Ideology Versus Truth

In today's world of social media, the internet and cable TV, it is easy to see how different people think about things. Opinions and ideology run high not only in intellectual circles, but also in religious, political  and cultural circles. It is pretty clear that we don't all think the same way. So what is the right way of thinking? Which is the right denomination, government, or morality standard? What is truth?

I'm thankful I live in the United States of America not because of 'American exceptionalism' (whatever that is). I'm thankful for the the principles upon which it was founded. I'm thankful for the Constitution and the guaranteed rights of an individual; that we can indeed have our opinions and yet we must respect another's right to disagree. Democracy is an ideology.

I am thankful for a God who has given us free-will choice to believe or not believe in Him. It is amazing that that is the way He chose the universe to operate. All men are equal in His sight as He gave His only begotten son for all (John 3:16). God's love is available to all without exception. The choice is ours whether to believe it.

I looked up the first use of truth in the Old Testament:

Genesis 24:27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.

Abraham sent a servant out to look for a wife for Isaac and God led him to one of Abraham's brethren. It was non-coincidental and involved breath-taking timing.

In the New Testament, the first use of truth is in Matthew 14:32-33 in the record of after Jesus bid Peter to walk on water:

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 

Jesus Christ is the son of God! These two situations don't represent an ideology. They reveal the truth about God. The Creator of the universe is the source of truth. Love and truth go hand in hand.

There is always the opportunity with which an ideology can bring people into bondage when it is not based on truth. We have seen this throughout history. Loving the truth doesn't mean that one cannot develop an ideology, but it is truth that actually sets us free.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Whatsover things are true............

Philippians 4:8  is a great way to apply the wisdom of God to prayer. A list of things to think about sits like a diamond in a beautiful chapter!

Philippians 4:6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

First on the list of 'things' is: 'whatsoever things are true'. It is significant that 'true' is listed first. Truth is very important.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

In order to really know God and what he has promised, you have to believe God's word belongs to you. It is essential for believing. God's word is the truth. My favorite times in prayer are a result of just thinking through verses and events from the Old and NewTestaments and asking how they apply to various things going on. The Bible on the coffee table is a simply a book. When you enlist God's help, the Bible becomes a breath of life. That is the foundation of prayer and believing. It is more exciting than just having a 'to do' list for God.

Some Things Just Don't Cut It!

The generation in which I grew up in (and by the way am still growing up in) is a curious one. Many of us tried to reject the  "plastics" mentality (The Graduate) and became truth seekers. Everywhere in culture 'truth' is touted, lauded and attested to. Journalists, politicians, and even theologians rally under the 'truth' banner, but more so than not they all disagree. Where is the 'truth'?

Having stepped in the mud in all these categories, I've learned that ultimate truth is very difficult to find in the 'thoughts and intents' of the human mind. Even in the categories of religion, truth gets mired. A beautiful case in point popped up in my last blog.  I got to a place on one verse where I just couldn't understand its meaning. I checked many sources and worked the verse and ended up more frustrated. So I stepped back out of the verse and looked at all of Genesis and the context and frustration was replaced by joy. 

I read the Bible with two major premises in my mind: first, God is absolutely good and in him is no darkness (not even a cloud or shadow), and second he wants us to have the whole truth. I make all decisions based on these two points. It's a great filter for what I read, people I associate with, and things I become involved in.

The Bible or rather the Word of God written in the Bible, is the ultimate truth. God created the universe; He is the authority. The Word is not a lifeless book, it is vibrant, alive and life-changing. God reveals who He is through the Word. Since God is spirit, he utilizes holy spirit in the individual to bring the Word to life. (Romans 10:9-10 is the access code that activates it)

It is our choice where to look for truth. So many things in the world vie for the position of being the ultimate source of truth. There is only one truth because there is only one Creator. All men are liars, howbeit intentional or unintentional. We created nothing! How many of us have ever designed a leaf, flower, tree or a blue sky? The greatest of God's works is His Word!

Hebrew 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Finding Our Way

In several of my posts I have written about two recurrent themes that are near and dear to me in my quest for truth. First: What is church and where can you find it? Second: What does the mystery mentioned in Ephesians 3 look like in reality? Actually both questions have the same answer.

On the day of Pentecost, God set in motion the greatest movement of all times.  It started with those in the first century that believed what Jesus Christ was all about and accepted God's gift of holy spirit  as an inner assurance of the new birth and connection to the body of Christ of whom Jesus Christ is the head.

Holy spirit makes an individual one with the Father as well as one with the son. We are one with each other as we walk in their light together. This is the church.

I John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

God is the all in all and he made Jesus Christ the head of His church. The born again believers are the body of Christ and work in connection to the head spiritually. Jesus Christ is not absent, retired, or inactive. He is building the church. There is only one head of the body. The synergism in the church all rests and thrives on this set-up. No one earthly organization is THE body of Christ.

The current popular concept of church has evolved through the ages. In those early days after Pentecost it was the people that were the church not the buildings. Soon people started to organize and frame the human concept of church. Bigger is better needing a building and a boss. Crosses were put on top of buildings, stained glass in windows and pews and pulpits became furniture.

Even today when a group starts out as a small home unit like in the book of Acts, priorities can change. I have seen this evolve as a small living room circle gets rearranged into rows and a coffee table as a mini-pulpit. From there it grows until there is an invisible altar rail.  Soon instead of faithful seasoned, committed elders and deacons, we hear about reverends, clergy and laity; none of which is written about in the Bible.

Leadership in the first century existed and started with the apostles.  In Ephesians 4, God records other functioning gift ministries in the body such as prophets, pastors, evangelists and teachers.  These are positions of service through which God in Christ in an individual energizes to help build up the church of God. The goal of the ministries is to help individuals rise up to their calling and function as individuals in the collecting body of Christ. All born again believers are ministers of the word to bring hearts to the one true God. For various reasons, certain abilities, desire and believing, God utilizes individuals to specifically involve themselves in His projects. Gift ministries are under rowers not overlords. They don't carry a neon sign. Their lives weave in and throughout life knitting for the Master, sometimes recognized, often not.

Our current religious system is set up with all flavors and sizes of church. For me, I have no problem attending any or all of them that are based on God, His word and His Christ. We all need fellowship with others who believe and who live for helping others find their way to God. We live in a world that is designed to pull people away from God, not toward him.

I absolutely treasure my relationships with those who are humble to God and have learned the true grace ethic of discipleship. Fellowship with others who love and trust God is absolutely wonderful. We all need to help and be helped. We are not developing a brand of theology, but a way of life and trust of God. Ultimately, no one can do that for anyone else. We all have the power of God if we choose to utilize it. We can help by reminding each other of what God has given us through His Word and His spirit. It is the best way to grow up in Christ:

Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Love is a Big Word!

Last night I read II and III John and was amazed at how many times the word 'truth' is used. John refers to 'truth' in one way or another 28 times in I, II, III John (all three contain 7 chapters in total). Another word quite frequently used by John is 'love'. In all of John's writings love and truth are interwoven throughout like a beautiful vibrant tapestry.

Recently I heard about someone reciting the pledge of allegiance and substituting the word 'love' for 'God'. Are we 'one nation under God'?  The answer to that is: 'probably not'. When someone says 'one nation under love', I have to ask: "How do you define love?" Where do we learn what love is? Where do we learn how to love one another?

I John 5:1-3 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Love and truth are intimately intertwined for someone who believes in God. We don't define love; God does. As I have been working through Genesis, I have realized even more emphatically, that God's love permeates the whole Bible. Genesis is a foundational book for understanding the love of God. It has added a richness to reading things in the New Testament. The epistles of John are some of the last writings recorded in the Word of God. God is faithful to His Word throughout.

In I John 3:12, there is a reference to 'the way of Cain' from Genesis 4.  Cain reinvented God's word to suit his own thinking and lashed back at God in disagreement when confronted by God Himself. Cain's brother Abel was annihilated in the process. This is not the way of love and truth.

In our modern times, this 'reinventing' of God happens more often than not. At present, there is a growing trend to see love as synonymous with 'tolerance'. Tolerance may be involved as a part of loving someone, but 'love' is a much bigger word. We cannot redefine love outside of truth. In order to really love, we need to understand how God loves and believe that He can work in us. We get that understanding by delving into God's Word. It is the truth that manifests love and sets us free and then we can truly help others.

Did God Really Say That?

Adam and Eve had it all: paradise and a wonderful relationship with a loving Father. So why did they mess up?  It all boiled down to a question: "Did God really say that?" The same thing is true today and that question has been the same stumbling block throughout the entire history of human existence.

If we look at history starting with the garden of Eden, this question has continued to rise front and center in all cultures and societies.  Cain's offering to God from the 'fruit of the ground' when God had said the ground was cursed is another example of someone questioning what God said.

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

There are plenty of examples throughout the Bible and beyond all through history. That question surrounds us everyday on TV, in newspapers, in books, magazines and from other sources of the 'fruit of the ground'.

God gave us two ears and two eyes, two nostrils, two hands, but only one mouth.  Hearing, observation, and even the sense of smell and touch are abilities for receiving information. We also have been given spiritual abilities. God has given us every opportunity to know Him. Man's problem is not his equipment. His problem comes with what he pays attention to. Eve listened to God's opponent. Every human being has the right to listen to whomever he or she wants. Free-will choice is a gift of God.

Just type in the word 'God' on a Google search. The results would be very confusing with all the many different beliefs. Study the Crusades, religious wars, and councils (start with the Council of Jerusalem in the book of Acts and  read about some of many councils that came after the Bible was written) to see the 'Did God really say?' question pop up over and over. I really struggled with who to believe, what to believe or what was actually true. What I finally decided after just simply reading the Bible for myself, was that it is very simple to see God's love and that God is bigger than that question. God provided us with so much in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have known and read many teachers of the gospel and have come to the conclusion that there isn't any one person or organization that really has a monopoly on truth both doctrinally and practically. But God, who is spirit, does for us just as he did in Jesus Christ. This same spirit that was in Jesus Christ is in us and communicates to us. We can have the truth!

Look at the words Jesus Christ spoke in John 16:13-15:

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

When we read God's word believing for understanding, the spirit of God can help us. I can learn from other people, but the assurance and confidence in the truth comes from a prayerful inner heart.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

When the "Did God really say?" question arises don't give up on the Bible. Read it and refuse to be anxious. The answers will be coming.

What is Truth?

What is truth? The question of all questions!  Pilate put the same question to Jesus. It is recorded in John 18:37-40,19:1:

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

Pilate had the truth looking him straight in the eye. Did he wait for an answer to that question? No, his concern was his position as the Roman prefect. Seeing that Jesus was not a threat to Roman government, he had done his job. That was it. All that was left for him to do was to court public opinion. He played to the crowd. He found no fault yet scourged him.

Pilate let something else do his thinking for him. It was his position, his perception of himself, his lazy attitude toward truth and just basically his own fear that motivated him. That is not freedom.

Today in any category of life we have the same choice. We can make decisions based on truth or we can look in other directions. There certainly are plenty of options. We say we are the ones to decide our own life, but in reality are we just turning our life's decisions over to something else or way of thinking. It is evident that this type of thinking leads only to entanglement and self-deception.

We have the same opportunity in life of looking into the same eyes that Pilate looked into and believe his life is the way, the truth and life.  The God of truth never controls, he sent His son to show us freedom and if we chose him we are free (link) indeed!

Honesty and Integrity

God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose.  Take which you please - you can never have both.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is certainly true that honesty and integrity involve work to which there are no shortcuts. These are qualities that help us grow. When they are absent we remain small and weakened. When present they make us strong enough to be able to topple whatever  giant darkens our path. How much easier it is to slide by on a false facade than own up with an honest heart or stand up for what you believe in. Yet the rewards are beyond comprehension when one carries the heart expressed in:

Psalm 119:104-105 With your instruction, I understand life; that's why I hate false propaganda. By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.(The Message)

The integrity necessary to understand life is found in God's Word. We have eyes to read and see it, ears to hear it, a mouth to speak it and talk about, and certainly a brain to coordinate, direct, think, decide, remember and utilize it. We also have been given the free-will right to choose.

Truth, like milk, arrives in the dark
But even so, wise dogs don't bark.
Only mongrels make it hard
For the milkman to come up the yard.
~Christopher Morley, Dogs Don't Bark at the Milkman

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg. ~Abraham Lincoln

Calling something God doesn’t necessarily make it God. The true God committed himself to His Word. His Word IS Him!

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

Jesus Christ showed us God by living His Word.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

On the day of Pentecost, God sent His spirit to reside in the apostles and it resulted in a manifestation in the senses world.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this (in broad daylight!), which ye now see and hear. 

Now it’s our turn:

Philippians 2:13-16 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings (really, what do we have to complain about?): That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

We’ve got God, His Word, Jesus Christ, and holy spirit. We’ve got four legs to stand firmly upon. There are others today who are one accord with what happened on the day of  Pentecost to the twelve apostles  and the three thousands souls that were with them....

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord (homothumadon) in one place. 

We can drop the murmuring and disputing and wag our tails about that!!!