Who has the right to establish truth? Our culture think it does. And sadly, many Americans agree. Including some Christians.
The pull of the cultural tide is a powerful force. The changing current of society calls us to jump in and go with the flow. It woos us with rationalizations.
The water’s fine. Everybody’s doing it. The Bible is outdated and irrelevant. Times are different now.
Okay, that last statement is true. Times are different now. And times will continue to change. What’s still outside the bounds of acceptable behavior in our culture today may be celebrated next year.
Unless we stand firm, that charging, changing tide will sweep us away with it.
What is “truth?”
According to Dictionary.com, the noun “truth” is “the true or actual state of a matter; conformity with fact or reality.” But our culture teaches that “truth” – fact and reality – is relative. That it varies depending on the circumstances and the individual. That everyone gets to decide what’s “true” for themselves.
In our culture, “truth” fluctuates based on what seems good, or feels good, or sounds good to them. People who want to be heard declare the “truth” they think others want to hear. Sadly, this even happens in the church (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Some Christians today – even prominent Bible teachers and ministers – have yielded to pressure from the culture to compromise on God’s truth. (Also see “A Heavy Burden on My Heart” , “4 Reasons Christians Compromise with the Culture,” and “How to Know the Difference Between Wise and False Teaching.”)
But by definition, truth is not relative. Truth reflects fact and reality. Truth is permanent, unchanging, and unaffected by temporal things.
Where do we find truth?
The Greek word translated as “truth” in the Bible signifies reality and refers to that which is accurate and trustworthy. Jesus used this word a lot. One key instance is on the night He was betrayed.
That night in the garden, He prayed for His disciples. He asked the Father to “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). There’s something vital in this verse. Jesus didn’t merely use an adjective to describe God’s word as “true.” Instead, Jesus used a noun to declare God’s Word to be “truth.”
I love how Wayne Grudem expounded on this in his book Systematic Theology:
The Bible is God’s Word, and God’s Word is the ultimate definition of what is true and what is not true: God’s Word is itself truth. Thus, we are to think of the Bible as the ultimate standard of truth, the reference point by which every other claim to truthfulness is to be measured. Those assertions that conform with Scripture are “true” while those that do not conform with Scripture are not true. What then is truth? Truth is what God says, and we have what God says (accurately, but not exhaustively) in the Bible.”
Why is God’s Word True?
The Bible reveals truth because the Bible reveals God.
The Bible declares itself to be the very words of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21). A revelation breathed out by our Creator for His creation. God’s words reveal Him. They reflect His character and nature.
Here are just a few aspects of God’s character that are reflected in His Word:
- God cannot lie (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18)
- God does not change (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)
- God possesses perfect knowledge of all things (Job 37:16)
- God is true (John 3:33, 1 Thessalonians 1:9) and God is truth (John 14:6)
The one true God embodies truth. The Creator of all that exists establishes truth. Our holy, exalted God defines truth. And God infused His Word with truth.
Culture constantly changes. So why would we base our values, ethics, and behavior on what the culture accepts or doesn’t accept? The Bible must be our basis for morality. We cannot allow the culture to interpret Scripture. Instead let’s use Scripture to speak to the culture. (Also see, “Do You Read the Bible All Wrong?”)
God’s Word is the eternal constant that declares unchanging truth. The Bible is relevant today and forever. Scripture crosses all cultural barriers, language differences, and geographical borders.
Popular “truth” shifts beneath our feet, but the Bible is our solid foundation that is established forever (Psalm 119:151-152). The Bible is the constant against which everything should be measured. (To see more about how Christians should interact with the culture, see “Should Christians Judge the Word?”)
Government can’t legislate truth. Cultural mores can’t reshape truth. Human desire can’t bend truth.
When culture conflicts with the Bible, God’s truth trumps culture every time. Every time.
I do sin but i believe that anyone that does not have the full conviction that God’s word is the ultimate,does not have the spirit of God in him.
Kathy…how reFRESHing to see you confront Truth by speaking up With and For “Wisdom from the Kingdom”. I agree wholeheartedly on your precision-packed-perspective. It’s flavouring is TRUTH and is percolated with the aroma of my coffee this morning.
It is a real blessing to hear and see a woman of God (or any pastors of their flocks) deliver the uncompromising and unswerving delivery of Trith.
Too many are compromising with culture!
Christ delivered TRUTH so beautifully every time….Christ even added His Splendour spice of “more to think about” – the “added absolutes.” An example is when he added the “if a man EVEN LOOKS at another woman with lust, he has committed adultery with her in his heart.” Wow..Jesus didn’t compromise with what they were saying the culture allowed, He trumped their perspective by adding a dollop of “more TRUTH to ponder”
We are exposed daily to not even “half truths” – we are exposed to all lies ..a little dab of a lie will destroy !…just like a little something of the wrong ingredient can wreck a whole stew. That is what the “evil one” is counting on – distorted half truths about Primary Sacred Truth – so the lies get inside…they are the insidious perspectives that can pull families ( families in the church too) apart and get us away from the Truth.
We have to guard our minds and I believe that the measuring stick is …making everything said or suggested LINE UP with the WORD OF LIFE. If it is “off by one degree”, we are taken away from God’s Majestic Alignment.
Sometimes it is difficult when we witness and hear these diluted and polluted perspective presented as fact. It can be shocking (especially if it is Christians or pastors preaching a diluted and polluted gospel) – they are believers that have been deceived and are delivering that deceit. But the Word of God will stand strong. And knowing the Word and what is says protects ourselves even if many disagree or challenge that in our midst. We can still experience a “peace,be still” reality and put the others in God’s hands with a precision prayer of “lead them into Your TRUTH” (that the Holy Spirit will convict them)
I am so glad that my “mind is (finally!!) governed (now) by the Holy Spirit and it brings life and peace.”
Truth saturates our soul with Shalom – even if all the world doesn’t agree, it is beautiful to know and to consistently follow TRUTH.
The Bible it our Truth Anchor.
Jesus came…FULL OF – Grace and …
Truth.
“my sheep HEAR My Voice and they follow Me”
What and incredible incredible incredible Shepard of the flock – leading us to STAY IN safe and gentle pastures through His Living and Loving Truth.
Thank you for your beautiful and brave sharing today Kathy. It really blessed me. Real blessing over here in Canada 🇨🇦 Be blessed and stay safe and tucked in by Truth ! 🤸♀️☀️
AMEN!!!! Beautifully said.
Thank you for sharing this!
I love all your posts, Kathy!! It is wonderful to hear the words of a true believer and faithful “fear the Lord” Sister in Christ!! Glad someone is finally addressing this cancel culture and casual dismissing of God’s Truth!! I get so frustrated as how to just a few voices has so much power to change all the rules! I want to stand up and speak Truth!! I think we as true followers of Christ are failing miserably in our servitude! We need to take the generations back to the Bible Truth!!
Thank you for such a needed message. The Holy Spirit is always on time. Humanity so desperately needs to hear this message right now. Sadly to say, many Christians need to hear it and take heed to it as well. Kathy, your message is revelation from God that needs to repeatedly resonate within the walls of our Christian churches. We cannot compromise with culture!! Common sense tells us you don’t build a house on sand so why are so many of us choosing to build our lives on culture, which is just like sand, so unpredictable and unstable. God bless you for the work you do for Him.
Tashia, thanks for coming by! Honestly, my primary audience for this post is Christians. The truth of Scripture will seem like foolishness to those without the Holy Spirit. We must introduce them to Jesus. Then the Spirit can begin to apply God’s truth to their hearts and minds!
This has become a problem in knowing who to trust in Christian circles anymore. With the discovery of realizing how many Christians and Churches support questionable practices like “Christian yoga” soaking prayers, soza, enneagram, etc which all have roots in the occult. Discovering well known ministries and book authors and some Christian conference leaders practice, teach and encourage these practices is disheartening.