This is written from the perspective of my experience in the United States. For those of you around the world, I'm sure you can think of situations that can fit into your cultural references, please let me know what's different in your country in the comments.
If you’re like me you’ve been getting fed up with today’s political mess where people from the extreme right and the extreme left have been at each other's throats. It feels like our country has forgotten that we all need to get along to stay strong. It’s one thing to have extreme disagreements, it’s quite another to forget about common decency and respect for one another. It seems like we forget that the core truths are the same regardless of what your political leanings are.
Even when we have extremely differing views, I feel it’s important to still listen to each other and try to understand each other’s views on the whole gamut of issues.
If one side is very pleased with an outcome, it’s likely that the solution wasn’t good. When both sides compromise I expect that both sides would often come away without being completely satisfied with any legislation.
I also am frustrated with there being only “ONE” side or the other. The truth is that most people have views that range across the spectrum of right and left and no one is fully on one side other the other. I suspect that most people range wildly depending on which issue they are thinking about.
I do have very strong views on what I feel is the truth, however, I also acknowledge that I can’t always get what I want if I’m going to work with others in a way that keeps our system of government working.
So what does all this have to do with perceptions of truth? I feel that challenges today are rooted in there not being a base set of truths that we can all agree to share.
The moral compass that guides me to what is the truth is influenced by my faith. Yes, I’m a Christian and the kind that actually believes in what the Bible says. There are plenty of things I don’t understand in the Bible, and lots of things that don’t make a lot of sense to me, but I expect to keep working on that understanding.
Sometimes this complicates things for me as there are areas where I have Biblical reasons that make it difficult to compromise in some areas. However, if I don't talk to people without judgment to understand where they are coming from it's difficult to have the chance to influence them in a positive way that can help close the gap. Plus, without that discussion, it is difficult for me to find my own blind-spots where I've missed something important (still have a plank in my own eye).
Matthew 7:1-5 NIV -- “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
I was reflecting on something I wrote in July of 1994 during I time I had fallen away from God, not long before circumstances brought me back to Him. I’ve been pondering how much my views have changed since then. A Quote:
“If the truth is unseen for long periods of time is it any less important? What is the truth if not one’s own view of all events? Therefore, there is not one all-encompassing truth, but many collected versions of the truth. Those without clear thoughts often adapt truths from others; parents, friends, all have a profound impact on the truths one believes. To decide your own truth is the way to a truly open conscious.”
What complete garbage I believed at the time. Does everyone get their own truth? Absolutely not. I can hardly believe I was ever so naïve.
I complained that others would try to decide what my truth was, but without realizing that the culture I grew up in is what made me believe that everyone can create their own truth.
Today I have come to understand that the world is as God has created it. His truth doesn’t change just because it doesn’t match with my own views on what it should look like, or if it’s inconvenient, or if I don’t understand it. Some scripture related to this:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV -- 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV -- 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
As I get older I continue to discover how very little I really understand about truth and how to understand what is truth and what is just a creation of the culture I live in or of the people I choose to spend my time with. As one example, I have come to realize that most of the complaints people have about Christianity are often not about Christianity at all, but rather are issues with the way we humans don’t live by our stated beliefs (our hypocrisy).
We have a tendency to live in a culturally modified version of the truth, living here in the United States, I have the impression that most people claiming to be Christians have not read the Bible and don’t even realize what it says. They stop at the “accept Jesus and you are saved” part and never learn the rest and about what it really means to accept Jesus. I’m not judging. My statements from 1994 clearly show I was one of those people who did exactly what I’m talking about, I don’t doubt that I still have many blind spots.
I do not expect I will ever grasp the full truth but I should never stop trying. If I keep my eyes on Jesus and keep moving towards him, rather than away from him, that is my main goal.
Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV -- 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Each person needs to make a decision. Do we accept the blueprint of truth that God presented us in the Bible? If so, we can establish the base truths that will allow our communities and countries to thrive. If you are not a Christian, start by at least reading the story of Jesus and then make your own decision on whether more study is warranted. I suggest the book of Mark in the New Testament, it can be read in about 1.5 hours and is the shortest of the four books that relate Jesus' story. Follow up with a Christian friend to try to work through what you learn. If you already count yourself as a Christian, when was the last time you spent some time reading the Bible and then talking with other Christians about what you read? Please take some time in the next week to do so.
I expect to talk about more of the truths I've come to understand in additional posts and hopefully gain new insight from you in the comments. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and do please post any feedback you might have.