My Truth, Your Truth

My Truth, Your Truth

This post may be a bit more “controversial” than my previous ones, but I do not intend it to be so.  Many of you may wonder why I attempt to write these posts, or where the ideas come from.  First of all, I do enjoy reading – a lot.  Secondly, I listen to messages from teachers/preachers I enjoy – in the morning with breakfast and coffee, on the treadmill, etc.  But, mostly, I have some time to think as I am driving in between visits to homes and daycares as a pediatric occupational therapist.  Whenever I am ruminating on something I think would be worthy of writing down and “fleshing out,” I tell Siri to “Take a note,” and she becomes my assistant, taking dictation of all those things I don’t have time to write down at the moment.

One of the things I have been thinking about lately is a phrase I keep hearing – “Your Truth” – usually used in the context of “Speak your truth.”  We hear phrases like, “That’s her truth,” or, “He’s speaking his truth,” and these phrases and concepts seem to be seeping into the core beliefs of our culture.   If the premise behind these kinds of statements is to legitimize people’s feelings or personal stories, I can agree that each person has his or her own story, and interprets that story in his or her own way.  However, many times a person will perceive something in a certain way that does not square with reality.  A more accurate phrase to use might be “my perception – his perception – her perception.” 

One of the people I love to listen to is Ravi Zacharias, undoubtedly the most revered and eloquent Christian apologist of our time.  As you might expect, he focuses on “truth,” and what truth is, quite extensively.  One thing I hear him say often (paraphrasing), is that truth by its very nature is exclusionary.  If one thing is true, then other things cannot also be true at the same time.  If 2 + 2 =4, then 2 +2 cannot = 5.  While that example is overly simplistic, it helps to prove the point.  While some things are subjective, and may lend themselves to various interpretations, others most certainly are not.  You see, we can be sincere in our beliefs about something, but sincerely wrong.  Our thoughts and feelings about a matter may change from week to week.  Does that mean “truth” has changed?  Does “truth” bow to our whims, or disappear with the shifting sands?  Certainly not. 

One thing I remember my Dad telling me when I was a little girl and endured teasing of any sort, was that “just because someone says something, it doesn’t make it true.”  I think about that even today.  People can say what they want, but is there truth in it? Does it square with reality?  The first test of truth is that it must be congruous with reality.  If we are desiring to operate from a Christian mindset, most importantly, though, it must stand up to the ultimate test of aligning with the truth and authority found in God’s word.   “Thy Word IS truth.” (John 17:17) If his Word is true, then other things that contradict it cannot also be true at the same time. 

It seems that in today’s vernacular, “living your truth” means searching for your own happiness – what you want, what you think you need.  This kind of mindset even creeps into the church, that it is all about us and our own happiness.  You may be familiar with the statement from the wife of a prominent “tv” pastor, who during a service stated,

“I just want to encourage everyone of us to realize when we obey God we’re not doing it for God. I mean, that’s one way to look at it. Were doing it for ourselves. Because God takes pleasure when we’re happy. That’s the thing that gives him the greatest joy this morning. I want you to know this morning just do good for your own self. Do good cuz God wants you to be happy.. When you come to church when you worship him you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”2 

This kind of thing just makes us want to throw up our hands and say, “What?!?”  It is wrongheaded on so many levels.  The Truth of the Gospel message is actually just the opposite – sacrifice, taking up our cross daily, dying to self and our own desires, and serving those around us.  If we make idols of our own happiness and convenience and bow at them daily, rather than seeking God’s truth, God’s plan, God’s purpose for our lives, our churches, and our world, then we have missed the mark.

 So, I guess the whole point of this post is to help us think about and consider Truth; what it is, and what it is not.  Let us not be casual about Truth, dumb it down, or change its meaning entirely.  For those who follow Christ, we should be looking to his Word daily for Truth; it will not change, or lead us into confusion.

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I might walk in your truth.  Psalm 86:11

Let’s walk that way together.