Defining Truth

What is truth? How can we know if something is really true? Does truth matter?

Truth is an important part of any society. Our society in particular, was built upon the foundation of truth.

The Declaration of Independence begins with these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident” Apart from truth, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are meaningless and ultimately impossible to fulfill.

But we currently live in a culture that has radically changed from this foundation of truth, and instead has embraced relativism. This is now the dominate philosophy taught in both lower and higher education. It is the belief that ultimate truth is relative.

We see the influence of relativism in statements like, “that’s true for you but not for me” “science is the only source of truth” “truth can not be known”

We have become like the world of WandaVision. Living in our own little bubble without any concern for what is actually true, what is actually real. So what’s wrong with that? It won’t last, it can’t last.

God is a God of truth, and no matter how hard we may try to run from truth and pretend like it doesn’t exist, it will eventually close in on us. We are not God, and we don’t get to create our own reality. We are made in God’s image, living in God’s world, operated by God’s laws.

None of us can actually live as if truth doesn’t exist or as if it doesn’t matter.

Example: Does it matter that 6 million Jews were murdered under Hitler?

“In the absence of truth, power is the only game in town”

Why have we seen such a dramatic change in our understanding of truth? Is it because we have become enlightened? Is it because we got woke? There are many reasons for this change, more than anything else I think it’s actually very simple.

We have become lazy. Unwilling to think deeply about, life, meaning, purpose, truth, and God. We are too willing to just accept information without using our minds to actually think about that information is influencing our thoughts and decisions.

Example: The Big Bang Theory

Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit

Out of nothing nothing comes

Romans 1:18–25 CSB

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Defining truth:

For something to be true, it must be true for all people, at all times, and in all places.

True truth is not relative.

Truth is true even if no one believes it, and a lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it.

The philosophical definition of truth:

The Correspondence Theory: Truth is that which corresponds to reality.

In other words, truth is telling it like it is.

Example:

Truth is that which corresponds to reality as it is perceived by God.