What is Truth?

One of the big differences between Christianity and most of the prevalent worldviews these days is the certainty of objective truth. Objective truth is that which is true apart from your opinion, preferences, or feelings (subjective truth). They are true in and of themselves. Now, of course, I admit that Christianity doesn't have a lock on objective truth. Others who are not Christians do believe in the concept. And, on the other hand, not all Christians, even real Christians, function as if they believe it. But Christianity is the sole worldview that includes the claim by its Author and Finisher, "I am ... the Truth" (John 14:6) Christianity links speaking the truth with love (Eph 4:15). Christianity is based on objective truth. If it's mere opinion, we're done.

In this world there are lots of things "up for grabs," so to speak. For instance, a Yale research project revealed a galaxy with almost no dark matter ... which wouldn't be odd, I suppose, except for the fact that dark matter is a theoretical type of matter unproven and unseen. But in this instance, they say, the absence of dark matter (which is not a proven substance) proves its existence. Ummm, okay. We can discuss that. Or you can read that studies show that coffee is good for you and bad for you, that eggs are good for you and bad for you, that wine is good for you and bad for you. Which? We can discuss it. There is a lot of stuff "up for grabs." It's not easy to tag this stuff with an "objective truth" label.

Recently I watched a video that offered two responses to the question, "Why does God allow evil in this world?" The two were men I respect -- good Christians. And their answers were almost as far apart as it gets. One said the standard answer. It was along the lines of "God has to allow us to do what we want because" (say it with me) "love that is not freely given is not love." God, in this scenario, is sorely limited -- sure, self-limited, but limited -- by Man's Free Will. The other said, "God is Sovereign. He allows what He allows for His glory and our good. Conversely, that which is not ultimately for His glory or our good is prevented." Not the same thing. And I was struck with the reasons given. The first was a philosophical argument and the second a biblical one.

To me, "objective truth" may be elusive at times, but there are other times that it is abundantly clear. If it's clearly in God's Word, it is clearly true. Now, the Bible doesn't have much to say about dark matter or the value of coffee, so I won't worry about that. It does have much to say about other things, and I can stand there fairly certain that I'm standing on truth.

So I took a look at the two arguments. One is based on the argument that love must be freely given to be love. It is predicated on free will. What does the Bible say about free will? It wouldn't be fair to say "Nothing," but neither would it be far wrong. The Bible doesn't say anything explicitly about the nature of Man's free will in a positive sense. Now, there are commands to "choose" and the like, so we know something like "free will" exists. When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, they intended evil (Gen 50:20). There is free will there. God holds us responsible for our choices, so there is free will there. Free will -- the ability to make choices without coercion -- does exist, biblically, in some form or another. So far, so good.

But the Bible is equally clear that God is the Decider in all things. "Many are the plans in the mind of a man," writes Solomon, "but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." (Prov 19:21) "The mind of man plans his way," we read, and that's free will, "but the LORD directs his steps." (Pro 16:9) Again we read, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Prov 21:1) Scripture even says that God prevents some from sinning (Gen 20:6). We know that we repent and place our faith in God, but Scripture also tells us that both faith and repentance are gifts from God (Rom 12:3; Heb 12:2; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:25; Acts 5:31). Biblically, it would seem, our wills are not as free as we like to think.

If our view of Free Will and Sovereignty doesn't align with both of these perspectives, we are not aligning our view with reality. If we say, "Love isn't love if it's not freely given," we're saying a popular thing, but is it biblical? I can't find it. If we say that God is limited (or limits Himself) to Man's Free Will, we're in mainstream thinking, but is it biblical? I can't see how.

My point is not the "Free Will vs God's Sovereignty" debate. This is just an example of a truth claim and determining what is true. My point is where do you derive your objective truth? If you take it from science or philosophy or "how I feel about it", it becomes subjective -- a matter of opinion, preferences, or feelings. If you derive it from God's Word, now you have solid footing. If God says something, it's true. Explaining away what God says because "it doesn't align with my understanding" is a fool's goal. We know the Truth. It is a person (John 14:6). It is the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14). We are told to "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." (Col 3:16) "Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar." (Prov 30:5-6)