The definition of truth used to never cause as much controversy as it does today. But it may to surprise you to know that two thousand years ago, people were questioning what the word truth really means. Jesus said, "...Anyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice." A Roman named Pilate was recorded responding, "What is truth?" (John 18:37-39 MSG) It is clear that even in the days that Jesus walked the earth, the meaning of truth was already being muddled. (Scroll to bottom to read the passage this article quoted if interested or wait until you finish reading.)

However, even in ancient times, when no one could agree what exactly what or who was truth, there was a general understanding that truth was truth- irrefutable and sacred. Two thousand years ago, the meaning of truth was being attacked but had not yet fallen. 

Fast forward to today and that general understanding is gone. Truth is now something to be generalized and subdued so it offends no one and has no face. The word truth now means nothing because nothing is guaranteed to be true in the world. It's only how one person feels. It's only an opinion. Truth has been demoted from irrefutable fact to generalized popular option.

Many people try looking for truth and many settle for less. It's easy to say that truth is only defined by a person's perspective. It's easy to say if you'd lived in a different land and spoke a different tongue, you'd see it differently. If you lived in a different time or had grown up with different influences, you'd think differently. And so it's easy to say whatever truth you hold dear is only the result of the opinions and voices in your own life. That truth varies, flexes, and bends. Many people take this easy lie and look no further.

However, there is another kind of person who, promoted by the Holy Spirit, just can't seem to believe that. A person who looks at the facts and data and says that there is only one answer. They see people of different backgrounds and nations and realize that no matter where you are from, it doesn't change the world you're born in. In other words, it doesn't change the truth. Your perspective may be twisted but the truth never is. The world may change but the laws and principles of an everlasting God never do. The person who realizes this doesn't stop searching.

So what is truth? Is it the generally accepted principle in society or an ageless foundation set down by God? Especially as Christians, we need to stop looking to the world for answers. Because the war waged against truth isn't a battle against flesh and blood but against the Spirit of God. It challenges the value of terms like right and wrong. It challenges justice and mercy. As an agnostic skeptic or confused Christian, you must know there is already proof that there is irrefutable truth that you know about. It's that deep gut feeling that it's not right when everyone says it is. It's that fire inside you when someone you love is wronged. It's the absolutes in science that never vary. You tell me: what is truth?

The truth is, ladies and gentlemen, that the Creator instilled all of us with a sense of right and wrong, good and evil, and a sense of justice. When someone tells me there is no truth, they are telling me there are no absolutes. But when we look in the world around us, there are so many things that are certain. It is true gravity will keep you from flying off into space, just as it is true that it's wrong to have sexual relations outside of marriage. It is true the earth revolves on an axis, and it is true that God is holy and His Word never becomes irrelevant. I could give many more examples, but the truth is that truth exists. You just have to open your eyes and look around at the world around you.

The truth is... Truth exists.

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Here is the passage I quoted for reference purposes. You can find the whole story in the MSG version of the Bible under John 18:28:-40.

28-29 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn't enter the palace because they didn't want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. "What charge do you bring against this man?"

30 They said, "If he hadn't been doing something evil, do you think we'd be here bothering you?"

31-32 Pilate said, "You take him. Judge him by your law."

The Jews said, "We're not allowed to kill anyone." (This would confirm Jesus' word indicating the way he would die.)

33 Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"

34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?"

35 Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?"

36 "My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king."

37 Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?"

Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice."

38-39 Pilate said, "What is truth?"

Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, "I find nothing wrong in this man. It's your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the 'King of the Jews'?"

40 They shouted back, "Not this one, but Barabbas!" Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.

 (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.

I claim no rights to these verses.