What is Truth?

“What is truth?” uttered Pilate uttered to Jesus Christ (John 18:38). Was Pilate being cynical? Perhaps after hearing all the trumped up charges against the accused, he could never figure out why the religious leaders wanted this man dead? Or was he just not interested in knowing anything about the person he was about to pronounce judgment, especially the talk about a kingdom that was not of this world? Whatever the motives of his heart might have been, he stood in the presence of the greatest truth of the ages — the ultimate revelation of God— but he missed it completely.

Truth exists. It is one of the most precious commodities in the world, yet it is often missed. Many today would deny its very existence, or at least mistake it for something practical, poignant, or personal, yet truth is something else.

Truth is that which corresponds to reality. Whatever claim we make about ultimate reality, such as origins, God, Jesus, morality, or the meaning of life, if those statements correspond to that which is really out there, then those statements are true. If, however, what we say does not correspond to truth, whether or not our claim has internal coherence, our claim is still false. Suppose a jury convicts an innocent person of a crime on the basis of the coherence of bogus testimonies, the jury’s conclusion of a guilty defendant is still false. Moreover, if the core values of any worldview are logically inconsistent, then that worldview cannot be true. For example, if a pantheist claims that all is God and evil doesn’t exists, while at the same time affirming karma meters out rewards and punishments on the bases of the good and evil that people do, the worldview of that pantheist is inconsistent, and, therefore, false.[1]

Christianity is also makes a truth claim about the ultimate reality of the universe. Jesus Christ declared, “If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32), and “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).

According to the Christian worldview, there is one God, who is three in person, an eternal Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the creator of the universe. He created this planet with a diversity of life. He also created man in the image of God, to tend this Garden of Eden.

Man, however, sinned by rebelling against God. Through the sin of Adam, all of humanity fell into sin, decay, and death.

God’s plan was to redeem man from the curse. Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, entered into this world through the womb of a virgin named Mary. He was the incarnation of the eternal God. He lived among us, performed miracles, and even declared Himself to be God. He was crucified, buried, and rose again the third day. His resurrection actually vindicates His divinity. Christ’s death and resurrection also provides the way for sinful man to return to a right relationship with God, to be indwelt by the life giving Holy Spirit, to be joined with a universal church of believers, and to share in the resurrected to eternal life at the Second Coming, and to experience the restoration of paradise.

Hank Hanegraaff sums up it up best in pointing out truth is an aspect of God’s nature, that which corresponds to reality, and essential to a realistic worldview.[2] Now lots of things have been thrown out so far, and much of these points still need to be flushed out a bit more, but this is a start. While not everything is hammered out in detail, if God permits, more blogs shall come up addressing these vitals issues. To be certain, other related issues will also be covered.

Peace

Warren

[1] Douglas Goothuis, Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against The Challenges of Postmodernism (Downers Grove, Il: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000), 97-98

[2] Hank Hanegraaff, The Bible Answer Book (Nashville: J. Countryman, 2004)152-153