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Scripture Reading: Psalm 26:1-5

Word of the Year: "Post-Truth"

 

Intro.

1.  There is a truth crisis in the world, and also among Christians.

2.  Oxford’s word of the year: “Post-truth” (Time Magazine).

3.  Adjective; “post-truth: “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” (theguardian.com)

  a.  “It describes a situation in which feelings trump facts.” (Ibid.)

  b.  “The concept of post-truth has been in existence for the past decade, but Oxford Dictionaries has seen a spike in frequency this year in the context of the EU referendum in the United Kingdom and the presidential election in the United States. It has also become associated with a particular noun, in the phrase post-truth politics.”

  c.  “Post-truth has gone from being a peripheral term to being a mainstay in political commentary, now often being used by major publications without the need for clarification or definition in their headlines.” (en.oxforddictionaries.com

  d.  Example: “You may think you are prepared for a post-truth world, in which political appeals to emotion count for more than statements of verifiable fact.” (washingtonpost.com)

4.  “...and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

 

I.  GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH, Jno. 17:17; Psa. 119:142, 160.

  A.  The Truth is the Gospel, Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5. (New Testament)

  B.  We Can Know the Facts, Commands and Promises of God, Eph. 5:17; Jno. 8:32.

    1.  Shall know: “Does not refer to a remote future, but one that begins at once and continues and grows” (Lenski, John, 630).

    2.  Grow in knowledge, 2 Pet. 3:18.

 

II.  THE WORLD CANNOT PROPERLY DEFINE TRUTH. Jno. 18:38

  A.  Feelings, Emotions, Experiences and Traditions, Prov. 14:12; 28:26.

    1.  Post-truth: “Hands up, don’t shoot” of Ferguson, MO. (Built on emotions, not facts -- false info)

    2.  “I know I’m saved” (because of my experience).

  B.  Academia (cf. global warming, etc. “flat earth”), 1 Cor. 1:18-25.

  C.  Majority Approval Defines Truth, Matt. 7:21, 13-14.

 

III.  CONTRAST THE WORLD AND JESUS REGARDING TRUTH, Jno. 8:32.

  A.  World: “A” Truth; Jesus: “The” Truth.

    1.  World wants subjective truth; pliable, changeable.

    2.  “The” is absolute, emphatic, authoritative standard, Gal. 4:16.

  B.  World: Partial Truth; Jesus: Fullness of Truth, Jno. 1:14, 16 (16:13).

    1.  Bhagavad-Gita Koran, Book of Mormon, etc.

    2.  Anything man writes?

  C.  World: Truth is Relative (changing); Jesus: Truth is Constant, Enduring, 1 Pet. 1:22-25.

  D.  World: Truth not Fully Knowable; Jesus: Know the Truth, Eph. 3:3-5.

  E.  Denominations: “Essential” Truth; Jesus: All Truth Essential, Jno. 12:48; 16:13.

 

IV.  CHRISTIANS ARE DEVELOPING SIMILAR ATTITUDES TOWARD TRUTH.

     (Results in faith being built on sand, Matt. 7:24-27)

  A.  By Confusing Opinions with Truth.

    -Failing to know the Scriptures (how to study, how to establish and apply Bible authority, etc.), cf. Matt. 22:29; Acts 17:11-12.

  B.  By Accepting Worldly Values and Attitudes toward the Truth:

    1.  To these brethren, the presence of disagreement over revealed truth means there cannot be unity.

      a.  Their solution: Agree to disagree.

      b.  Not true, cf. 1 Cor. 1:10-13 (Eph. 4:3).

    2.  To them, a judgment against sin is deemed hypocritical or self-righteous, since they refuse to commit to an absolute standard of truth (right and wrong).

      a.  Yet, Jesus commended righteous judgment, Jno. 7:24, and said His word judges us (Jno. 12:48).

      b.  We can read and believe His judgments, make the same judgments, and be righteous (not self-righteous).

 

Conclusion

1.  Show me, teach me, lead me...Salvation...On you I wait all the day, Psa. 25:4-5.

2.  “For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth.” Psa. 33:4

 

 

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: December 8, 2016