I was recently watching a documentary about disinformation and its lasting effects. One comment was particularly unsettling – “we are living in a post-truth era”. What does this mean? It means we no longer know the truth when we hear it. In fact, we no longer know truth when we see it. Because of abundant information and advanced editing software, we fall into a trap of choosing what to believe and dismissing the rest. We hear this change to a subjective truth in the phrase “My truth”.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
What we consider socially acceptable is endlessly changing, but the word of God is just as true today as when it was first written. This is why it is so powerful! Historically, people have prohibited ownership of the Bible under penalties as extreme as death. Fortunately, in America we enjoy the religious freedom to openly read the Bible. However, there are few who choose to do it. Instead, people rely on their own reasoning and what the “feel” to be right.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:12
Yet, relying on our own understanding makes us easily deceived by those with nefarious motives. When we fail to verify the truth we build our opinions on faulty ground. So in a world with greatly differing versions of the truth, how can we know what to believe?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
We resist objective truth because we don’t like hearing that our choices are wrong. We want to believe that everything is acceptable as long as we want it to be so. But there is objective truth and something doesn’t become true just because we believe it. The only way we can know the Truth, and hold onto it, is by staying connected to God’s word.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the Truth. Everyone on the side of Truth listens to me.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
John 18:37-38
Those who truly believe in Jesus Christ know Truth because they allow the Holy Spirit to guide them to it. The Holy Spirit provides light in the darkness, supplying wisdom and insight to guide Christ’s followers to the Truth.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13
Those who have not accepted Christ remain lost in a world of darkness and confusion, inventing their own version of truth. The values of the world may confuse us, but scripture clearly tells us the Truth:
- Marriage is a lifelong sacred union between a man and a woman.
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24
And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Matthew 19:9
- Sexual immorality refers to sexual acts outside of marriage including adultery and promiscuity.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.“
Matthew 5:27-28
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:18
- Sexual relations between same sex individuals is a sin.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Romans 1:26-27
- Lying and deception come from the devil.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:22
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
James 1:26
- Abortion is taking a life.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…”
Jeremiah 1:5
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13
- The love of money will always leads to sin and corruption.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
1 Timothy 6:10
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:24
- Attempting to change your gender is a sin against God.
“A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 22:5
- Materialism is sinful because we allow possessions take the place of God.
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Romans 1:25
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.…
Deuteronomy 5:7-8
- Jesus is the only path to God because we need the salvation and reconciliation he alone provides
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5
No matter how it makes you feel, these are unchangeable biblical truths and not bigoted opinions. The truth is not popular… it never has been. But disagreeing with it doesn’t make it any less true. God writes His law on our hearts at birth so we can’t claim ignorance. We innately know that murder, rape, stealing, lying, infidelity, exploitation, and greed are wrong. When we disobey God’s natural law we feel guilt. This feeling eventually disappears as we continue to ignore it.
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Mark 7:20-23
The evil one who deceived Eve continues to deceive us today. But we choose to believe his beautiful lies. We allow ourselves to believe the forbidden can’t hurt us and will only enhance our happieness. But is that what you’ve seen in the world? Do people seem happier to you? It’s quite the opposite. Living to please ourselves has created a world filled with immorality, anger and hate, division, greed, depression, selfishness, and exploitation. The world has become a slave to sin which leads to death. Peace and life come from God alone. But nowhere in scripture does it say that sin makes us unredeemable. Instead, it’s only when we recognize our sin that we understand why we need a savior and redeemer.
For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
Romans 3:22-24
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10
Often the world condemns Christians who stand by the Truth in God’s word. Although, in fairness, Christians don’t always communicate God’s truth with gentleness and respect. When the truth isn’t spoken in love we can guarantee it won’t be well received.
But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say.
1 Peter 3:15-16
God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He knows how fallible we are, which is why he provided a path to redemption. We only become unredeemable when we reject God’s law and the grace provided through Christ.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:17
People like to say that Christianity is exclusionary since you have to accept Jesus. But just the opposite is true. The gift of grace is available to all regardless of race, gender, nationality, status, or your past. Anyone can receive God’s grace and mercy through the sacrifice already made by his son. All God asks of us is to recognize our sin, turn from our ways, and receive his grace and mercy.
…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If you would like to receive God’s mercy and grace it is as simple as asking in prayer:
Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinful person in need of your mercy. I no longer want to follow my own way. Instead, I want to know Your Truth and allow it guide me. I’m ready to turn away from my old life and live for you. Jesus, come into my life, wash me clean, and give me a fresh start. Fill my heart with your Holy Spirit so I can follow your path for my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Seek and You Will Find 