that we can live by?”

First, a review of key concepts:
God’s truth is the only reliable source of truth.
God’s truth is also a big challenge to grasp and embrace.

I suggest for your consideration, that the first truth which directly concerns us, will also define human history.  The first truth is in the description of God’s creation of Man.  He announced, “Let’s make Man in our own image.”  What did that truth described?

Does it merely describe what God was about to make?  OR  Does it also describe why God was making Man?  “What,” God was making a god-like creature.  “Why,” God was creating a creature with which He could have a relationship.

I realized that my children were  created in “my own image,” which made it possible for me to have a relationship with them that I do not have with cats or dogs.  Therefore, “in our own image” would indicate the purpose God has for creating Man; a unique creature, with whom God was to have fellowship.  Does the Bible’s account of human history confirm this purpose?

Here’s what we read.   A fellowship was set up in the Garden of Eden.  The fellowship was broken (“die”), when the couple sinned.  God initiates His plan to restore the relationship through Jesus Christ.  Jesus “bridges the gulf” which separates us, enabling reconciliation between God and Man. Anyone who seeks the reason for his existence, having a relationship with God, will find the Gospel, good news, indeed!

But, let me indicate the process for this conclusion:
Truth, being an accurate description of reality, has as its purpose, to reveal reality.  Thus, truth enables us to comprehend reality.  The Bible often makes truth synonymous with light, because the purpose of light is also to reveal reality. Yes?  When I’m in a dark room, I want to see the reality that’s there.

In seeking to understand a reality, we can focus upon the physical traits like the size, the texture, color, weight or volume, dimensions and shape.  These data are useful, but the weightier information are these: design and purpose.  In order to live in harmony with reality, we need to know the design and purpose God gave to it.  Is it safe to say, the design and purpose for any object, is also the will of its Creator?  Therefore, to live in harmony with reality, is also, doing the will of God.

Another example in God’s creation of Man, He said, “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Gen. 1:27)
This time, let’s focus on the last statement, “male and female He created them.”  Those are physical characteristics being described.  Can we discover design or purpose?  Answer the “Why?”  What did God have in mind when He created them as male and female?  I believe God answers this question in chapter two.  “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

What is the “cause” for a man to get married?  Why do people get married?  “Love,” the world say.  However, in Genesis two, the word “love” does not occur.  So, “love” cannot be the reason God gives for getting married.  Of course, we will find that “love” is a required ingredient in marriage.  So, are people seeking the wrong reason, for getting married?

“For this cause” refers to the process in creating Man.  Having made Adam, God said, “It’s not good for man to be alone.”  He then said, “I will make a helper suitable for him.”  Finally, He created the woman and brought her to Adam.  And then the Bible says, “For this cause…”  This indicates a conclusion of purpose.  God’s purpose in designing Man as male and female,.. is marriage.  A man should get married to be in harmony with God’s design and purpose for him.

I recommend we read and study the Bible by approaching it with the questions: “What is the reality being revealed?” and “Can we discern God’s design or purpose from this truth?”

tbljoe

The Challenge in God’s Truth

Let me continue from our last blog.

If Man’s sources of truth are subjective and unreliable, where does one find a reliable truth? Should the Christians’ belief that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, be worth considering? Of course! If it is God’s Word, then we have a source of truth that is from the Creator, Himself. Who else would know what this world is like? And should He chose to reveal it to us in the Bible, it will be, for me, a reliable source of truth.

However, I believe God has forewarned us of the nature of His truth. It will not be easy for us to comprehend. Our minds have been programmed by the world’s truth, and when we are convinced they are true, it’s hard to consider them lies. Here is God’s challenge for our consideration. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:-9)

The thoughts and ways of a people form the foundation of their culture. Thoughts are the values they believe and seek. Ways are the methods in which they seek to acquire those values. (I realize this is a bold claim with little explanation) Accepting this definition, God is saying that He has a different culture (values and methods) and it is radically different from any culture in this world. I suggest there is a Kingdom culture we will not grasp, until we have heard, understood and embraced the truth from God.

It seems to me that when the Church of Jesus have not realized the need to renew their minds with God’s truth, they will operate the Church from a world’s understanding of the Church and of Christian living. It is easy to be enamored by the psychology, or management techniques, or education theories, etc., taught in this world. Couple this with a Bible whose wisdom is very hard to understand, and we have Christians and the Church appearing as only a variation of the world’s diverse cultures, instead of being a radical people of The Way.

When the Church of Jesus decide to walk according to God’s truth, they will discover a description of reality, of the world God created, that is vastly different from the reality being described by Man’s truth. When the Christian’s mind has been renewed by God’s truth, then the Christian will live a transformed life. It is THE process proposed in Romans 12:2, and is true.

It will not be easy to walk by God’s truth, because it is so different from this world’s understanding. If we are grasping the Word, we should find ourselves exclaiming, “Is that true? It can’t be!” But submissive thinking will confirm the wisdom of His Word.

Next, I want to discuss what we should be finding as we examine God’s truth.

The Purpose and Value of Truth

Walking according to truth is vital for the Christian because of what truth does for us.

I understand truth to be a statement. A statement made to describe a reality, whether it’s something that exists, or something that happened. It is important to remind us that truth is NOT the reality.

The purpose and value of truth is to reveal reality. Therefore, truth, by definition, must be an accurate description of reality. Truth enables us to comprehend reality. An inaccurate statement is false, not truth, and will deceive us into a wrong comprehension of reality.

But, is our knowledge of reality a vital possession? Of course. We live in a reality which we did not create. However, we must understand how to live in harmony with it. The world we live in has great resources and potentials. It also contain risks and threats to our well being. We depend on truth to provide us with accurate descriptions of it.

Truth is what we need to understand and to live in harmony with our world. However, truth is hard to find. Pilate may be asking Jesus that when he asked, “What is truth?” There are many voices, claiming to declare truth. Who should we believe?

Here is what I see as characteristic of all human sources of truth.
One, they did not create our world, but only experience it by encounters.
From their encounters with reality, they must gather data, interprete their meaning, and propose a conclusion.
In preparing their truth statement, they cannot avoid their own biases, escape their peer pressures, or personal motivations.

Therefore, we may conclude that all human sources for truth are limited in scope and highly subjective. The sinfulness of the human character has produced self-centered statements that are false, describing reality inaccurately. Like the Matrix, in the movie by that name, sin has created a virtual reality for our world to live in. But it does not describe the reality which God created.

A conclusion: Truth is absolutely vital to our correct understanding of our world and our need to live in harmony with it. What is important is for us to recognize a reliable source, a Reliable Truth. (Absolute truth is not the issue.) Can we confidently believe what we hear? With all human sources, my answer is “No.” And where does that leave us? In ignorance, with the blind leading the blind.