We No Longer Know What’s True, Or Do We?
What is truth? – John 18:38
John 17:17 Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.
Psalms 119:160 The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.
John 18:37 Therefore, Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this, I have been born, and for this, I have come into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
The Crisis of Truth in Modern Society
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is a 2025 American action spy film, the sequel to “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” (2023). Tom Cruise reprises his iconic role as Ethan Hunt, facing off against an arch-nemesis, The Entity, a rogue AI that gains sentience. This advanced AI morphs into a cyberterrorist threat, adept at imitating human voices, distorting perceptions, manipulating data, and fabricating information. By taking control of global intelligence systems, the Entity challenges fundamental notions of truth and trust, obscuring what is real and who can be relied upon. The concept of truth becomes a subjective battleground, questioning the very foundations of belief and reality.
Is this pure fantasy?
In the 21st century, we find ourselves struggling with the unsettling reality that we no longer know what to believe. In the age of “Fake News,” every claim is met with suspicion, and the very idea of truth feels increasingly out of reach. In today’s digital world, AI, Google, and Facebook have democratized information, allowing everyone to research, broadcast, and share their views. However, such access has also eroded trust. As Mike Rowe pointed out, “In an era where we cannot trust the news, why in the world would we trust anything we read online?” The result is a society trapped in a cycle of doubt, where skepticism has become the default response to all information. We live in a postmodern “unknowing” era where cognitive dissonance is in the ascendancy.
The Shift from Truth to Relativism
A quest for contradiction has taken the place of humanity’s pursuit of truth. We are caught in a tautology of doubt, a circular reasoning that sustains itself. Tautology, the repetitive or circular description of ideas, reflects the current state of discourse. We are not just skeptical; we are skeptical of skepticism itself, and even more so of those who dare to believe in something definitive.
This crisis of truth is not new. Humanity has always sought answers, yet the nature of truth itself has changed dramatically. For many, the concept of Absolute Truth has been replaced by the idea of relative truth. Truth is no longer universal or absolute but personal. Whatever is true for you is the truth. Absolute Truth is rejected, replaced by “truth for now.”
The Rise of Personal Truth
This shift is exemplified by cultural icons like Oprah Winfrey, who promote the discovery of individual truth. During an appearance at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Oprah asked probing questions: “What is the truth of me? Why am I here? And what do I have to offer?” Her answer was simple yet powerful: “The answer is yourself.” She suggested that each person is enough just as they are, and that personal truth is the key to fulfillment (Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations).
While this perspective resonates with many, it also highlights the broader societal move away from objective truth. The emphasis on self as the ultimate source of truth reflects a culture increasingly detached from external, universal standards.
Standing Firm on True Truth
In a time when the concept of truth is becoming more subjective, it’s essential to establish a strong, stable foundation. For those who follow the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, this foundation rests on the eternal Truth found in the Word of God. The Scriptures serve as a reliable guide, providing a consistent standard in a world of shifting beliefs and conflicting ideas. As society faces competing stories and viewpoints, the wisdom in Scripture offers clarity and direction, helping children of the King navigate the complexities of modern life.
Without hesitation, the Word of God clearly proclaims that it is the Truth.
John 17:17: “Your word is truth.”
Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true.
These Scriptures highlight that God’s Truth is constant and unaffected by cultural changes or individual viewpoints. It is timeless, steadfast, and reliable.
REFLECT & PRAY
Children of the King must stand firmly on the foundation of True Truth that He has provided. Believing it is not enough. It must be put into practice.
Father, thank You for revealing Your eternal Truth through Your Word. In a world filled with confusion and deception, encourage me to build my life on the unchanging foundation of Your Truth. Help me stand firm and live in a way that reflects Your wisdom and love.
INSIGHT
The Nature of Truth in a Postmodern Age
Francis Schaeffer identified a key distinction in the postmodern era: the existence of two types of truth, Absolute Truth and relative truth. This distinction has roots in the philosophy of Hegel, a German thinker who lived from 1770 to 1831. Hegel introduced a revolutionary approach to truth called dialectics. He argued that truth is not fixed or absolute but is instead relative and constantly changing. This idea has profoundly influenced modern thought, resulting in a widespread rejection of unchanging, universal truths.
However, for children of the King, the Absolute Truth of Scripture stands in stark contrast to Hegel’s philosophy. The Word of God is unchanging, unwavering, and cannot be synthesized. It is the foundation upon which believers build their understanding of reality and their faith. As Psalms 119:89 declares, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.”
True Truth Revealed in Times of Testing
Stress and crisis often reveal the difference between genuine Truth and false truth. They expose the strength of the foundation upon which we build our lives. The Lord Jesus Christ provides a clear illustration of this principle, not through abstract philosophy but through a practical example of building a house. In His teachings, one house is built on a weak foundation of sand, while the other is built on a solid foundation of rock.
At first glance, both houses seem secure. However, the true quality of the builders’ work is exposed when severe testing comes. Torrential downpours, common in Israel, reveal the strength, or weakness, of the foundation. Wise builders prepare for these inevitable storms by building their homes on a strong foundation.
Matthew 7:24-25 provides this powerful teaching: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise, and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”
Similarly, Proverbs 10:25 reinforces this truth: “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.”
As William Barclay observed, “Only a house whose foundations are firm can withstand the storm, and only a life whose foundations are sure can stand the test.” This principle underscores the importance of building one’s life on the unshakable foundation of the Word of God.
Listening and Doing: The Call to Action
The Lord Jesus Christ demands two essential responses from His followers: they must listen to His teachings and put them into practice. As Barclay noted, “Knowledge only becomes relevant when it is translated into action.” It is entirely possible to possess an excellent understanding of Christian ethics and theology without living as a true follower of Christ. Knowledge, in and of itself, is insufficient; it must be transformed into action. Theory must become practice, and theology must become life.
Barclay elaborates, “There is little point in consulting a doctor about our health unless we are prepared to act upon the things we are told. There is little point in going to an expert unless we are prepared to act upon the advice given to us. And yet there are thousands of people who listen to the teaching of Jesus Christ every Sunday, and who have an excellent knowledge of what Jesus taught, and who yet make little or no deliberate attempt to put it into practice.”
This sobering observation challenges believers to move beyond passive listening and embrace active obedience. The storms of life will come, but only those who have built their lives on the firm foundation of Christ’s teachings will endure.
The modern crisis of truth reflects humanity’s departure from Absolute Truth. As society embraces relativism, the need for discernment and a return to foundational principles becomes increasingly urgent. For children of the King, the Word of God offers clarity and stability amid uncertainty. By standing firm on this foundation, we can navigate the complexities of modern life with confidence and purpose.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯4-22-2
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 