Christianity was supposed to be about becoming like Jesus. We went in the wrong direction.
Blog Archive   Home
Christian Pioneer Blog 

email

 

 

Discerning Truth

 

There have been various methods put forth to discern truth. For Christians what aligns with the bible is an often cited method. The problem here is that people often selectively use the bible and out of context can get some pretty strange ideas. Another method often cited is reason and logic. However, this path led to the so-called “enlightenment” which led Thomas Jefferson to edit the bible and remove anything supernatural. Perhaps one of the more problematic approaches is to attempt to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit. Often was is mistakenly felt as leading is an emotional response to considering an idea.

One might be seen as judgmental or being critical, but discernment is said to improve with exercise (Heb 5:14) and related is to maturity. Jesus gave a description of those who would respond to his words by calling them those who were “of the truth” (John 18:37). From this we can see a condition that one can have (being of the truth) and therefore must be obtainable. It would seem that this condition causes one to recognize and respond to truth because the word of God is truth (John 17:17).

One might see an internal configuration to be “of the truth” as a result of thousands of choices in life where someone selects to know truth even at the expense of comfort or the approval of others. Those who instead make choices that satisfy a desire to feel good, gain the approval of others, or even deceive others create in themselves little that is able to respond to truth. This lack of an internal structure that is capable of responding to truth might be seen in those that are vulnerable to deception (2Thess 2:10, 2Tim 3:13).

Some might think that they honor truth and therefore are “of the truth” however James writes that without a consistent application of truth in “doing" that “hearing” only still leaves one vulnerable to self-deception (Jam 1:22). One might conclude that it is necessary to have an integrated (thought, word, and deed) value of truth in order to form the internal structures that can resonate with, respond to, and discern it.

As we grow out of childhood,we often grow in the various skills we acquire. It is interesting that often children have a better ability to respond to truth (Matt 18:3). This also illustrates a linkage between truth and faith. Those who have a solid appreciation of truth can feel confident in placing their trust (faith) in that which is true. That young people can have a more clear view of truth can be seen in the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

One might ask what causes adults to lose the clarity for truth they had as a child. One factor might be that as an adult one has a fixed idea about the world and one’s place in it. This mental construct offers certainty but also can inhibit questioning. Those seeking truth may dissect an assertion or declaration to determine if it is true. Others not seeking truth may take an easier path often classifying assertions and declarations as either consistent with or in opposition to what one believes (right or wrong, good or bad).

Being able to discern truth requires one to be “of the truth” as well as experienced in the evaluation of information. Simple classification of information is not the same as analysis and evaluation. However, discernment is also connected to maturity (Christ-likeness).




  


Information about Christianity and the Christian life.

 Pictures and views of our farm Some of our animals See some of the old-fashioned crafts we are trying to relearn