The Truth

" From the liberality which says that everybody is right;
                      From the Charity which forbids us to say that anybody is wrong;
                                       From the Peace which is bought at the expense of Truth--
                                                          May the Good Lord deliver us."
                                                                                                                                 J.C. Ryle




     The conflict between two kingdoms at war within our culture continues to intensify.  What we witness in the natural realm illustrates truths we find in the spiritual realm.  On the one hand, we see the kingdom of darkness, death, and deception is abundantly thriving.  On the other hand, we see the kingdom of light, life, and truth penetrating the darkness.  Each one of us must decide to which kingdom we belong.

     Some people assume that our conflicts today are primarily political.  They are not.  Others assert our struggles are cultural, but this assertion falls short, as well.  The Bible clearly delineates what the issues are today when it states that, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." ( Ephesians 6:12).

     The war is between God and His ways and Satan and his ways.  As followers of Jesus, we are to be fighting alongside Christ.  When we live out the kingdom worldview of Jesus, we are engaging in a spiritual conflict to overthrow satan's kingdom and establish Christ's kingdom in its place.

     Through recent events in our nation, cultural Christianity has been declared "dead".  Suddenly, there is a cost assigned to our faith.  Despite this, it is time for the true believers to rise up and be counted.  The book of Ephesians tell us to "let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]."

     Not with spin and propaganda ( as the world does), but in the way that Jesus exemplified truth in His life on earth.  Jesus was always direct, and never deceptive.  Paul tells us in his letter to the church in Corinth, " We refuse to deal craftily ( to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly).  And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man's conscience."  ( 2 Corinthians 4:2).

     In such a rapidly changing world, some people believe that we should continue to "evolve" in our thinking and change what we believe to be true.  The problem with this reasoning is that truth is not an intangible, nebulous concept.  The Truth is a person.  Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life."  ( John 18:37).

     Jesus is still a King of a kingdom with a totally different set of basic assumptions- assumptions based in truth, which bring a different set of priorities, values, and behavior patterns.  He told Pilate (just before His crucifixion), " I came to bring truth to the world."  ( John 18:37).

     The problem is, His truth is in stark contrast to the basic assumptions of this present world.  On the very first day of Jesus' public ministry, He began to preach, " Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the kingdom of Heaven is near."  ( Matthew 4:17).

     The truth that Jesus preached was not about power and politics, earthly authority and thrones, or a permanent homeland and occupied territories.  Jesus' truth was about the heart and the sin nature, attitudes and actions, love and relationships.  His message called for a complete transformation of a person's life.  And that life change was radical!

     Jesus' worldview accurately sees what sin and separation from God have done to humans and the natural world.  Believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit can also see and understand these truths.  The apostle Paul explains that "people who aren't Christians can't understand these truths from God's Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them."  1 Corinthians 2:14).

     Even though the kingdom worldview is spiritual in nature, it affects every area of our lives.  It unlocks a very specific way of life, a way of knowing what is true, a picture being what God meant us to be, and the power to live that out based on our relationship with God.  This is what combats darkness, injustice, and evil within the world.  That, in turn, brings solution to the physical, economic, social, moral, ethical and environmental problems of life.

     Someday, there will be an all-pervasive world order established in a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more sin, pain, sorrow, or death.  Until then, we are to be His witnesses, combatants against the spirit of darkness, and the messengers of Jesus' worldview, which is to be lived out for all to see.  This is definitely not the time to shrink back but to " always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but [to] do it courteously and respectfully." ( 1 Peter 3:15b).


                                             "Peace if possible, but truth at any rate."
                                                                                             Martin Luther