Question One: Where do we go for the truth?

Most Christians would reflexively say, “The Bible.” But do we really go there as often as we think? And how often do we surrender to the truth we know (e.g., love your neighbor as yourself)?

Question Two: Is all the truth even found in the Bible?

For example, what does the Bible say is the truth about Artificial Intelligence? Or the history of America? When two biblically-based doctrines clash (e.g., Arminianism and Calvinism), how do we determine which one is true?

Question Three: Which truths are foundational to our faith?

Most Christians would point to the Gospel, but what is that? Jesus saved me from my sins? Death, burial, and resurrection? What about the gospel Jesus came preaching: the Gospel of the kingdom of God? What about the elementary principles of Christ listed in Hebrews 6:1-2? How many of your Christian friends can list, much less explain, them?

The point of these questions: The attention we give to the truth exposes our consideration of its importance, our neglect of its application, and our naiveté of its complexity.

It is perhaps for this reason most of all that Harry Blamires warned, in his seminal book The Christian Mind (1963), “There is no longer a Christian mind.” In the next couple of articles, we will consider how our concept of the truth has been secularized, ways in which we might acquire/recover the love of the truth, and how we should engage the world going forward.

In the meantime, it would do us good to confess our laziness with the truth, and soberly ask ourselves if we have received “the love of the truth.” Such a love is more important than we may have considered.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2Thessalonians 2:9-12

Importantly, Paul wrote this warning to describe the manner in which the “falling away” will occur. Notice how our salvation depends on it.

For those of you holding onto the “once saved, always saved” contention, please consider that salvation is a process (i.e., not an event), secured by those who endure to the end (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, and Mark 13:13). Paul himself feared running the race in vain (Galatians 2:2) and being disqualified (1Corinthians 9:27). You simply cannot fall away from something of which you are not a part.

God bless you with grace and courage to face the truth – to be freed by it.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

#iamjustthepen