Think Like Jesus:
Make the Right Decision Every Time
Part 2: Developing a Biblical Worldview
Chapter 10: Questions 7: What is Truth?
Every worldview hinges on an understanding of moral truth…..Every worldview hinges on its concept of moral truth. Americans may not seem nearly as concerned about truth and personal morality as they are about physical comfort, emotional security, personal image, and material achievement. But every decision we make ultimately relates to our perceptions of truth. Because truth reflects what you believe to be indisputably accurate, your notion of truth is at the core of your understanding of and response to reality. In other words, for a worldview to help you make sense of reality and lay a foundation for your understanding of meaning, purpose, value and righteousness it must specify what truth is (or isn’t.) (Pg. 149)
How do you respond to Barn’s assertions regarding truth and its place in informing and forming one’s worldview?
THE APPLICATION OF TRUTH
In my philosophy courses in college and graduate school, truth was an abstract ideal we argued over without any sense that there might be an absolute standard to grasp and embrace. Our involvement was really more of a mental training exercise than a route to wisdom and discernment based on a true comprehension of the eternal importance of the matter….Our conclusions were more often than not based on how persuasive someone’s argument had been on a certain position or in response to how well a perspective paralleled one’s personal inclinations. In my experience, colleges and universities these days are even more likely to lead students to conclude that absolute moral truth does not exist. I was just one among the millions of earnest students duped into such thinking over the past quarter century. (Pg. 150)
Do you think this is a fair assessment of the treatment of truth in colleges and universities in America today? Why or why not?
…It finally dawned on me that if there is no such thing as absolute moral truth, then there can be no such thing as right and wrong. Without right and wrong, the idea of sin is baseless because it assumes a standard that is either upheld or broken. If sin does not exist, then you concurrently remove the notions of judgment and condemnation. Remove those elements from the discussion, and you also erase the need for a savior, for we have nothing to be saved from and no consequences to avoid. Without the existence of sin and its ramifications, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are historically insignificant and personally meaningless.
All of us must one day come to the place Barna reached—if we are honest. If there is no absolute truth than our faith in Jesus is baseless. What does that say about the importance of establishing whether there IS absolute truth?
THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH
As a believer in Christ and a servant of God, my worldview is based on the Bible. But in discussions with those who endorse alternative worldviews—or who simply want to critique a biblical worldview—the conversation often comes down to what each of us considers to be our core truth and the source of knowledge related to those elements. Inevitably—and appropriately—Christians must be able to defend the authority and reliability of the Bible as our source document for God’s truth.
The Bible is unique in many ways. First, it claims to be God’s direct revelation to us regarding His values, principles and expectations. Second, the words in the Bible come directly from God—written by people who were specifically directed by God in relation to content. While the personality, background and context of each author is evident in what he wrote, the substance was from God. Third, because these are the words of a deity who is always truthful and accurate, the content represents truth for humankind. Finally, Scripture is authoritative because it presents God’s words to us—that is, they are the words of One who reigns over those whom He has created and whose commands are to be carried out precisely as He intends. (Pf. 151)
What do you make of Barna’s four claims to the uniqueness of the Bible? Are there other books that make these claims?
Questions About the Bible
Conscientious objectors—some of whom are favorably disposed to Christianity—nevertheless raise some valid questions and concerns about the Bible…Indeed, if the Bible contains, truth, there is no need to embellish the information; it will speak and stand up for itself, as God sees fit.
Another concern is that we do not have the original manuscripts of the Bible and therefore cannot trust the text we today call the Bible. This would indeed be problematic if it were not for the scrupulous manner in with the original manuscripts were copied and thus preserved by ancient scribes.
A concern that troubles many observers relates to the authority of the Bible. A document may proclaim itself to be true or to have been written by a specific author, but the mere claim of authenticity does not substantiate its authenticity. What reasonable evidence exists to support the striking claim that the Bible is the actual words of God?.....This unbroken, centuries-old chain of support for the Bible enhances its claim of authenticity….One of the most impressive substantiations of the authority of the Bible, however, is that it possesses the attributes of that which scholars have agreed are the elements of truth. For instance, the Bible is internally consistent and unified in its principles and claims. There is also tremendous coherence across the many authors and centuries during which the various books were written and in which its stories unfold. (Pps 151-153)
Do Barna’s points in response to the questions folks ask regarding the Bible’s authenticity seem sufficient to address the concerns? Why or Why not?
Jesus Christ Endorsed the Bible
Personally, the most convincing argument is that Jesus Christ taught that the Bible is God’s authoritative words to humankind. By personally endorsing the value and veracity of the Scriptures, Jesus empowers us to be totally confident that the Bible is reliable and authoritative….We must concede that Jesus did not give direct consent to the truth of the New Testament, since those books were not written until several decades after His resurrection. However, He had a direct hand in the development of those books by appointing the disciples who wrote them and giving them the knowledge, experience, and authority to speak in His name. Put it together: Each apostle was called by Jesus, had first-hand observation and experience related to His life and ministry, was filled with the Holy Spirit to facilitate God’s wisdom and power to fulfill this incredible function, and was affirmed in his spiritual authority by the rest of the Church during that era. (Pps. 153-154)
Why is Jesus’ endorsement of the Bible so important to our trusting its validity?
A Bible For All Time
Some critics of the Bible argue that it seems improbable that a holy, omnipotent, and eternal God would resort to such an unreliable and simplistic means of communication as the written word….Consider the big picture. We know that God existed before humankind and created a world that seemed incomplete. He filled the apparent void by creating people. He made people specifically to have a relationship with them. Because He wanted us to genuinely love Him, He could not create us in such a way that we were forced to love Him; our response to Him had to be our choice or whatever love HE received would be contrived and insignificant rather than meaningful and special. But by giving us the ability to make moral choices, He gave humans the chance to select sin rather than holiness. To enable us to deal with our poor choices, and to understand the context of our sin, He determined to provide a guidebook that would explain His original intent, what eventually happened, and what can be done to restore the possibilities in our lives. (Pps. 154-155)
What role does faith play in our accepting that the Bible IS God’s word, and contains absolute truth for our lives?
THE BIBLE’S COMMENTS ON TRUTH
Pilate was not the first—or last—human to question the meaning, content or value of truth. Throughout the ages, philosophers, theologians, judges, political leaders, and educators have wrestled with this subject. And it is a vexing question: What is truth? Thankfully, the Bible speaks abundantly on the topic. What does it say about the nature of moral truth? (Pf. 156)
God is Truth
The most important and fundamental principle conveyed is that God is the essence of truth ... He is the source of truth, the definition of truth, and the gauge of truth. (Pg. 156)
The Nature of Truth
God knows that His truth is the only truth. Its uniqueness is shown by its having stood the test of time—mocked, criticized, misunderstood, and abandoned by some, but still accessible and irrefutable. Those who resist acknowledging that all truth is God’s truth must respond to some impossible questions: What truth claim in the Scriptures has ever been proven false? What truth is not God’s truth? What significant moral principle is not found in the Bible? …It does not change. (Pps 156-157)
What does the nature of truth do to give us assurance for living from a biblical worldview?
Benefits and Impact
Truth does not exist in a vacuum; it influences our reality. Most importantly, God’s truth sets us free….Many people miss the point entirely, viewing moral truth as a set of restrictions that hinder their behavioral freedom. Nothing could be more inaccurate. God’s truth, designed to enable us to enjoy the benefits of godliness, removes the bonds of human disability and dysfunctionality from our lives. Moral law does not limit us; it allows us the freedom to achieve the full potential that God placed within us. (Pg. 157)
How do you respond to Barna’s contention that moral truth doesn’t restrict us but frees us? Why do you suppose that the world doesn’t see this benefit of moral truth?
As you wrap you mind around the nature of the spiritual battle and the central combatants, remember this battle is not about you. You are caught in the crossfire of good and evil. Satan does not care about you at all; you are just a means to his impossible ends. Only God cares enough about you to ensure that you have the avenues and authority available to escape the clutches of this despicable creature. (Pg. 143)
Why is important for us to realize that the battle is not about us, and that Satan doesn’t care about us at all?
ATTAINING TRUTH
No matter how wonderful God’s truths may be, unless we understand and apply them, they do us no good. Therefore, God has made His truth not only helpful but abundantly accessible. First, He sent Jesus to teach and emphasize what matters to God. Second, He protected the information and sealed the information through the work of His Holy Spirit. Third, He has called millions of talented and supernaturally gifted individuals to teach those truths to many millions of other people so that the wisdom of God and parameters He set forth would be know and adhered to…..Significantly, the Bible reminds us that the truth is available to those who honestly seek it. (Pps 157-158)
What road blocks have you experienced in seeking to attain God’s truth in your life?
Opposition to Truth
Naturally, Satan is committed to blocking or distorting God’s truth. He hates God’s truth and will use whatever means are available to undermine it from invading a person’s heart….Sadly millions upon millions of people follow the devil’s deception rather than God’s truths. …Thus we experience a double whammy: We get hurt by following the lies of the deceiver then pay again for our disobedience when God exacts His justice. Thomas Aquinas’…three reasons for rejecting truth: It reveals flaws (in other words, sin), it is a barrier to achievement or acquisition, or it conflicts with what we wish was true.
How have you seen or experienced Aquinas’ three reasons for rejecting truth at work?
Challenges to Believers
God’s truth comes complete with challenges to its adherents. For instance, believers are encouraged to love His truth, to obey it in all circumstances and to promote it whenever possible. Thus we can see the importance of moral truth to God: It is meant to make us more like Him, but it is also a valuable resource that we are to defend whenever necessary and credit whenever reasonable. (Pg. 159)
What are some practical ways that we love and obey God’s truth and champion it before others?
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Contrary to public opinion, moral truth is not a private matter to be decided by every individual according to each new set of circumstances. God’s truth is absolute, authoritative and accessible; if we live by it we will thrive, but in its absence we will suffer….The failure to recognize or acknowledge His truth does not change the fact that His truth exists, it is always right, and it cannot be altered or ignored without peril.
Five insights:
First, we must acknowledge that God has dictated absolute moral truth to us.
Second, every truth that we embrace must conform to clear biblical principles.
Third, if we are to think like Jesus then we must love truth.
Fourth, every moral choice we make must therefore reflect God’s moral truths.
Finally, we must go the “extra mile” in our zeal for God’s truth by seeking and exploiting every possible opportunity to promote, defend and teach those truths to others. For us to follow the truth in all circumstances, though, we must know the Bible intimately. Every moral issue and choice is addressed in the Bible and may therefore be acted upon with wisdom and purity—if we draw on the truth of Scripture. Because thinking like Jesus is not natural for us, it is crucial that we incorporate purposeful Bible study into our regular life regimen and unceasingly apply what we learn form that effort. … Knowing His truth is imperative, but we must also muster the will to reject the seductive alternatives the world has to offer. This is warfare, and we can count on the enemy to imitate God’s ways but twist them and to offer appealing but inappropriate options for consumption. Never accept a truth at face value; always filter it through the grid of Scripture, prayer, and counsel. Our enemy is clever and takes perverse pleasure at our falling for his lies.
Is God’s moral truth an obsession to you? It ought to be for every follower of Christ. After all, our decisions are influenced by the accuracy of the perspectives we bring to every point of decision; we cannot make great choices if we are working with faulty information. (Pps. 159-162)
How may we incorporate these five insights into our daily lives?
FOR NEXT WEEK: Read Chapter 11: Pages 163-174 in Think Like Jesus
Back to the study guide for Barna's Think Like Jesus.