Absolute Truth

One of the beliefs commonly held today is that Truth is relative. Those that state truths contradicting the beliefs of others are decried as insensitive, racists, sexists, and homophobic, hateful people all because they believe Truth is absolute. In today’s culture it has become taboo to make any statement that offends another group of people or that dictates truth or morality. Relativism has become the standard. A good example of this cultural phenomenon is a telling line in Star Wars: Episode Three. When Obi Wan and Anakin Skywalker fight on the lava planet towards the end of the film Obi Wan says to Anakin, “Only a Sith deals in absolutes.” This statement sums up what many in today’s world believe.

Yet my question for Obi Wan and all those who agree with him is this: Isn’t that an absolute statement? Think about it, you are saying that only a sith deals in absolutes. Yet to say that is to make an absolute statement. In the same way to say: “There is no such thing as absolute truth.” Is to make a statement acknowledging truth’s existence. In fact that statement can’t really be considered as a valid statement because it contradicts itself. It looks like a statement but it is really just nonsense. Another example is this: “This statement is false.” Is this true? Then it is false, and therefore true. Is it false? It is therefore true, and consequently false. There is no real truth value here. Therefore to deny the existence of absolute truth requires the acknowledgement of it!

It is obvious that someone cannot rationally deny the existence of absolute truth. Even if one were to try to hold to this view they could not do it without being inconsistent. For example they could not communicate. For them to use words is to imply that words have the purpose and ability to communicate concepts, which is to state an absolute truth. For them to make any observations, actions, or in-actions results in an inconsistency with their stated beliefs, which of course deny themselves.

This leaves us with the obvious question: If truth exists can it be known? First we must look at the criteria by which something can be judged to be true. For someone to say that something is true, for example to say: “Water is wet,” means that they must be everywhere at once. Otherwise they could not positively say that water is wet. Perhaps water is wet twenty feet down in the ocean, but not twenty-one. It also means that they must understand everything completely. Otherwise there could be factors that are unknown to them that explain certain actions. For example: In the Old Testament God told the Israelites to give the earth a rest every seven years by not planting the same fields every year. On the seventh year the field was to remain unplanted and then the next year the farmer could plant. Now in that time this instruction made no sense, because the farmer lost one year of production. However we now know that this practice actually makes the ground more fertile and productive. Yet the farmer was not aware of this and because of his limited knowledge could not have truthfully stated that this was a bad practice.

In addition to being everywhere at once and understanding everything completely someone cannot say that something is true unless they transcend time. Otherwise something might be demonstratively true today, but not yesterday, or tomorrow. Unless someone can be everywhere at once, understand everything completely, and know everything there is to know about the past, present, and future, then one cannot state truth as absolute.

So in determining whether or not truth can be known we must first identify whether or not there is a source that meets this criteria. A cursory glance at the criteria listed above and the abilities of human minds shows the gap between the requirements and our ability. It is clear that no one can state absolute truth by his or her own authority. However, if someone is speaking not by their own authority but rather by the authority of some source that meets the three primary criteria for stating absolute truth then truth can be known. However it requires the revelation from that source before a person’s words bear any significance.

We already know that humans cannot be the author of truth because they do not meet the criteria listed above. Neither can the animals, minerals, or anything else known in the natural world. The source of Truth cannot be a creature of the natural world because it could only know what happened in the existence of time. For someone to truly be able to say that something is true they would have to transcend time. Everything in this world has a beginning and therefore cannot be the source of Truth. There is only one thing that meets the criteria for being able to dictate what is true, and that is God. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Meaning that He, and He alone, meets the criteria listed above. The magnificence of this truth is only matched by the fact that not only is there Truth, and not only can it be known, but it has been revealed to us by God. The means by which He has revealed truth to us? Scripture. There are many things that point to the divine inspiration of Scripture. Philosophy, science, History, Linguistics, ect… However I do not have the time to go through all of these things today. For one thing this post is already far too long and an explanation of these proofs would quickly become a book. However I do hope to look at these evidences in the future, as we continue to understand the answer to Pilate’s immortal question: “What is Truth?”

So That We Might Comfort...

Life is painful. Face it, no one goes through life without some degree of suffering, pain, and discomfort. Suffering is a fact, even in the life of the believer. This can be a rather discouraging thought. No matter how good you are or how many things you have, you are going to experience pain. No matter how much you try to protect yourself or those around you, you are going to suffer, be hurt, and experience discomfort. Pain is not something that many people deal well with, especially in the lives of others. When someone comes to us with a problem we often want to direct them to somebody else -- a pastor, teacher or friend -- anyone but ourselves! The last thing that we are prepared for is for a friend to tell us that they just had an abortion and are feeling guilty. Or that your best friend is struggling with drugs. Or that the person who had it all together just committed suicide. Too often we as Christians try to drop these problems like a hot potato, and we miss the incredible opportunity that God has given us.

God does not put us through pain and suffering for no reason. James talks about this when he says in James 1:2-3, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” God does everything for His glory and we are often the beneficiaries of that (Psalm 23:3). 2 Corinthians tells us that God comforts us so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1).
The pain that we are going through is not pointless, nor is it random. It is happening at a specific time for a specific reason, and through it God is glorified. To the believer this is a tremendous truth! Not only do our trials make us stronger and better prepared to help others; they also bring glory to God! This can be an incredible promise, but it is something more. God does not just ask us to help others. He does not just want a select few to counsel and advise those in need. He commands us all to comfort others.

All the pain, tears, and suffering that we experience have a purpose. One of which is that we might experience the comfort of God, and thereby comfort others. Without suffering comfort is meaningless. Unless we experience pain we cannot have healing, without sin there can be no redemption. It is the very suffering we experience that brings the comfort we crave. God allows us to suffer in order to know Him more intimately. Think of Job. Stripped of everything he ever valued; health, love, family, friends, wealth, and even God. (Or so he thought!) Yet it was through this suffering and pain that Job experienced God like never before.

Yet is this comfort a private thing between us and God? Are the trials, and subsequent, comfort, only for us? No. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”

God’s grace is often nuanced and multifaceted. He takes private suffering and comfort and transforms it into a powerful tool of ministry. Suddenly our experiences with sin and pain become means of comfort, love, and redemption. As we experience trials we grow in character and godliness. God, in His mercy, comforts us and we grow into a deeper relationship with Him. However this comfort & redemption are not private matters to be stored within the deepest recesses of our hearts. God gives us the opportunity to minister to others with the comfort, that He gave to us in our trials. As we comfort one another we have an increased sense of community. As we experience trials we grow in grace and receive comfort that can be applied to others. And through it all God is glorified.

Pain is inevitable. Yet God transforms even the most tragic events, (like the cross) into glorious moments. He takes the horror of sin, and grants transforming love. So the next time you experience suffering, remind yourself that God has a greater purpose. To comfort you in your affliction, and prepare you to comfort others as well.
Soli Deo Gloria!-To God alone be the glory!