Study Guide: What is Truth?

Sunday February 18, 2018 | Greg Boyd

Focus Scripture:

• John 18:37-38

  Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"

• John 14:6

  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

• Acts 4:11-12

  This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’

Brief Summary:

In the first sermon in our 'Sure.' series, Greg examines the nature of truth. Is all truth subjective? Is all morality relative? In western culture a premium is placed on tolerance. Greg explains the history of this movement and ultimately how it squares with the teachings of Christ.

Extended Summary:

Greg lost his faith for a period when he was an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota. He encountered questions about Christianity for which he didn’t have good answers. Fortunately, he ultimately found his way back to faith. However, he frequently encounters people who gave up the faith for similar reasons and never found their way back. In this series, titled ‘Sure.’, Greg will examine the reasons for belief and answer some common questions about Christianity and the Bible that many believers and non-believers alike struggle with.

In John 18:37-38 Jesus tells Pilot that he was born to testify to truth. To which Pilot replies, “what is truth?” This series will start by looking at the nature of truth and the history of relativism.

The culture of the western world is one of a crisis of truth. This stems back to 1500s-1650s when non-stop Christian violence over who had the monopoly on truth led to 28 different wars and huge loss of life. This ultimately prompted the Peace of Westphalia which brought a truce and end to religious fighting in Europe. Tolerance was introduced as a primary cultural value. Tolerance has become even more important over the last 30 years as our country has become more diverse and people have begun to see how their experience, background, and culture have impacted their beliefs. This has led some to conclude that truth can never be known, because we are all to immersed in our cultural and experience to be objective. In this culture of relativism there is no room for absolute truth with some even seeing absolute truth claims as leading to terrorism and violence. Some Christians have even begun to see their faith through a subjective lens.

Greg shared some guiding principles when thinking about truth:

1. Religious Beliefs ARE dangerous
   -Anything you believe is more important than life itself you will be willing to kill and die for. Therefore, religious beliefs have the potential to be dangerous. However, if your core belief is that God loves all people and was willing to die for His enemies than your central beliefs will prohibit you from using violence even to protect your religious beliefs.
2. Relativism is self-refuting
   -Just think about this statement, “there is no such thing as absolute truth.” Isn’t that statement itself an absolute truth claim?
3. Truth is always narrow
   -Truth is whatever corresponds to reality and since there is only one reality, truth is narrow. For instance, there are infinite numbers of wrong answers and only one right to the question what is 2+2.
   -What makes you narrow mind is not that you believe in truth, but how and why you believe something is truth. Are you open to dialogue and discussion? Are you open to the possibility you could be wrong?
4. No one really believes relativism
   -No one lives consistently with the position of relativism. Just try to steal their parking spot and see if they don’t appeal to a standard of fairness.
5. Jesus made absolute truth claims
   -Jesus claimed to be the way the truth and the life and the New Testament tells us that we are saved by the name of Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

• What is wrong with the statement: “There is no such thing as absolute truth”? What do you think of Greg’s argument that the truth is, by it’s nature, narrow?
• Can you hold to absolute truth and still be non-judgment? How would that look?
• Take a moment to reflect on your beliefs and life. Where might there be areas that relativism has snuck into your thinking? Spend some time sharing those areas with Jesus.
• As Christians, we are called to be ambassadors of Jesus. Are there people in your life that you disagree with about truth? What has been your attitude towards them?

Print