Paul, in warning his young protege Timothy, talks about a time coming when people “will not endure sound doctrine...and they will turn their ears away from the truth.” Never has this statement been more true than today. Now perhaps it’s a bit hyperbolic to make that statement, so let me ask you this: Can you recall a time within your lifetime where truth has been less relevant in our culture? I myself certainly can’t.

Perhaps you might be thinking, “You sound just like every other ‘doomsayer’ from generations gone by.” Okay, maybe you’re right, but what this tells me is that we’ve been descending down this spiral for a long time. We live in a time in which the truth is under attack.

Consider the following:

• The concept of gender is being erased
• Rioters and protesters bringing chaos and anarchy in the streets of many of our major cities is considered “peaceful,” and policemen doing their jobs protecting the citizenry and upholding law & order are considered “evil”
• Religious worship, which is protected and guaranteed by our first amendment, is considered “non-essential,” while abortion clinics (protected by an imaginary “right to privacy”) are considered “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Things such as “white privilege” and “systemic racism” have been invented out of whole cloth to promote a narrative racism and discrimination is still rampant in American society

All of these examples are just the latest entries our society’s battle against truth and objectivity. Truth doesn’t matter, only narrative. Facts don’t matter, only how those facts support a narrative. And so on...

You see, if we still held high standards for truth and objectivity, then all of those things I mentioned above would be easily resolved: (1) There are only two genders; (2) violent protesters and rioters would be arrested; (3) religious worship would be allowed to progress unhindered; and (4) we would recognize the tremendous progress this country has made in the way of race relations.

But our society has become allergic to the truth. Objectivity has devolved into morass of subjectivity. It used to be “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” now it’s “Hey, well that’s your truth.” Why is that and what’s the solution?

Well you can try to find solutions in sociology, psychology, etc., but the truth (pun intended) of the matter is that when you reject God and His revelation, then it’s no surprise that truth and objectivity no longer matter. The Triune God is not only the ground and source of all being, but He’s also the ground and source of all knowledge. One of the clearest Biblical statements of this fact is Paul’s comment in Romans 1:21-22...

Romans 1:21–22 (NKJV): Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools.

It’s clear, when you reject God, you end up with a foolish heart and futile thoughts. That’s why when people—even unbelieving people—make objective truth claims, they are shouted down by opponents. Their futile thoughts and foolish hearts hate the truth—it is offensive to them, therefore they lash out at anyone who promotes truth and blames them for being “intolerant” and “bigoted.”

The solution is just as simple as the diagnosis from a Biblical perspective, and that’s conversion. Now when I say simple, I mean from God’s perspective. We cannot change the heart of fallen mankind. The only thing we can do is continue to lovingly share the truth—the truth about their sin and the truth about Jesus Christ who died to save them from that sin.

Jesus said...

John 8:31–32 (NKJV): If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus is the “Light of the world” (John 8:12) who shines in the darkness of the human heart to bring the Light of life to lost sinners. If you’re not a Christian, if you’re not a believer in Jesus Christ, then I urge you to confess your sins and come to Jesus in faith. Find a Bible and read the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John presents one of the clearest pictures of Jesus Christ as the Son of God in all of Scripture. If you’re so inclined, then continue on to the Book of Romans. Romans presents us with the most detailed expression of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the entire Bible. If you’re inclined to pray, then pray that God will soften your heart and speak to you through His word. My prayer for you is that you will indeed “know the truth and the truth shall make you free!”