The following definitions of truth are found in the 1828 edition of Noah Webster’s dictionary.
Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.
True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Conformity of words to thoughts, which is called moral truth.
Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth.
Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, “Newsletter: Essential California Week in Review: Progress and a pause,” 17 Apr. 2021 says “…experts who track extremist movements say that the truth is more complex and troubling.” However, while speaking to the Father in prayer, Jesus said simply, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Today, people believe they can invent their own truth. Philosophers and academics teach that truth is a personal thing. That a person may have a personal truth that is different from the truth of society and that society must accept all the truths of all people. A man saying he is female and the woman claiming to be male conflicts with the clear observations of society. People are mentally determining their truth which is opposed to the reality of science. However, society is being forced to accept these obvious violations of truth.
There is a parallel in the gospels that point to men determining “truth” through a distortion of scriptural truth. After the miraculous feeding of thousands, many came to Jesus wanting more food saying, “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘he (Moses) gave them bread out of heaven to eat'” (John 6:30-31). They believed that Moses, as God’s prophet and law giver, gave them manna. “Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32-33). Notice the emphasis on the truth of who provided food and for what purpose. God provides to sustain life.
There are many examples of Jesus correcting the false ideas the people held to be true. He said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me” (John 5:39). And John chapter 8 is filled with examples of Jesus countering their false beliefs. As the gospel went into the world, the apostles continually spoke only the truth that the Spirit delivered. Paul said, “For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority“ (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6).
From the Easy To Read version of the New Testament, we have these words from Paul. “I said this before. Now I say it again: You have already accepted the Good News. Anyone who tells you another way to be saved should be condemned! Now do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the one I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:9-10 ERV).
Paul also tells us that the church—not congress, the university, the media, the public schools, or the individual, is the support and defender of truth. “I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth“ (1 Timothy 3:15). The fundamental truth of the gospel is “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time”(1 Timothy 2:3-6)
And some of Paul’s advice, worthy for all people to follow, is “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Riots and demonstrations do not fit into Paul’s description of a Christian.
May we cling to God’s word rather than the whims and futile thoughts of mankind.
