Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 22 - We must live in the real world that God created, governed by His rules and laws

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 22 - We must live in the real world that God created, governed by His rules and laws.

Children have fantastic imaginations.  They can envision worlds where they can fly, fight dragons, or be someone else.  We all need escape now and then, and usually it is healthy as long as we realize that it is actually unreal.  Interacting with the real world as Superman will end badly. 

We live in a physical world governed by fixed laws of nature.  We have to eat, drink, have shelter, and clothing.  We are social creatures and look for relational connections with others and even with nature.  But the real world is potentially a dangerous place too.  Disasters happen, health can fail, or we can be harmed by the actions of others.  We do our best to protect ourselves, our families, and our well-being.  

We ignore the reality of the rules and laws of this world at our peril.  We must live in the world as it is, even if we want it to be otherwise or even if we believe it to be different from reality.  We can spend like we're rich, even if we are not.  We can treat others badly and expect to receive love in return.  We can deny that we have a disease and refuse treatment.  We can act as if we have a body biologically different from the one we were born in and even try to change it.  We can believe that we can steal without consequences.  We can live our lives as if there will never be an end or an ultimate accounting for our actions.  There are innumerable ways we can deceive ourselves, but eventually we will suffer the consequences of ignoring reality and embracing our fantasies.  

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 13 - All Truth is God's Truth

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 13 - All Truth is God's Truth

Truth is what corresponds to reality.  It is not about what we feel, or determined by strongly held convictions.  The foundational truth is that God cannot lie and that He is the author of all Truth.  He can never contradict Himself, since He is the immutably good, all powerful, and necessary being.

Christians have often struggled with change.  The enlightenment which fostered the scientific revolution has been hard for some to accept, especially when there are apparent discrepancies between the Words of Scripture and the discoveries of modern science.  Who do we believe and where do we place our trust?  Do we really have to choose between believing in God and facts discovered by the scientific method?

Fortunately, there is a third option — the realization that "All Truth is God's Truth."   The God who created the whole natural realm and then chose to reveal Himself to us cannot, and will not, deceive us or communicate falsehoods.  God did not give us evidence of a past history that never happened, nor did He give His revelation to mislead us into believing falsehoods.  

Historically, Christians have held to a concept called "dual revelation", or the two Books view, which is well articulated by the Belgic Confession of 1561: 

We know him by two means: first, by the creation, preservation and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God, namely, his power and divinity, as the apostle Paul saith, Romans 1:20. All which things are sufficient to convince men, and leave them without excuse. Secondly, he makes himself more clearly and fully known to us by his holy and divine Word, that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to his glory and our salvation.

Because both revelations come from the Creator God, there can be no inherent conflict between truths found in each.  However, we need to be humble enough to realize that, as human beings, we can misinterpret one or both, and force a seeming conflict or contradiction.  Also, it is possible that we simply don't yet fully understand portions well enough to be dogmatic about certain particulars.  

The TLDR bottom line is this:  We do not have to choose between having a love for studying the amazing creation that God has given us and loving God with all our hearts and minds.  

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 12 - To Know the Truth, Jesus said to first Follow and Obey him

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 12 - To Know the Truth, Jesus said to first Follow and Obey him

The CIA headquarters has the following line inscribed on the marble wall in their lobby,

  "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Perhaps surprising to some is that this is a partial verse from the Bible, but it is really taken out of context.  The quotation from Jesus is, 

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  (John 8:31-34)

The Bible is clear that wisdom comes from acknowledging God as the source of Truth, not ourselves.

9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  (Proverbs 9:9-11)

and

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)

 

In reality, truth can be a burden.  But when we acknowledge God first and choose to follow His Son, then we will truly be free.

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 11 - Self-control is a Virtue; Pride is a Sin

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 11 - Self-control is a Virtue; Pride is a Sin

It used to be that a person with self-control was highly revered.  Rash behavior, violence, cruelty, and lack of personal restraint was condemned.  On the other hand, pride was considered to be one of the "deadly sins".  While sometimes it is good to be proud of virtuous behavior and unselfish accomplishments, there is a dark side to pride that destroys and can eat away the soul of the prideful person.  Historically, it was inconceivable that immoral behavior was something to be acclaimed and celebrated.

But now we as a culture have dedicated a whole month each year to celebrating Pride, but nothing comparable for the virtuous.  Maybe we should ask ourselves, "Pride in what?"  Are we exalting something that is praiseworthy and virtuous?  Is this something that should be promoted at every level of government?  Are these proclamations forced through because politicians are afraid to stand up for what is right and true, and thus bow to external pressures to concede the moral high ground.  It is hard to see why we should have pride in our civilization's widespread embrace of relativistic morality, where everyone just does what they think is right in their own eyes and where there are no objective standards of right and wrong.  Ironically, the activists don't consistently embrace relativism, since they claim that it is objectively wrong to say that there are limits on the religion of sexuality, and that equity, justice, and diversity are foundational truths that we all must embrace.  In fact, they hold to these truths so tightly that they actively squash dissenting views and speech whenever possible.  

When we have a proper view of ourselves, then we can boast in what God has allowed us to achieve and become.  Remember, 

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 7 - Affirming another's delusions is ultimately harmful

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 7 - Affirming another's delusions is ultimately harmful

A dangerous trend in our modern world is affirming those who are in denial about reality and truth. In the past, when a concerned family member or professional observed dangerous or self-destructive behavior, then they took action to get the person help or reported the dangerous situation to someone who could help.  Now, however, it seems more likely than not to go along with the person's delusions and affirm them, in the name of compassion or social justice.

In the past, most health professionals would agree that long-term solutions generally did not involve going along with the patient's delusions, and certainly not to the extent of actively helping them in continuing self-destructive actions.  But somehow, in the name of inclusive compassion, that has all changed in the matter of just a few years.  Now doctors, parents, counselors, and school officials are actively promoting the continuation of harmful behaviors, and in some cases, even helping to cover up evidence of troubled behaviors. Those who object are openly persecuted and blamed, sometimes resulting in the loss of parental rights or meaningful contact with the victim.

Few people would encourage a person experiencing Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) to have healthy limbs amputated or their spinal cord transected.  Nor would rational people continue to affirm an anorexic girl's belief that she is overweight.  Most would agree that that would be evil and destructive.  Out of control drinking and drug use should raise alarm bells for anyone who cares about the well-being of another, and intervention is morally required.  We are expected to report suicidal or self-destructive behavior to the proper authorities too.  If we care about the individuals, we need to actually help them.

But for some reason, when it comes to a growing list of behaviors, we are now expected to affirm these behaviors in the name of equity and diversity.  If a child (or adult for that matter) actually thinks that they are an animal (e.g. Furries) and continually acts it out, the expectation is to play along and assist in the delusion.  Not to do so is considered to be harmful.  Likewise, if a young child or teen experiencing mental health issues is also experiencing gender dysphoria, it is assumed that the real issue is that they are really in a body of the wrong sex.  So the solution is not to first resolve the underlying mental health issues, but rather to assist in radical sex reassignments via irreversible chemical castration, cross-sex hormone treatments, and even surgeries.  In many cases, these are done without the consent or knowledge of the parents or guardians.  Sometimes out of fear, or because they are supporting the new sexual ethic, the parents actually are the drivers of the changes for children too young to make informed consent.  What was unthinkable just a few years ago, now is acceptable practice.  

As a society, we should probably ask "Why?"  Is it to appease a vocal minority that are pushing a radical moral agenda and want to fundamentally transform our society away from traditional moral values?  When we look back on this, I suspect that we'll be horrified that we did experimental therapies on children (and adults) that were permanently scarring and life altering.  Just as lobotomies, forced drug trials, and involuntary sterilizations are unthinkable to us today, I would pray that we come to our senses sooner than later.  Our children should not be sacrificed on the altar of the sexual revolution.

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 3 - Love is not just feelings but sacrifice and hard work - God is Love

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 3 - Love is not just feelings, but sacrifice and hard work.  God is Love.

For many, today's marriage vows are something along the lines of, "I'll love you and be faithful to you (until it becomes too hard or my feelings change)."  That's because our culture has lost sight of the true meaning of "Love" and romanticized it past the point of recognition.  Shouldn't love be more about what I can give to others, than what I can get?    

Love is hard!  People are messy and sometimes are hard to love.  Sometimes we even struggle to love ourselves.  Strong emotions are often tangled up in what we call love, as well.  At some level, most people highly value love and seek after it.    

So the real question is, "What is love?"  English is handicapped by having multiple definitions of the word "Love", which can mean many different things.  I can love my siblings, or my parents, or my friends, or my romantic partners, or sexual satisfaction, or power, or people with whom I've forged relationships through shared hardships, or even God Himself.  

The Bible defines sacrificial love (ἀγάπη or agápē) as:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (1 Cor. 13)

Jesus said that the way that people will know that we truly are his disciples is if we show love toward each other.  We are called to love God with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.  Instead of loving pleasure, money, pride, and self (2 Tim 3:1-6), maybe we should strive to show true love to others too.  After all, Jesus did tell us to love our neighbors as ourselves!

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 2 - God Keeps His Promises

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 2

God Keeps His Promises.

One of the great promises of God is that He will never again send a universal flood to purge the earth of a reprobate humanity.  He gave us the sign of the rainbow as a reminder of His promise.  Despite efforts to repurpose this awesome display, it remains today as a visual reminder that God is faithful.  For those who love and follow God, he has promised that ultimately all things will work for good and not evil (Romans 8:28).  

Trust needs to be earned.  We all have experienced broken promises from people and groups we have trusted.  Sometimes it is hard to recover from the moral failures of others that directly impact our lives.  Our heroes may fail; vows broken by us and to us; our security and safety violated.  We sometimes even fail ourselves.  We all need someone to put our trust in who will not fail us.  As revealed in the Bible, God has a 100% track record of keeping his promises.  

Just a quick note on biblical promises.  We must be very careful not to claim promises that God has given to others as our own.  While often there are principles from examples in the Bible that may be generally applicable, it is also very easy to improperly claim some promises as our own.  This can be avoided by carefully looking at the context of the text and by applying the principle of Never read a Bible verse. For example, “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is” (Prov. 23:7) is not a promise that whatever you truly believe will become reality for you.  Likewise, Jeremiah 29:11 simply reads, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” This was given at a specific time to a specific group of people, but unfortunately it is not a personal promise made to you!   

I'll leave you with these promises from God's Word.

  

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9) 

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:2-6)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Day 1 - Objective Truth Wins Over Subjective Feelings

 

Truth Month - July 2024

Day 1 - Objective Truth Wins Over Subjective Feelings

Truth is much more than a person's opinion, and is no less than that which corresponds to reality.  That kind of Truth is known as Objective Truth.  It is true no matter who believes it or not, since the reality of it exists independently of the observer.  Objective Truth can be investigated, tested, and verified (such as by the scientific method).   Now truth claims can be wrong or mistaken, and mistaken beliefs can and should be evaluated, and re-aligned with reality if they are mistaken.  Knowledge is justified true belief.  Belief alone does not make something true, even if you are sincere.  The "Truth" in Truth Month refers solely to the kind that corresponds to reality. 

Another kind of truth that is commonly use today is Subjective Truth.  Often called relativistic truth, this kind of truth is based on a person's beliefs, views, or experiences, and can vary greatly between individuals or cultures.  While we can argue about the best flavor or ice cream (obviously chocolate chip mint), or who we feel was the GOAT in a certain sport, it really just comes down to personal preference.  There is not necessarily any correspondence to reality.  Claiming that "my truth", "your truth", or "my lived experience" is binding upon others is not a valid truth claim, because only the Truth actually exists. 

Related to Subjective Truth is the belief in Relativism.  Relativism has been aptly called having one's feet firmly planted in mid-air, since it has no philosophical grounding.  It is based on the idea that no objective truth exists, or certainly none that can be known. Relativistic morality is incoherent, and is ultimately logically self-defeating.  Without grounding, nothing can actually be called good or evil, only preferences.  It has no solid grounding for its claims, nor does it have the ability to assert claims of right or wrong, including its own truth claims.  For example, the Nazis believed that they were right to exterminate the undesirables, and with relativism, there are no objective grounds for disputing that.  It is not good enough to say that "I don't like that" or "I think that was wrong".  Without an objective moral standard, such as the uncaused creator God, relativism and subjective truths remain just the flavor of the day.     

Examples

• It is okay to steal if you really need it. (S)
• A man named Jesus lived in Judea about 2000 years ago, and was crucified by the Romans. (O)
• My wife is the best wife in the whole world! (S)
• The nature of human procreation is the combination of the sex gametes of a male and a female. (O)
• Modern art is inspiring. (S)
• Physics is the best and highest scientific discipline. (S)
• No physical object can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. (O)
• Gender is closely related to biology, so it is unfair for trans-athletes to compete in sports against people of the opposite biological sex. (S)
• Sex/gender are determined by biology, and not by a doctor's opinion or a person's feelings. (O)
• It is wrong to torture babies just for the fun of it. (O)

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - Take Back the Rainbow - Starting Tomorrow

 Truth Month - July 2024

2nd Annual Truth Month Starts Tomorrow

1. Objective Truth Wins Over Subjective Feelings.

2. God keeps His promises.

3. Love is not just feelings, but sacrifice and hard work.  God is Love.

4. Men and Women are made in the Image of God, but marred by sin.

5. Redefining words does not change reality.  Ignoring reality has consequences.

6. One Creator.  One Way.  One Resurrected Savior. Jesus.

7. Affirming another's delusions is ultimately harmful.

8. Speak Truth but with Love.

9. When the moral foundation of a culture crumbles, it is inevitable that evil will prosper.

10. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

11. Self-control is a Virtue; Pride is a Sin.

12. To Know the Truth, Jesus said to first follow and obey him.

13. All Truth is God's Truth. 

14. All people have dignity and worth, but not all actions and beliefs are true or good.

15. All Human (inherent) Rights come from God, and are not granted by men or governments.

16. True Tolerance allows for different viewpoints, and does not suppress others.

17. Our worth as human beings is not based on external characteristics, what we can give society, our development level, or any conferred status, but on our intrinsic value as creatures made in God's image.

18. Good and Evil both exist. Fight for good. Resist evil.(Ethics - Do the greater good)

19. Families are key.  From the beginning of time, they were designed to be the primary source of moral teaching and discipline.

20. Men are not Women.  Women are not Men.  Your gender was assigned at conception.

21. People and institutions may fail us, but God never will.

22. We must live in the real world that God created, governed by His rules and laws.

23. God has revealed Himself to us.  Our attempts to make our own religions are doomed to fail.

24. God became a human.  Humans cannot ever become gods.

25. Justice is supposed to be fairly applied - blind to status and impartial in judgment.

26. It is wrong to take the life of innocent human beings.

27. It is our duty to protect the weak and those who cannot help themselves

28. A life raft cannot save everyone.  You cannot help others if yours sinks.

29. Work is good and the norm for all people.  

30. Before passing judgment, be sure to apply the same standard to yourself.  

31. Celebrate Truth, All the Time.  All the Time, Celebrate Truth.

Truth Month - July 2024 - In 2 Days

 

Truth Month - July 2024

2nd Annual Truth Month starts in 2 days!

Daily Updates and Reflections

Families, good and evil, the reason that human life has value ... 

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - In 3 Days

 

Truth Month - July 2024

2nd Annual Truth Month starts in 3 days!

Daily Updates and Reflections

What is tolerance, justice, work, and more ... 

Truth Month - July 2024 

Truth Month - July 2024 - In 4 Days

 

Truth Month - July 2024

In 4 Days ...

What is nature of truth, real love, human sexuality, and more...

Truth Month - July 2024