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Black Screen. What is Truth?. The true or actual state of a matter Conformity with fact or reality A verified indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like. Actuality or actual existence. Source: dictionary.com. What is Truth?. An obvious or accepted fact
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What is Truth? • The true or actual state of a matter • Conformity with fact or reality • A verified indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like. • Actuality or actual existence Source: dictionary.com
What is Truth? • An obvious or accepted fact • Ideal or fundamental reality apart from transcending perceived experience • Agreement with a standard or original Source: dictionary.com
What is Truth? • Objective/Absolute Truth • Truth that is true for all people, in all cultures, for all times • Is there absolute truth?
Movement in Culture • Postmodern way of thinking… • Truth is what is real and true is in the mind of the beholder. I develop my own reality. • People can not think independently because they are defined by their culture. Source: Death of Truth, by Dennis McCallum
Movement in Culture • Postmodern way of thinking… • We cannot judge things in another person’s life because our reality may be different from theirs. • We cannot trust our senses because how do we really know they are perceiving what’s real. Source: Death of Truth, by Dennis McCallum
Movement in Culture • Results… • Cynical view of life - what’s the purpose anyway • Tolerance movement • No-fault immoral behavior (just a product of society) • Strong condemnation of those who profess there is Objective, Absolute Truth and we can know it!
Movement in Culture • Here’s a common statement… • “What’s true for you is true for you, what’s true for me is true for me.” • What’s wrong with this statement?
Movement in Culture • In the absence of God…any humanistic thinking is possible… • Our minds will begin to embrace lies and illogical arguments and we’ll actually think they make perfect sense!
Movement in Culture • In the absence of God…any humanistic thinking is possible… • We can make a statement such as, “There is no truth that is true for everyone” and really believe that it applies to everyone!!!
Movement in Culture • In the absence of God…any humanistic thinking is possible… • In one breath say, “I am tolerant of everyone,” and then condemn those who are intolerant.
Some thoughts… • There is nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9) • As a culture, we’ve exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Rm 1:25) • Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25)
Some thoughts… • Jeremiah 7:28 • Therefore say to them, “This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.”
Affecting the Church? • You Bet!! • 88% of evangelicals believe that “the Bible is the written Word of God, accurate in all it teaches,” • Yet 53% of the very same people believe “there is no such thing as absolute truth.” Source: Death of Truth, by Dennis McCallum
Conclusion… • Either evangelicals really don’t believe the Bible is God’s Word, but have been taught to respond this way, or • Evangelicals don’t really know what God’s Word says…
Action Point… • The Church has a challenge on her hands…the Word of God is missing in action! • The answer? We’ve got study God’s Word!
Why Study God’s Word? • It’s only source of Truth that we have about everything in life that matters • It is the only thing in all of creation that has been unaffected by sin!
Why Study God’s Word? • John 17:17 • …”your Word is Truth” • 2 Tim 2:15 • Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. Ideal or fundamental reality apart from perceived experience
Why Study God’s Word? • God’s Word is the only source of Absolute Objective Truth - True for all people for all time! • Matthew 28:19 • Go into all nations…teaching them all that I have commanded you.”
Why Study God’s Word? • As the source of Truth, only God’s Word will expose the lies and deceptions the world has to offer.
Why Study God’s Word? • Hebrews 4:12 • For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Why Study God’s Word? • God’s Word was written by God for people! • 2 Peter 1:20-21 • Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Why Study God’s Word? • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 • All scripture is God-breathed and is useful…so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped… • Written by God for people!
Why Study God’s Word? • It will give us huge insight into God • Who He is • What He does • What He is like! • The Bible tells us who we are and how much God loves us!
Why Study God’s Word? • It tells us… • How everything began • What God’s plan is for his creation • How all humans can know God personally • How all things will end
Why Study God’s Word? • The Bible is history from God’s point of view… • It is “His Story” • As God’s creation, we owe it to Him to take a serious look at His Words!
To Sum it Up… • Postmodern view…there is no more absolute truth • This view is permeating the Church • The Bible is the only reliable source of Objective Truth • We need to study God’s Word!
