June 2 – The Truth is Out There

#153 #FaithBites #FaithJourney

The Truth

What is truth? In today’s day and age, the truth seems to be fluid. In a heated discussion on Facebook, several of my friends and debated on what truth means. For some, it’s a scientific quest for answers. For others, it’s in the Bible. For others, it is in conversation with each other. For others, the truth changes and evolves over time. For others still, the truth is constant but our understanding of the truth changes.

This is a hard concept to master. For me, without truth, we don’t have common ground. Without common ground, we can’t have a foundation to build upon. This isn’t to say that we can’t disagree on policies, processes, and beliefs. But, if we don’t have what the truth is, we can’t move forward.

For instance, if I said 1 + 1 = 2. Most people would say that’s correct. Now, I could say 1 + 1 = 13 and that would also be correct. If we said 1 foot + 1 inch = 13 inches. We could also say 2 + 2 = 4 (which most would agree with) or 2+2=1. (2 soldiers + 2 soldiers = 1 squad). To me, those are still facts, but ones that we understand more as we discuss.

Likewise, we used to think that we had bad humors and that caused sickness. Now we know about germs and bacteria. The truth didn’t change, our understanding of it did.

Bible understanding is similar to this to me. The word doesn’t change, but how the words were used and are used does. The different translations of the bible show things slightly differently. When there is one Hebrew word that can mean 10 different English words and vice versa, there can be issues. Likewise in English, we even change what words mean in 10 years let alone 2-5 thousand years. Think about LOL. Many of you probably think it means Laughing Out Loud. Many young people now us it in texting and such to mean ok. Things change.

God doesn’t change, but our understanding of him and his word do.

 


“Then how is it that each of us hears them in our own native language” – Acts 2:8

“Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. “ – 1 Corinthians 14:10-12


 

The words we use may change. The ideas we have may evolve over years, but truth stays. There is an ultimate truth. For me, it is believing in God the father and I am saved through Christ. For me it is to Love God, Love people. I can disagree with someone, I can see their point, and be respectful and loving to them. As I say to folks, I may not like you but I love you. And yes it’s hard.

We need to think about the God, his word, and how we act to others. The search for truth is something that we all need. We need to hear to listen. We need to listen to understand. We need to have open hearts to grow our relationships.

Are you able to see that there is such a thing as truth? Can you see God’s role in that truth?

I am able and can see with the help of God.

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