The Attack on Truth

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If you knew the truth, would that change your mind? I wonder how many of us would answer honestly.

Some would just ask, "What is truth?" Pontias Pilate asked that question to Jesus two thousand years ago. If someone asked me, "What is truth?", I would answer “Truth is that which corresponds to reality. In other words, truth is an accurate picture of the way a thing is. This is exactly what Merriam-Webster would say.[1]


So what?

Unless you’ve been locked away from the world, you know there is a fiery battle happening right now in the U.S. Senate regarding Supreme Court Justice Nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The debate, one might assume, is whether or not Kavanaugh is innocent or guilty of alleged crime(s). The debate one might say is whether or not the claims of alleged victims are true or false. 

But at a closer examination, the debate isn’t over truth, but rather desire. There is an attack on truth.

Why do I suggest such a thing? Because regardless of affirmation or acquittal, the vast majority of Senators will not change their vote. Their votes are based upon desire not truth. The vast majority of Americans will not change their viewpoint of Kavanaugh. The issue is not truth, but desire. 

Kavanaugh isn’t the only example of the preference of desire over truth. 

In a recent Q&A session with Apologist Frank Turek, Turek asked a student “If I could prove Christianity were true, would that change your mind about becoming a Christian?” The student unashamedly said, “No.” Even if true, they would reject the truth to pursue their own desires.

We see it regarding finances. If you overspend you'll be overdraft, yet people overspend willingly. We see it regarding sexuality. If you step outside of a monogamous, marital relationship, there are consequences of many kinds. We see it regarding our bodies. We know that abusing our bodies via drugs, alcohol, or food will have life altering consequences. Yet we do these things anyway. Why? Desires trump truth.

This simply must not be.

Why?

Let me speak to Christians first. Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

As Christians we are to love truth and rejoice in truth, regardless of what it is. 

Jesus Christ said He was the truth!

Paul would say in 2 Timothy that God’s Word is truth (2:15). Our road map for life is found in God’s Word. It’s not found in the culture. Not the internet. Not Google. Not Netflix. Not a talk show. Not a political party. Not a funny sitcom.

Our positions, our convictions, and our desires are to be based on truth - not feelings or desires. Our convictions, beliefs, positions, and desires are to be based on truth alone found in God’s Word which always has and always will correspond to reality.

Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself. But please, don’t have a blind faith. A blind faith leads to blind practice and wild convictions.

Let me speak to everyone. If something is true, you should care about it. You should pursue it regardless of its implications.

Gravity is real whether you like it or not. Its reality is evident even if you really want to fly like a bird or walk of a cliff hoping to float. You may not like the truth of gravity, but to deny its reality is fatal. So is the truth in many other areas of life.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 says, “And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” The rejection of The Truth is spiritual death. The rejection of truth in general is foolish.

It shouldn’t matter if truth relates to politics, physical health, sexuality, finances, physics, eternity, or any other subject matter. Our desires – our feelings should be subject to truth.
You and I may try to suppress the truth (Romans 1:18), but it doesn’t change reality. 

For your sake and mine, let’s pursue truth and act accordingly no matter where it leads.

“The truth shall set you free.” ~ Jesus


[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld

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