- Jun 28, 2011
- 3,865
- 1,769
- Country
- New Zealand
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
I realise that many discussions about truth that do not hold it out as something solid, abstract and objective are self refuting, and that the following, particularly when posted on the internet for the perusal of people who I do not know personally, is probably no different. So at the outset I would wish to you all the blessing of our Lord, that he will smile upon you and give you all of the peace and rest that is in Him.
It is tempting for those of us who have been believers for a while to expound on and attempt enforcement of certain theological doctrines that we have come to understand within the body. As we see it certain things about God, about the Faith and about morality are simply true and that those people who deny these things are wrong and that perhaps the validity of their faith should be questioned.
But I think that often we forget this whole business of truth in respect of Christian Truth in life, is not simply (or simply not) about hard concrete theological or moral abstracts with which we can mould minds and beat people into line with.
A person may hold all of the cold hard facts about theology and morality, and be capable of telling others about the Truth and what is true about Him, and yet never bring anybody into closer relationship to that Truth.
And in the defence of this person the Bible does indeed expound on many hard facts about God that God himself will judge us for ignoring:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1)
Yet another person may be flawed in their theological or moral understanding, like a child who doesn't yet understand how his father makes an income to support the family, and yet is more than capable of imitating him and introducing other children to him.
Who is it that stands for the truth more correctly ?
The Truth in this sense of Gods truth is personal.
It is not simply about a person but is a person.
He is the Truth.
He is the truth because His truth is about relationship to His creation and both by creating all that is and then giving His life for us He is the perfect expression of True relationship. It is from this relationship that all true things, all truth flows.
In this respect we should therefore realise that the Truth needs to be introduced to people personally, respectful of their wish to know Him, or otherwise. That forcing an unwanted abstract onto a person that is not ready for it may only serve to alienate the Truth from them irrespective of how theologically correct the abstract may be, and that people who do not know the Truth are not necessarily benefited by the presentation of abstract theological or moral images of a person that they have never met and do not know.
By all means, if the Spirit calls upon us to do otherwise at a given time then we should not hold back, but our default position should be relational and respectful, wishing that all should come into the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Even though Paul begins his letters to the Churches with an exposition about who it is that they are following, he does so from the position of a prior relationship and understanding with them and his instructions to the church are all about Loving relationship with one another as a reflection of the Truth who lives amongst us and within us.
This means that for those of us who have met Him and accepted His Truth, that rather than seeking to know more about Him as an abstract theological image, we should be encouraged to seek Him, and express Him to others as a person in relationship with us all. Then we will know the Truth and He will set us free.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1)
It is tempting for those of us who have been believers for a while to expound on and attempt enforcement of certain theological doctrines that we have come to understand within the body. As we see it certain things about God, about the Faith and about morality are simply true and that those people who deny these things are wrong and that perhaps the validity of their faith should be questioned.
But I think that often we forget this whole business of truth in respect of Christian Truth in life, is not simply (or simply not) about hard concrete theological or moral abstracts with which we can mould minds and beat people into line with.
A person may hold all of the cold hard facts about theology and morality, and be capable of telling others about the Truth and what is true about Him, and yet never bring anybody into closer relationship to that Truth.
And in the defence of this person the Bible does indeed expound on many hard facts about God that God himself will judge us for ignoring:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1)
Yet another person may be flawed in their theological or moral understanding, like a child who doesn't yet understand how his father makes an income to support the family, and yet is more than capable of imitating him and introducing other children to him.
Who is it that stands for the truth more correctly ?
The Truth in this sense of Gods truth is personal.
It is not simply about a person but is a person.
He is the Truth.
He is the truth because His truth is about relationship to His creation and both by creating all that is and then giving His life for us He is the perfect expression of True relationship. It is from this relationship that all true things, all truth flows.
In this respect we should therefore realise that the Truth needs to be introduced to people personally, respectful of their wish to know Him, or otherwise. That forcing an unwanted abstract onto a person that is not ready for it may only serve to alienate the Truth from them irrespective of how theologically correct the abstract may be, and that people who do not know the Truth are not necessarily benefited by the presentation of abstract theological or moral images of a person that they have never met and do not know.
By all means, if the Spirit calls upon us to do otherwise at a given time then we should not hold back, but our default position should be relational and respectful, wishing that all should come into the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Even though Paul begins his letters to the Churches with an exposition about who it is that they are following, he does so from the position of a prior relationship and understanding with them and his instructions to the church are all about Loving relationship with one another as a reflection of the Truth who lives amongst us and within us.
This means that for those of us who have met Him and accepted His Truth, that rather than seeking to know more about Him as an abstract theological image, we should be encouraged to seek Him, and express Him to others as a person in relationship with us all. Then we will know the Truth and He will set us free.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1)
