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“You Shall Know The Truth”

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

An identifying mark of the present intellectual environment is the idea that truth is relative and subjective. This idea has been around a long time, but has recently weaved its way into American culture to an unprecedented degree. The movement is an aspect of terminology called “postmodernism” (see video). This relativism is contrary to common sense, contrary to the Word of God, and thus a very dangerous false teaching.

One might ask, “Why it is important that we understand the nature of truth?” An example might be that if there is no absolute right or wrong, then a man may leave the wife and mother of his children and feel no regret about it. After all, if there are no real and absolute rules in life, why not just do as we please?

Thus, we see the importance of absolute truth.

Let’s look at a simple example that illustrates the way the word “truth” is used in a biblical context. Mark tells of a woman who had an “issue of blood twelve years” (Mark 5:25-34). She had gone to the doctors and they had not helped. She heard of Jesus and got close enough to Him to touch His garment. She was healed immediately. Jesus knew that it had happened and asked, “Who touched My clothes?” (Mark 5:30).

Mark 5:33 tells us:

“But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth” (Mark 5:33).

Now, what did this woman do when she told Jesus the “whole truth?” Obviously, she told Him what had actually happened, did she not? Thus, we clearly see that the very nature of truth is equivalent to reality. Something really happened to this woman, and she told the truth about it. We know that this is what she did, because Jesus then said to her:

“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:34).

The definition of “truth” being always used of something equivalent to reality, is too simple for some folks to digest. Indeed, if truth is real and absolute, then we as human beings may not behave any way we want. If truth is a reality, then we must recognize it and live according to it. And since many folks in this old world manifestly do not want to behave themselves, fiction has been created saying that truth is relative and not absolute.

As long as people want to do as they please, they will reject the idea of “whole truth” (cf. Judges 17:6;  Judges 21:25). Reject it they may, but since truth is equivalent to reality, it cannot be avoided and will not go away (cf. Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25; cf. 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25).

Our Lord said:

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

The only way to truly know God’s truth, is to continually abide in His word (John 8:31; 2 John 1:9; cf. John 15:3-8; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14) which is absolute and inspired truth (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16).

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