While I was working my way through college I noticed a phenomenon that happened with alarming frequency. Things that I had been taught in high school as fact were now being challenged and subjected to heavy source criticism.
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.
It was the Oxford Dictionaries word of the year in 2016.
“Never have human societies known so much…but agreed so little about what they collectively know.”
Dan Kahan, psychology and law professor
It is safe to say that we live in a post-truth society. What does this mean for the Church? As Christians we are people who are very concerned with truth and how we view truth is a matter of grave importance. This is in no way an exhaustive work, but a mere peering into mirrored surface of the profound pool of truth.
Truth can be known.
Jesus said in John 8:31 “…And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
You cannot know a lie. Neither do lies bring freedom. You can only believe a lie.
But truth is knowable. It is stable foundation that can built upon. When everything is falling apart in your life you can cling to something that you know is true.
You can know this today: There is a God who loves you.
Truth must be purchased.
While there is some truth that can be immediately transmitted into our knowledge, truth must be purchased; sought out. You have to get it for yourself, not just because some body told you.
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Proverbs 23:23
In order to be purchased, truth must be valued. You will not purchase something that you do not think is valuable. Lies can also be purchased. What people value determines the market. Truth is precious. It is rare. Lies have no value. Unfortunately, many unsuspecting-or rather undiscerning-people have been sold so many lies at immense costs.
What you value matters to God. The highest level of value is love. If you do not love truth, God will hide it from you.
II Thessalonians 2:8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Truth Demands a Response.
Response to truth is reflected in behavior. When truth is resisted corrupt behavior is manifested.
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Truth will always be resisted, and as time draws near to the end, it will be resisted more. People will always try to hide the truth, and it will be reflected in their fruit.
Truth is Liberating.
John 8:31 “…And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
With truth comes a freedom that nothing else can bring. Hiding the truth breeds fear. There is nothing to fear when you can tell the truth.
If you tell the truth, you won’t have to worry about someone else telling it.
Mostly From Memory 