A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author. G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936, English author)
Truth is an interesting thing. It is usually defined as fact, reality, or accuracy. Of course a problem arises when the best of our knowledge leads us to be only 90% certain of something, and for various reasons we can’t leave it at that. There may be a need to act and move forward, but often it comes down to human pride and arrogance. We want to be esteemed for our knowledge and wisdom. So we fudge a little and proclaim that what’s 90% certain is actual truth, ignoring the other 10% as though it never existed.
Dealing in percentages has led to the “expansion” of truth. No longer requiring only facts, reality or accuracy, many now see truth as including anything that is “obvious or accepted”. And that bothers me. Just because a person says something is obvious or decides to accept it as fact does not make it true. Remember, “The world is flat”, “Stars rotate around the earth”, and “Cigarettes won’t hurt you”?
Truth is important in a court, but not because its decisions are the truth. Judges and juries may seek the truth, but most decisions are something less…what is most likely or most probable…not what is actual fact. Where truth is important is in regard to the witness, that person called to state what he has seen, heard, done or discovered. And the job of opposing lawyers is to discredit the witness if they can.
Suppose you’re on a jury in a case where a man is charged with murder. There is no evidence, just one witness who paints an elaborate picture of the man’s character, mentioning his temper, his dislike of the victim, and his threats against him. The witness appears confident and certain. Then the lawyer asks, “Did you see or hear any of these things?” The witness answers, “No.” “So how do you know what you’ve just told us is true?” “Because I read it in an email.” The lawyer then proves the email was signed with the name of someone who does not exist and shows there is no evidence of any threats.
What would you think of the witness? Would you trust any of the information he’s given? Would you ever again trust him as a source for the truth?
Across the world truth is being attacked in one form or another. Sometimes by governments, sometimes by organizations, and sometimes by individuals, all more devoted to furthering themselves or their own cause than in seeking the truth of a given situation. Truth is not important, as the ends they desire justify the means they use. Sadly, many Christians have also fallen into this game of playing with the truth.
In my country we are in the midst of a Presidential election and in this age of the Internet, there have been a growing number of derogatory, even hateful, emails. Lately it seems that in Christian circles, the majority of these concern Barack Obama, but others have also been the focus. [And by the way, this is not an endorsement of anyone.] Many of these emails are quite passionate, seldom researched, and in some key points, completely false in certain claims which are represented as truth. And in spite of such false statements, Christian men and women freely pass them along.
This is not about politics, but how in everything we are to remember, honor and respect our Lord, the God of Truth. (Psalms 31:5) The determination of who may lead a country has NO significance compared to the importance of our witness of the One who has called Himself Truth. G. K. Chesterton spoke about integrity in writing, but what he said also applies to our own integrity, who we are to others and who we are before God. The one who seeks the good of others will tell us the truth of the Son of God. But the one who seeks his own good tells us the truth about himself.
Each of us has the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24b) We are His witnesses to the truth of the Good News that is Christ Jesus. When we speak without regard to the truth or ignore a few lies and half lies, we take part in deception. And if we do not care about the truth in matters of this world, why would anyone listen when we share the Truth in matters of the next? They won’t!
So as one who unashamedly follows the Way, the Truth, and the Life, I urge you to seek, discover and find the truth. In what you send or represent to others, make certain there is nothing false or hidden. May it not be said of us, Truth has stumbled in the streets and is nowhere to be found. ( see Isaiah 59:14-15)
“He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the One who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” (John 7:18)
Take care and be God’s,
Chuck Graham
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