Proverbs 23.23
“Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”
As we close out this week’s focus on the pursuit of truth, here are some final thoughts.
I want to re-emphasize that this proverb instructs us to seek truth and “buy” it. It tells us to invest in truth. There are two parts to this admonition: 1) Truth should be the content of what we think; 2) Wisdom, instruction, and understanding are the mental discipline by which we acquire and apply truth.
God is the Author of all truth, not just biblical truth. This means that everything in the bible is true, but not everything that is true is in the Bible. There are many truths in the created world that you need to study and understand in order to do your daily work with excellence, navigate a contentious social/political environment, and be a faithful steward of God’s call on your life.
Truth is objective, not subjective. Truth is discovered, not created. Discovering and applying truth to your life requires disciplined effort. If you trust God, you will do the work. Do not make the mistake of thinking that having faith in God somehow exempts you from having to do the work.
Beware the slogans, soundbites, narratives, talking points, and memes in today’s social and political climate. Be extremely discerning about what media you listen to and consume. Beware the proclamations and promises of politicians. Be careful about the assertions of “experts.” When truth is believed to be relative and subjective, all that is left is propaganda and power. today’s culture. `Much of it is The main point of modern propaganda isn’t only to misinform, mislead, and push an agenda. It is to exhaust your critical thinking and banish truth.
Although advocates of postmodernism don’t realize it, their philosophy is inherently contradictory, hypocritical, and self-defeating. It tries to make an objective and absolute claim that truth is not objective and absolute. This inconsistency is rather dramatically revealed in the intense anger with which postmoderns denounce certain people and groups as “immoral” and “unethical” and “wrong.” But if, as they claim, truth is entirely subjective, and if, as they also claim, there are no moral absolutes, then how can postmoderns declare anyone or anything “wrong” or “immoral?” In other words, postmoderns claim there are no objective moral standards, but then turn around and use self-created moral standards to judge others.
Post-truth culture is very attractive to young people, because it eliminates moral standards. It is an invitation to indulge one’s impulses and passions, with very few restrictions. It is a reckless and deeply dangerous philosophy. It is “suppressing the truth through unrighteousness” that the apostle Paul spoke of in Romans 1.
In the midst of this truth-denying culture, the Lord calls his people to be agents and ambassadors of truth. “The hour is coming,” Jesus said, “and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4.23-24)
Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14.6). He told the believing Jews of his day, and he tells us in our day, “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 8.32)
May we respond to God’s call. May we be agents and ambassadors of truth in our generation.
