On Earth...

In Matt. 6:10, Jesus calls us to pray with words like this: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven." "On earth..." messages are the reflection of various local writers sharing common experiences in daily living and then guiding renewal of the mind and spirit from God's Word. It is scheduled to appear on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Here Am I, Send Me

Absolute truth vs. situational truth

[May 10, 2008]  In Pilate's reluctant dialogue with Jesus before Jesus' crucifixion (John 18:37), Jesus said, "For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth." In verse 38, Pilate asks the question that many ask today:

"What is truth?"

Truth is a concept that by definition has to be absolute, or it is not truth. Webster's New World Dictionary defines truth as:

1. Being true.

2. That which is true.

3. An established fact.

Absolute truth says that everything is either black or white with nothing in between.

Many struggle with the generic concept of absolute truth. To take an extreme black or white position means that one will probably offend someone, because our society today does not want everything to be black or white. Many prefer to live in an "in between" world of gray because they are deceived into genuinely thinking they are better self-served in the gray world.

Society wants everyone to live in a world somewhere between the extremes. For example, we hear:

• Be reasonable.

• Be tolerant of others' opinions.

• Everything in moderation.

• Can't we compromise?

• Let's do what is fair.

• Are you so stubborn that you cannot accept another option?

• Is your thinking so limited that you think your religion is the only way to heaven?

• Don't be bigoted.

Tolerance is the current fashionable word, but beware, it is a word intended to dupe those easily taken in. It relies on our need to be viewed as fair, open and understanding and the resulting aversion to being considered "intolerant."

The problem is, that which is being tolerated is often deception, and deception is the opposite of truth. We tolerate pornography as a freedom of expression; we tolerate abortion as a woman's right to choose; and we tolerate perverse behavior as an alternative lifestyle. Tolerance of bad behavior is the compromise of truth that was predicted in the Word.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." -- 2 Timothy 4:3-4

In America and much of the world, absolute truth has been replaced by the myth of situational truth. Situational truth allows the circumstances at the time to dictate behavior or to be more important than real truth.

Situational truth sounds like:

• This abortion is justified because I am not equipped physically, emotionally or financially to support a child (my preferred lifestyle is more important to me than the sanctity of another life).

• If you discipline your child, you may damage his or her self-esteem (self-esteem is more important than character).

• I have to look out for "ol' No.1" (self-preservation is more important than giving).

• The school has no right to discipline my child (self is more important than community).

• If I don't work, the government should take care of me; I deserve it. (I love the freedom this country affords me as long as someone else is responsible for me).

We should, actually, be intolerant of deception disguised as truth. The Bible speaks clearly to the direct consequences of murder and perverse sexual behavior as well as giving precise instruction as to the discipline of our beloved children and our moral obligation to be productive. There are no circumstances or situations that can change what the Bible proclaims as truth. Still, we have become so brainwashed by the proponents of "situational truth" that we balk at the idea of being intolerant of anything because, after all, "we just need to all get along."

We have the source of absolute truth in the written Word of God. The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, unchanging, timeless truth. The Bible is true regardless of time and regardless of circumstances. It is absolute truth.

We need to stop compromising truth in the name of congeniality and in boldness speak out against the deception of situational truth that is polluting our society.

"But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth." -- John 16:13

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." -- John 4:23-24

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" -- John 8:31-32

Prayer: Help me God. I am bombarded by those who make arguments that seem so right. Encourage, enable and compel me to not compromise what I know to be true. Forgive my inclination to be deceived and accept standards that are below and against your standards. With your certain forgiveness fresh in my spirit, embolden me, God, to express your absolute truth and dispel the deception of situational truth.

[HERE AM I, SEND ME]