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Here’s A Thought for June 1

Jesus prayed saying: “Sanctify them in the truth; your Word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:17-19)

Ask anyone today, “What is truth?” and you’re sure to start an interesting conversation. Try it on a university campus and you’re likely to receive laughter, scorn, and derision. The concept of truth has clearly fallen on hard times, and the consequences of rejecting it are ravaging human society in our churches, in our legal system, in our government, and yes even in our personal relationships.

Two thousand years after Christ’s prayer about truth, the whole world breathes Pontius Pilate’s cynicism; “What is truth?” Some say truth is a power play, a constructed set of laws by the governing elite for the purpose of controlling the ignorant masses.

To some, truth is subjective, the individual world of preference and opinion. Others believe truth is a collective judgment, the product of cultural consensus, and still others flatly deny the concept of truth altogether. Sadly, within our educational system students are taught to reject the belief of absolute truth and that “truth” depends on the certain situation or the cause it advances.

So, what is truth? Here’s a simple definition drawn from what Sacred Scripture teaches: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.

Truth is also ontological — meaning it is the way things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it so. Therefore God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth.

Jesus also said that the written Word of God is truth. It does not merely contain nuggets of truth; much like a theological smorgasbord. God’s Word is pure, unchangeable, and inviolable truth that (according to Jesus) “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Praying to his heavenly Father on behalf of the members of his Church, He said this: “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Moreover, the Word of God is eternal truth “which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23).

Truth is not subjective, it is not a consensual cultural construct, and it is not an invalid, outdated, irrelevant concept. Truth is the self-expression of God. Truth is thus theological; it is the reality God has created and defined, and over which he rules. Truth is therefore a moral issue for every human being, for you and me.

How we and each person responds to the truth God has revealed in his Holy Word, both the law and Gospel is an issue of eternal significance. To reject and rebel against the truth of God results in darkness, folly, sin, judgment, and the eternal wrath of God. To receive and to be sanctified in that Word made Flesh, Christ Jesus, who is the truth of God is to see clearly, to know with certainty, and to find life everlasting.

Thus we boldly and confidently sing: “God’s Word is our great heritage and shall be ours forever; to spread its light from age to age shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, in death it is our stay. Lord, grant while worlds endure, we keep its teachings pure throughout all generations. Amen.”

Chopp is a clinical chaplain emeritus, MDiv, BCC, from Marshall

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