With the rising tide of concern for truth in our discourse today, the world finds itself turning to an ancient tenet. Even those who welcomed a so-called “post-truth” era not too long ago are now grasping for this foundational concept. Armed with their smartphones, self-styled truth bearers from all walks of life are arguing about the real facts.
Be it matters related to public health protocols, law enforcement statistics, the influence of big corporations and governments, economic indicators, or the administration of justice, it seems we still yearn for the truth. Or, more accurately, we demand it when it aligns with our individual biases and preferences.
Yet, as Christians familiar with our Bible, we are not startled by this turn of events. The devil has always had a knack for weaving half-truths, crafting subtle deceptions, and spreading “disinformation”. This trickery has been his strategy since time immemorial. Though the current manifestations of these deceptions might appear more blatant and at times unsettling, those of us informed by the eternal truth of Christian Scripture accept this as par for the course.
We were told two millennia ago that non-believers “suppress the truth” and “exchange the truth” for lies (Romans 1:18, 25). Even in the early days of the church, some former believers strayed from the truth (2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 3 John 12). Compared to these times, the current proliferation of slander, flattery, and self-promotion might seem like a novel predicament. But against the backdrop of the early church, we might realize we are living in quite ordinary times.
As Christians, our advocacy for truth, particularly in an era where deception is rife, is both principled and personal. We are passionate about truth and are committed to speaking it, regardless of the cost. Not because we are merely concerned with the distinction between fact and fiction, but because our allegiance is to the ultimate Truth that gives all other truths their meaning. This ultimate Truth is Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of John highlights that Christ, as the divine Son, is not only true but the embodiment of Truth itself. Jesus declared to His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He is the Truth — the singular path to the One who matters most.
Christ is described as “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, 17) in John’s Gospel, echoing the Old Testament’s recurring theme of God’s “steadfast love and faithfulness.” In Jesus, God reveals Himself in a tangible, historical figure, embodying the supreme revelation of God. He is God’s gracious self-disclosure, His Word made flesh.
Our acknowledgment of Jesus as the Truth leads us to understand that the message of salvation through Him, what we call “the gospel,” is also the truth. The apostle Paul refers to this definitive message of the Christian faith as “the truth.” He speaks of hearing “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:13; also James 1:18) and “the word of the truth, the gospel,” which is “the grace of God in truth” (Colossians 1:5–6). Hence, Christians are those who “believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3).
So, why does truth matter? It matters because our pursuit of truth is tied to our ultimate devotion. We worship the One who is Truth Himself, and through the truth of the gospel, we receive the gift of righteousness before God, by faith.
In these troubled times, filled with deception, our commitment to truth might align us with non-believers in various aspects of our lives, including our families, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. However, the deepest loyalties underpinning this cooperation are fundamentally different. We care about the truth, not because the truth is our god or because it currently serves our interests, but because Jesus is our God, and He is the Truth. In Christ, we dedicate our lives not just to the pursuit of truth but to the One who is the Ultimate Truth.
As we navigate these complex times, we find solace in remembering three key allies we have in the Christian call for truth.
Firstly, we have had a personal encounter with the Truth Himself. We are not just proponents of truth; we are personal witnesses to His work in us.
Secondly, the Holy Spirit is our unwavering Ally for the Truth. In a world long entrenched in a contest for truth, we are assured of a Helper who is “the Spirit of Truth.”
Finally, we have a community of believers, a testament that we are not alone in our love and testimony of the Truth. The church, as the pillar and foundation of truth, is our reassuring fellowship in the Truth. Amid a world of half-truths and blatant lies, we cherish the truth, uphold it, and pursue it, because together, we love and worship the One who is Truth.
