Subscribe to Every Post:I would like to begin a three part post on the nature of truth. Many Christians claim that truth is only found in the Bible. Is this accurate? There is no doubt in my mind that the Bible is a book written by man and authored by God’s Spirit. In other words, God’s Spirit guided the authors in such a way that while God used their historical setting, personality, and unique style, the exact words and message were guided perfectly by God. Because of this, there are no errors, inconsistencies, and the Bible provides God’s unmistakable voice and truth to all generations (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
However, while it is accurate to say that the Bible is God’s truth to us, it is not the only source of God’s truth in our world.
I cannot live without water. Water is a combination of h2O. This is not found in the Bible, but is true.
The laws of gravity explain why a football that is thrown up into the air (preferably by Peyton Manning intended for Reggie Wayne) will eventually come down. This law of gravity is not found in the Bible, but it is true.
In math we learn at an early age that two plus two equals four. This is not found in the Bible, but it is true.
We learn in accounting that when liabilities are higher than assets, a business or organization is working from an indebted position. We don’t learn this in the Bible, but it is true.
All the above examples are principles in life that are as true as the truth contained in Scripture. And because they are true, they belong to God. He is the author of all truth, therefore, anything that is true in the world comes from him.
The point to be made here is that God’s truth is permeated in so many different ways in the world, and often we fail to acknowledge that it all comes from God. We have a tendency to rejoice only in the truth of the Bible (and certainly we should), but we are missing so much of what God has offered us if we do not rejoice in all the ways God reveals his truth to us in other ways as well.
Right now I am teaching a class at IPFW called, “Foundations for Success.” I am teaching life skills such as setting goals, time management, working with teams, self-motivation, self-evaluation, how to prioritize tasks, self-discipline, the power of right decisions, etc. I have never used a Bible verse in the class, but I am teaching so many principles that are simply true and right. And if they are true and right, then they have one source, and that source is God.
It is amazing how vast and broad God’s truth is in our world!
Let’s retain a high view of Scripture, but let’s not overstate a message that says God’s truth is not found outside of Scripture as well.
During part two I would like to address a common complaint against the contemporary church today which suggest the church is run too much like a business. I think there is some truth to this statement, but it might not be for the reasons most would give to support this claim. Those typical arguments usually given I think miss the very point of this post: all truth is God’s truth (even truth we find in the business world). Should be an interesting point of discussion.
Look all around you, acknowledge the many different streams of truth that come into your life at your job, in your relationships, in your school studies, in your recreation, through the Bible, and in many different ways. Spend time rejoicing in God’s truth, giving him the ultimate glory!
November 18th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Very well said Chris. In religion or christianity we can become so narrow we forget some of the very basic truth’s that operate in our lives. Thanks for reminding us of those truth’s again. It’s good to look inside the box and outside also. Keep thinking deep. Love ya brother. js