Pursuing Truth

The world did not recognize truth when truth came in the very flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. I believe it's because Jesus' life and teachings were so fundamentally different than what is experienced everyday.

The world is a marketplace of truth. People are buying and selling truth left and right, and people's views of truth and reality are constantly changing. Because of this, when people buy belief systems in the marketplace of truth, belief systems expire when the next latest and greatest cultural phenomenon hits the world, and people are forced to find a new version of the truth.

But there are two mistakes that people make about truth. The first is that people often get truth and experience mixed up. What I mean is, when I experience seeing a balloon float in the air, I shouldn't give up my belief in gravity simply because a balloon floats.

The second mistake is that people often think that their beliefs are individual and personal matters. The fact is, however, we cannot escape each other's versions of the truth. Your belief systems fundamentally impact the way you relate to me, and mine to you. Therefore, truth really is a corporate matter, even if you are the only one that believes a particular way.

We can go about dealing with truth in three different ways. First, we can have truth without faith. Truth without faith is basically believing something to be true, but doing absolutely nothing about it. Truth without faith makes absolutely no difference in life, and it is no different if the truth isn't even believed at all.

Second, we can have faith without truth. Faith without truth is acting upon a belief we know to be false. This happens more often than we would think. When we buy into the belief that buying the next greatest thing will bring us happiness, then we have faith without truth, because we act even though we know deep down that money or things won't bring us the kind of fulfilled life we are seeking.

Third, we can have faith and truth combined. Faith and truth combined is using our minds to pursue the truth, and acting accordingly. Sometimes we employ a little more faith, stepping out in boldness in what we know to be true about God, and sometimes we employ a little more truth, taking time to study the Scriptures before we act. But the key is having faith and truth combined. Truth combined with faith and action is what makes a difference in this world.

So as the Gathering we are striving to be a community that pursues truth. My prayer is that we would act in faith and truth, seeking God with our minds as well as our hearts, and stepping out in faith to bring the reality of truth to a world confused in a marketplace of junk.

God bless you,
See you next week at the Gathering!

-Tim