I grew up in a society with a framework of absolute truth—a shared value system. Right was right, wrong was wrong. Truth and error were different. Those are not my truths. That is the truth. As believers, we know the source of truth is Scripture, the Word of God. Ours is a theistic foundation: God is the measure of all things.
The rise of humanism (the idea that man is the measure of all things) has changed all of that. In today’s world, the basis of truth has been moved from something that is objective—outside of us—to something that is subjective—inside of us. Everything is measured by how you feel about it.
About a decade ago, I first heard the phrase: “I’m speaking my truth.” Since when do you get to personalize it?
The phrase “Speak your truth” has very little or nothing at all to do with actual truth. What it really means is this: Express your opinion. “That’s my truth as opposed to your truth” means that today, objective truth statements are seen as narrow-minded, bigoted, and arrogant.
And so, to modern ears, when Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), that sounds abrasive and confrontational.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul predicted that people would fall away from the truth because of deception: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
Most people are cynical when it comes to truth and believe truth cannot be known. They’re like Pontius Pilate, who in the presence of Jesus said, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).
Through the lens of today’s postmodernism, nothing is certain. Everyone is entitled to his own truth. There are absolutely no absolutes. So, uncertainty is the new truth. Skepticism and doubt reign supreme. Right and wrong don’t exist. What matters most is how you feel.
Some people will be offended by it. But one of the most loving things you could ever do is to tell people the truth, “in love” (see Ephesians 4:15). Truth doesn’t require a possessive pronoun in front of it. In fact, if it does, chances are it’s not truth.
Our calling is to know the truth, guard the truth, live the truth, speak the truth. Paul knew that many people would turn away from the truth. So, he gave us the antidote: Don’t be ashamed. Preach the Word. Speak the truth.
The One we believe in and follow, who died for us, made a unique promise when He said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
If you want to experience freedom, don’t turn to human philosophy. You’ll only become confused. If you want freedom, come to Christ. Because truth is a Person. Millions of people throughout history who have called upon His name have all experienced a changed life.
They’ve discovered He’s truth—and He sets people free.
