Growing In Godliness Blog
“What Is Truth? - Part 2”
Categories: Author: Boyd Hurst, Current Events, Jesus, Pontius Pilate, TruthWhat Is Truth? - Part 2
By Boyd Hurst
In Part 1 of this article, we began to discuss how one should answer Pilate’s question “What is truth?” We discussed how Jesus is full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14) and is thus the purveyor of truth and we should listen to Him. However, the devil is doing everything within his power to confuse and destroy the truth just as he did in the garden at the beginning of time. We need to be mature enough to discern good from evil as we face the challenges of our increasingly ungodly environment.
Everyone surely realizes there are fundamental truths that do not change. In the morning the sun is seen first in the east, 2+2=4, water at sea level freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F, etc. God is like that according to Mal. 3:6 which states, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” Daniel prophesied that the Roman empire would “speak pompous words against the Most High, persecute the saints of the Most High and intend to change times and law” (Dan. 7:24). However, he goes on to say that this kingdom will be destroyed and the kingdom of the Most High will arise as an everlasting kingdom that all dominions shall serve and obey. Not even the powerful Roman empire could change God’s law nor can any other. It is not up to a nation or individual to determine what is truth. God’s truth is always victorious and is a “lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway” (Psa. 119:105). Jesus told His apostles that He would send them the Spirit of truth (Jn. 15:26) who will “guide them into all truth” (Jn. 16:13) and Jesus prayed for them to be sanctified by the truth of God’s word (Jn. 17:17).
Even though we may think we understand the principles stated previously, the Scripture teaches that the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8) and false prophets appear as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mt. 7:15). Just like Satan manipulated the language in Genesis 3 to entice Eve to sin, we see the same thing happening today. Society has given the right for biological males to declare they are female and vice versa. The medical world has assisted by creating drugs and surgical procedures that cause women to appear more masculine and men to appear more feminine. As members of this society, we are called upon to address these “changed” individuals by specific pronouns, either the opposite gender or neutral to not offend them. It is clear that these superficial changes have not rendered a fundamental change since DNA is still the same. Also, male athletes who were only mediocre competing against males have risen to the top of women’s sports by declaring they are female even though they have obviously not lost their maleness. Just as Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem when it fell into sin, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush” (Jer. 6:15).
When asked to define “woman”, the latest supreme court justice, Ketanji Jackson, refused to answer thereby underscoring the confusion that is being perpetrated by an ungodly society. In fact, articles and even books have been written to try to define a woman according to the latest academic ideologies. It used to be very simple (and still is), but it has been made very complicated in order to satisfy a current narrative/agenda. It makes one wonder what the next redefinition of terms will be to contradict the clear and obvious meaning of a descriptive term.
This redefining of terms would be laughable if it was not so serious and detrimental to a belief in God. The very fact that this is being embraced in our culture reveals the depravity that now exists. When we condemn the practice of homosexuality and same-sex marriages, we are called homophobes because society has changed the definition of marriage such that it can be between a man and a woman or between two people of the same sex. When we say only women can give birth, we are called transphobes.
At the creation, God created everything to serve His purpose and He proclaimed them good. All things created were holy and distinct and perfect. Male and female were created to complement one another and to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. It is incredible that feeble men have the audacity to even consider the alteration of God’s plan. Paul, in the Colossian letter, warned of this very thing: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and vain deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ”, Col. 2:8. Just as the cucumber can be turned into a pickle by vinegar, we can be changed by this world if we allow ourselves to be immersed in it. As Paul states in Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
It is time that we realize and proclaim that “truth” is not subjective. In religion, there is not your truth and my truth or our truth and their truth, there is simply truth. God’s truth is universal and absolute since He is the originator and purveyor of truth. In answer to Pilate’s question “What is Truth?”, we can surely and confidently answer that God’s word is truth. Let us all seek, find and courageously follow the truth of God’s word.
