What is truth in Christianity, how it’s anchored in God, why we expect truth, and why we (sometimes) don’t want truth.

Summary

Truth is that which conforms with fact or reality. Truth is not determined by personal feelings, popular vote, scientific consensus, or any human court of appeal. Truth simply is what is and is anchored in the God who created and sustains the universe.

Extended Answer

What is truth? People have been asking that question a long time. Just before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus of Nazareth to death in 1st century Judea, he cynically asked the Christ, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). And just like many today, Pilate didn’t wait around for the answer.

In a world that’s awash in news, so-called “fake news”, and misinformation, truth can be difficult to locate. We know politicians lie to make a point, journalists lie about imagined experiences, and our parents even lie about Santa Claus. We’ve even created verbiage to hide our dishonesty so that it seems moral as in “white lies”.

No wonder we’re all skeptics!

When Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” he voiced the same cynicism that echoes in our culture today. From fake news to personal “truths,” we’ve replaced absolute reality with subjective feelings. Yet Scripture reveals that truth is not up for debate – it flows from the very character of God himself.

That’s why in this overview, I want to define truth, determine its origins, explain why we expect it, and why we often don’t want it.

Truth Defined: What Is Real and What is Not

According to the C.S. Lewis Institute…

“Truth is whatever is in accordance with the way in which God created the world; falsehood is anything that goes against God’s reality…”

Truth corresponds with what actually is – the way God sees it. Truth is what is real. In philosophy, this is referred to as a “correspondence theory” of truth. Truth is not relative to another person’s or society’s perspective; instead, it is absolute for every human being, peacock, and blue whale. One person may ‘feel something is true,’ but without objective verification, it means nothing. Truth is not determined by personal feelings, popular vote, scientific consensus, or any human court of appeal.

Truth simply is what is.

Epistemology, or the study of how we come to know truth, may be the most foundational topic in philosophy because it informs every other area. Not surprisingly, there are several different explanations of truth in philosophy. Feel free to explore those various concepts. However, I contend the correspondence theory of truth is the correct perspective because it is supported by the nature of God.

Because truth reflects reality, the next question is: Where does this reality come from? For the Christian, truth doesn’t float in abstraction: it’s anchored in the God who created all things.

“Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Truth Anchored in God: The Ultimate Reality

Truth originates from somewhere. Truth doesn’t materialize out of thin air, but in God himself. John MacArthur wrote,

“Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God.”

Truth is tethered to the character of God. Truth is not simply a description of what is real, but is anchored in God’s personality, attributes, and nature. You and I cannot escape our own skin. In the same way, God cannot escape what is true. Because that is a fundamental part of his being.

Therefore, God determines what truth is.

He defines what up is, where the bottom of the ocean is, where we came from, and where we are going when we die. All other methods of learning, whether in the sciences or in theology, is an attempt to discover what is plain as day to the God who created everything (Genesis 1:1) and upholds the universe by his word (Hebrews 1:3).

“So that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.” Isaiah 65:16 (emphasis mine)

Why We Expect Truth: The Image of God in Us

Everyone expects the truth. That’s why nearly every segment of society vilifies any form of hypocrisy or pretense of truth.

Nobody respects a faker.

People may say things like ‘truth is relative’ or ‘every person has their own truth’, but nobody really believes that consistently. Those who may declare ‘truth is relative’ are the same people who get offended when someone insults them, steals from them, sleeps with their spouse, or otherwise breaks faith with them. It’s because they want truth in their dealings with other people. In fact, we all want the same thing: truth in our relationships.

The reason for this is simple. God created human beings in his likeness (Genesis 1:27). Because he is truth and we’re made in his image, we have a longing for truth in our bones. We expect truth from each other, and we respect truth when we see it.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

Why We (Sometimes) Reject Truth: Our Fallen Hearts

Though we may expect truth from other people, humans have a complicated relationship with truth. After the Fall (when Adam & Eve rebelled against God in Genesis 3), every person fell into a pattern of sin against our Creator. One of those sins is dishonesty (Exodus 20:16, Colossians 3:9).

So though we may affirm honesty is the best policy and reject all forms of fakery (in theory), we ourselves find it difficult to keep everything on the level. We lie to each other and to ourselves. Sometimes we lie to gain an advantage, sometimes for fun, and sometimes there’s no good reason. Lying is simply a part of fallen human experience….though we know better.

But like every sin, lying can be forgiven. If we confess and forsake dishonesty before God, we can obtain God’s mercy (1 John 1:9). Christ died for liars like us.

“All mankind are liars.” (Psalm 116:11)

Truth Incarnate: Jesus the Christ

Truth is not just an idea to debate. It’s also a Person to know. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) To know Him is to walk in truth. When we align our minds and lives with God’s truth, we find freedom from deception and the clarity our world so desperately needs.

Resources

• John MacArthur: What Is Truth?
• The C.S. Lewis Institute: What Is Truth?
• Stanford.edu: Various Theories of Truth