John 18.37
“Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’”
In response to the postmodern denial of objective truth, God calls the Christian community to proclaim the truth, practice the truth, and defend the truth. The world should see the truth in our actions, feel the truth in our attitude, and hear the truth in our words. And our practice and proclamation of truth must always be directed by love.
Truth is one of the great themes in the Bible. Scripture describes Jesus as “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), and it says that “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Jesus said in John 14, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Needless to say, postmoderns are scandalized by the Bible’s authoritative declaration of truth, and they are especially offended by Jesus’ claim to be the exclusive pathway to a relationship with God. Nonetheless, the truth stands firm.
Another strong expression of the importance of truth in scripture is the New Testament’s use of the Hebrew word amen, which occurs 129 times. It is typically translated “truly” or “I tell you the truth,” as when Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Amen is a word that reinforces that something is true, and it emphasizes that the truth should receive our full attention.
Quite the opposite of how postmoderns explain truth!
Jesus has a very clear message for anyone seeking a life of significance, meaning, and purpose: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8.31-32)
Postmodernism offers no such promise. Instead, it proclaims that the universe has no objective truth or purpose, and then invites people to create their own meaning and morals based on nothing more than the shifting sands of subjective experience and personal preference. But instead of liberating people, this philosophy enslaves people to their own passions, and makes them vulnerable to manipulative politics.
By contrast, consider the words of the apostle Paul: “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor 4.2-3)
God is real, and he is the author of Truth. He has revealed himself in the person and work of Jesus, and he offers reconciliation and redemption through Christ’s death and resurrection. He invites us to believe and follow him, and he calls us to be warriors of truth in the midst of a confused and broken world.
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17.17-19)
