Some Truths About Truth

Many people in the world today believe that truth is whatever you make it to be. It’s called relativism, or post-modernism. And actually, it’s what the world esteems as “true”. It’s nothing new though. This way of thinking was popular thousands of years ago, and God specifically warned his people against “doing what was right in their own eyes,” as if whatever their hearts led them to do was always right to follow (see Numbers 15:39; Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25). But since God is the moral authority of the universe, and we come to know what is true through what he tells us is true, He has also told us that our “hearts are deceitful” (Jeremiah 17:9).

So what is the prevailing thought of relativists? They say that as long as you are sincere about what you believe, then it’s true. Or you’ve probably heard someone say, “Well, that’s true for you, but that’s not true for me.” Sounds pretty wise and intelligent, but it’s not, and you’ll see why in a sec.

So, how do we know what’s true? And are there truths that are universally true for all peoples, in all places, for all time?

Well, here are some truths about truth. Many of these self-evident, logical truths are used from the great book by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek called “I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist.” This book addresses many of the illogical beliefs that most atheists suscribe to, and explains in depth as to why you really have to have a lot of faith to be an atheist, in light of what’s true.

1. Truth is discovered, not invented. It exists independent of anyone’s knowledge of it. (Gravity existed prior to Newton.)

2. Truth is transcultural. If something is true, it is true for all people, in all places, at all times (2+2=4 for everyone, everywhere, at every time).

3. Truth is unchanging even though our beliefs about truth change. (When we began to believe the earth was round instead of flat, the truth about the earth didn’t change, only our belief about the earth changed).

4. Beliefs cannot change a fact, no matter how sincerely they are held. (Someone can sincerely believe the world is flat, but that only makes that person sincerely mistaken).

5. Truth is not affected by the attitude of the one professing it. (An arrogant person does not make the truth he professes false. A humble person does not make the error he professes true.)

6. ALL truths are absolute truths. Even truths that appear to be relative are really absolute. (For example, “I, Frank Turek, feel warm on November 20, 2003″ may appear to be a relative truth, but it is actually absolutely true for everyone, everywhere that Frank Turek had the sensation of warmth on that day).

He then goes on to say…

In short, contrary beliefs are possible, but contrary truths are not possible. We can believe everything is true, but we cannot make everything true.

Thanks for reading.

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