Truth and truth

I want to continue a thought I began a couple of weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to get back to it, but things have been HECTIC with all the various things that have come up.

I think we are happy settling for little-t truth these days. As we are constantly bombarded and reminded by our culture, all truth is relative. Your truth may not be my truth, and vice versa. Yet a problem seems to exist within these mantras: universal truth does seem to exist.

For example:
1. Every culture in the world believes that murder is wrong. Now, the interpretation of murder is different in each culture, but every culture agrees that murder is wrong. In some states in the United States, we execute a person for the vicious murder of another person. We call this justifiable execution. War against enemy combatants is called "the elimination of a target or threat." In many African tribes, murder is reserved for people of one's own tribe. If you kill someone outside of the tribe that isn't murder, because that individual isn't a real person.

2. Child rape is wrong. Every culture in the world values their children and wants no harm to come to them. Each culture has a moral rule against child rape. Some cultures tend to ignore their own rules (tribes of the Trobriand islands, some Afghan tribes, etc.) But most people believe that taking the innocence of a child is wrong.

Morality isn't subjective or totally culturally driven. There are universal standards that exist. Thus, not all truth can be relative; some things are universal.

Some would point to the inconsistencies between the two aforementioned rules as proof that morality is relative. Each culture calls things differently and has their own inherent rules... Thus, isn't it all relative to their experience.

I would argue that they are making a little-t truth out of a Big-T Truth. God said, "Do not murder." Yet it seems to be the second sin committed by mankind. Cain tried to justify his actions, just as cultures try to justify their own thinking. The Truth gets ignored for the truth. (Yes, the words and capitalization are intentional...) Just because we distort Truth doesn't mean that that Truth doesn't exist.

Truth is universal, applying across time and space. Yet there is a place for interpretation within our own cultural contexts. "Do not commit adultery" can now apply to internet pornography. Jesus' appeal to turn the other cheek can apply to nuclear proliferation or economic recessions. These Truths are universal, and yet we are called to apply them in our own circumstances.

Little-t truth should be the application of Big-T Truth; yet so often we allow it instead to replace it.

What Is Truth?

In John 18, Jesus stands in judgment before Pilate and speaks these words: “My kingdom is not of this world…You are right in saying that I am a King. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate’s response is pretty telling: “What is truth?”

I want to start there tonight, because the idea of truth is the foundation for everything that we are going to do.

So… What is truth? And how do we know?

Postmodern thought tells us that there’s no such thing as objective truth. It simply doesn’t exist. How many of you have ever heard the phrase, “Well, they may be true for you but it isn’t necessarily true for me”? Postmodern thought has made truth relative. Truth is no longer based on the objective study of facts and information; instead, truth is about what makes us happy. What is true for one person isn’t necessarily true for anyone else.

In 2005, Stephen Colbert introduced a new word to the American populace: truthiness. His argument is that truthiness is anything we want to be true, regardless of the facts. Truthiness is something we know from our gut, by feelings of intuition, without the backing of facts and opinions. Colbert states: “It used to be, everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. But that's not the case anymore. Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It's certainty.” He goes on to say, “So, what is important? What you want to be true, or what is true? Truthiness is 'What I say is right, and [nothing] anyone else says could possibly be true.'

It's not only that I feel it to be true, but that I feel it to be true. There's not only an emotional quality, but there's a selfish quality.”

Colbert also created another word: Wikiality. Reality that is edited by the masses. “Any user can edit any entry, and if enough people believe it then it becomes true.” He encouraged his readers to log onto Wikipedia and edit the Elephant entry to contain the erroneous fact, “Elephants are reproducing at a three times greater rate than they did before.” And people believed it!

We live in a world that likes truthiness more than truth. We prefer Wikiality to reality. As long as we want to believe it, than it really is that way. But there’s one small problem. Wikiality is based on group consensus, not on fact. Group consensus told us that blacks were not real human beings and, thus, could be enslaved. Group consensus told us that it was a good idea to put Japanese Americans into containment camps during WWII, and Arab Americans into internment camps in 2001. Groupthink is not reality; it is Wikiality. The difference between truth and truthiness is facts.

So, what is truth? How do we know? Is it what people tell us? Is it what we instinctively feel? Do we find it in our textbooks, professors, or friends? What is truth, and how do we discern TRUTH from FALSEHOOD?

It is a question of epistemology: “How do we know what we know?”

The problem isn’t just in determining between truth and lies; it is bigger. Sometimes we have to determine between truth and Truth.

Let me see if I can explain. When I was growing up and taking science class, we were taught that the smallest complete particle was the atom. Although it was made up of different parts, the atom was the smallest complete particle that couldn’t be divided down any more. But now we know about the existence of neutrons (complete particles), quarks, etc. Was my science teacher lying to me?

Or compare it to the way life came into existence. My biology textbook told me that scientists had recreated the exact conditions of the earth at the beginning and were able to create amino acids from goop. What they never bothered to tell me was that the earth has now been proven to NOT consist of the very atmospheric conditions that they postulated; yet the ideas were still thought of as fact.

Now I am not saying that these things aren’t true. They do seem to be truth, at least when they taught them to me. But these truths are changing and modifying based on new information we are learning and receiving. This truth is open to debate and change. We are constantly changing our truth.

But I believe that there is a greater Truth out there. Let’s call it Big-T Truth. This is truth that is never changing; it is non-negotiable. Things like: I exist; I think and feel; I need community to achieve my potential. These are Big-T Truths that even the secular, or pagan, world would agree with.

But I think there are greater Big-T Truths out there. Things like,

1. God exists.
2. God created.
3. God’s love for you is limitless.
4. God’s love for you is never-ending.
5. Jesus lived.
6. Jesus died for your sins
7. Jesus is resurrected and will return.
8. You have a chance at eternal life; you can’t earn it, but you can receive it.

These are the Big-T Truths that never end. They won’t change. God will ALWAYS love you, regardless of how bad you screw up. God created the universe by his power. Jesus lives and is returning. These things will never change!

How do we discern this big-T Truth? Can we trust that these things are, indeed, true? Well, through both a priori truth and a posteriori truth. We know it through reason, through our understanding of the world. Also through the knowledge of others who came before us, and our understanding of their thoughts, And we understand it because of our own experience, our interaction with these thoughts and realities.

What are more of these Big-T Truths? (Please give me feedback.)

More tomorrow!

New Chris Tomlin video

Wedding Slideshow

Hey guys, this is a video I made for our wedding. As many of you know, I married my best friend on July 18th. This video was shown at our wedding reception, and I hope that you guys enjoy it here. (Sorry about the nudity... It's just a baby butt, after all.)

I hope everyone is doing well. Starting Monday the posts will become frequent again!

A Theology of Worship

In Luke 5, Jesus sees Peter cleaning his nets and asks him to put his boat into the water. Through this encounter with Jesus, Peter hauls in an enormous catch of fish. But Peter’s response is what is most important in this story. When he realizes the power and glory of Jesus, he begins to worship: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Jesus reaffirms his faith, and then gives him a new purpose: fishing for men.

At its core, Luke 5 demonstrates true worship. Often we are too tired from work, too preoccupied with other things, or too wrapped up in our own problems to truly encounter God. Yet he has a fundamental way of showing us his glory in the midst of these difficulties. As we encounter the glory and the presence of God we become aware of our own insufficiencies and our unworthiness. When confronted with Jesus, Peter cries out because of his sin. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is ushered into the throne room of God, where he beholds God’s glory and might. Isaiah cries out, “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!” (Isaiah 6:5) Through worship we encounter the glory and presence of God, and we are reminded of our smallness and our unworthiness when confronted by his awesomeness.

What amazes me most about these stories, however, is God’s response. In Luke 5, Jesus redefines Peter’s direction and gives him a mission, calling him to be a disciple and a “fisher of men.” In Isaiah 6, God cleanses Isaiah’s sin and gives him a new calling. Isaiah’s life is transformed, and he emerges from this experience as a prophet for the LORD. Our encounters with God should fundamentally transform us, reminding us of our sin and yet reminding us of the grace that God has bestowed upon us sinners. And through this encounter our lives should be fundamentally changed, and we should come away with a new purpose or a redefined vision for our lives. Worship had the power to transform us, to define us, and to shape us into the image of Christ.

We lose sight of what worship is, however, if we simply confine it to the Sunday experience. Worship is not a one day, once-a-week affair; rather, it is a way of life. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds them, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17, emphasis mine). This passage follows Paul’s admonition to live in harmony with one another and to worship God with gratitude and thanksgiving. He then reminds them that every aspect of their lives can be worship to God.

Worship is not just about what happens in the corporate assembly. Instead, worship becomes a way of life that defines who we are. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1). Worship is a lifestyle. Through spiritual disciplines (praying, fasting, reading, celebrating, etc.), our hearts are aligned closer to the heart of God. We worship the God who created and sustains us, and we begin to listen to God’s prompting in our lives. These disciplines then prepare us for the corporate assembly, where we worship God together and encourage others to do the same.

The danger in worship is that it often becomes selfish. We must always remember one thing: Worship is not about us! Worship is given to God, because he is the only one worthy of praise. Worship is not about our preferences or our desires. Instead, worship is about praising the LORD of Hosts! We must lay aside our own personal preferences in order to worship God, because it isn’t about the songs we like or the length of the prayers. Through worship, we praise God for who he is and what he has done. And through corporate worship we encourage one another in our spiritual journeys. Our own desires rank below these other two facets of worship. Worship brings us into communion with God and fellowship with one another. Worship allows us to fulfill God’s mission in the world, to be with his people.

God’s ultimate desire is to be in relationship with his people. Through their sin, Adam and Eve removed the perfect communion we experienced with God. The rest of the Bible is the story of God restoring that perfect communion through Israel, through Jesus, through his Spirit and through the church, his Body. Worship, whether corporate or individual, gives us a glimpse of this perfect communion. No matter how great the singing or the impact that worship has on us, it is nothing more than a glimpse in a dim mirror. Rather, it reminds us that a time is coming when we will experience the full glory of God. The time is coming when we will gather with the whole heavenly host to worship God in word and song, to partake in the final banquet, and to live in perfect communion with God.

Our worship today exalts God and humbles us. Through our worship, and through our individual spiritual disciplines, we are reminded of the greatness of God and our own sinfulness. Yet we also are given hope, because God has cleansed us and made us his own. And our worship empowers us with a vision and a mission to reach the world for His glory.

*** Please do not use without the express consent of the author.***

African Rain Storm

I just thought this was really cool! I hope you enjoy it!

~Daniel

Death of the King

For those of you who didn’t know, Michael Jackson passed away last week. “The King of Pop” and his music touched millions of people around the world, from every nation and language. He had the ability to inspire and drive people, and his songs have defined culture and music for decades. His legacy changed the world of music, and people have never been the same.

Millions have mourned his passing, and the news media is filled with stories about the King. It is estimated that his funeral procession will stretch over 100 miles from Neverland Ranch to Los Angeles. As I listened to one news interview last night, I heard a young woman exclaim through her tears, “Michael Jackson will live on, because he will live on inside of our hearts… The music will keep his memory alive!” The word mourns the loss of the King of Pop.

Two thousand years ago another King died. His teaching had the ability to inspire and drive people, and his words have defined culture and life for millennia. His life and his ministry personally touched the life of thousands, but his legacy has changed the history of the world.

News media didn’t cover his death; it was just another crucifixion in a backwater province of

the Empire. His death was attended by many, but his funeral was conducted by two. His crucifixion was mourned by some and mocked by many. They nailed a sign above his head stating, “The King of the Jews,” but through his death he became the King of Kings. He doesn’t just live on in our hearts; he was resurrected and he lives at the right hand of God. And he lives in our hearts through his teachings and through his Spirit.

Remember this audacious thought: We believe in a Savior who died but wouldn't stay dead! God raised him from death so that we, too, might have eternal life. His death has brought me life, and so I must live for him!