On “Truth”
As I have been reflecting on recent events and the times we are living in, I have also been attempting to learn and understand the way other believers process in particular. Through observation in comment sections as well as some of the personal conversations I’ve had, it has come to my attention that there tends to be skepticism and uncertainty surrounding what “truth” is. I hear language used such as “my/your interpretation of Scripture” or “my/your views,” which has increasingly intrigued me more and more. I have taken a lot of time to think about this, and find myself coming back to the same question over and over: why has Scripture and “truth” become subjective to us?
You can likely guess where this is going. I believe there is a huge problem with this. If “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) and “able to make you wise through salvation in Jesus Christ” (v. 15), why would any believer simplify its significance to merely as it’s “perceived?” As if we don’t serve a personal God who communes with us, longing for us to know Him. There is a treasure to behold in Scripture, as the Word is God (John 1:1) – the Lord has and continues to reveal Himself to us in these special texts through the accounts of those inspired by His Spirit to write it, which all point to the same, straightforward truth: Jesus Christ is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). The Truth is the Lord and the Truth is clear. Our job as believers is not to determine what this looks like lived out; it is to increasingly BEHOLD it as we walk with Truth Himself — then, and only then, will we embody it more faithfully.
This brings me to a piece of revelation I was reminded of today, as I am confident I am not the first person to say this: there is a big difference between knowing God, and knowing about God. To know the Lord is to know Truth. The Bible is how one gets to know God – His heart, His character, His order. Supplemental texts, sermons, and faith-based podcasts can help with some understanding, but we do ourselves a complete disservice if we claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ when these mediums are the bulk of what we consume, or even filter His Word through. At the end of the day, we as the church are called to build each other up in the faith, but the church is not the source of faith. Methodology of speaking and interacting with others will only take you so far until you begin compromising on or remaining silent about truth in order to satisfy ears. Answers are not found in man or in man’s ways of thinking/interpreting – Scripture speaks for itself, as it is straight from the Spirit of God. Our thoughts and feelings can become louder than Scripture if we’re not filtering our humanity through our spirituality.
My hope for the church is that we get away from subconsciously diminishing the Word’s authority to just “how” we interpret or view it. Rather, we should seek to consistently spend time in the Word and in fellowship with God, seeking our revelation straight from His heart to our own. Through truly knowing Him, we become clear on what the Word actually says. Hear what I’m about to say: what you fight for reveals where your heart lies. In my next blog post, I will dive a little more into what the Lord’s been stirring my heart with on that. In the meantime, I want to caution my brothers and sisters in Christ who can sometimes get stuck in filtering their spirituality through worldliness, especially through the lens of others’ thoughts, feelings and experiences – Truth is, regardless of how anyone “perceives” it or what they’ve experienced. This is dangerous for any believer’s witness to God, as spirituality is the eternal reality, not flesh and bones. We also do people a disservice to withhold Biblical Truth, as we will give people a false impression of who our Lord is. And no, I’m not just referring to the Truth that’s easy to hear — I’m talking about the pick-up-your-cross and die-to-yourself Truth. We need to be pointing people to the presence of our supernatural God, fixing our eyes not one what’s seen, but unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18). My personal desire for myself and ALL believers is to continue to press into the Lord as our answer and healing for all questions and offenses, because He is (beyond) enough.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13
