“ABSOLUTES:” Now in Question. What is Truth?

The Oxford Dictionary declared “post-truth” to be its 2016 international word of the year. Definition: “Objective facts are now less influential in shaping opinions or beliefs.” This is what is now being taught in many of our institutions of higher learning. This is what is influencing many decisions being made by our leaders in government. This is what is now shaping the thinking of many in our land today.

In the introduction to his book “The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished The Souls of Today’s Students” (1987, Simon & Schuster), the late Chicago University professor Allan Bloom argued that higher education in the United States has failed democracy and impoverished the souls of today’s students.

“The great virtue of the day, he wrote, became the unshakable belief that all truth is relative, and that no one idea or moral value is truer than any other. Openness to every culture and tolerance of every idea has become the greatest insight of our time. The notion of absoluteness, naturally, became the great foe of our times. The true believer is the real danger. The study of history and culture taught the youth of today that the greatest evils of the past came from people who thought they were absolutely right. Our mission today was not to correct the mistakes and learn what is really right, but rather to abolish the very concept of right and wrong. Everything became right. What right, students continue to ask, dare anyone say that one way is better than the other?”

******************

We dare say! There is One who has the ultimate right, the One who was, who is, who is to come. HE said: “When He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into ALL truth…” (John 16:13). Jesus also said: “I am the way, the TRUTH and the life” (John 14:6).

Who are we to believe? Who do you believe? As for me and my house…

I believe in God, the Three-in-One who made the heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, of virgin birth.
I believe the Holy Spirit, love divine,
indwells and fills this heart of mine.
I believe, I believe.

I believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word, of truth aflame.
He has blessed and magnified it as He has His holy name.
To redeem and save mankind the Savior died,
on Calvary’s cross was crucified.
I believe. I believe.

I believe that someday through His boundless love and saving grace,
I shall rise on wings of light to realms above, I’ll see His face.
There beyond the earth and air and sea and sky
I’ll dwell with Him, no more to die.
Ah this, praise God,
I BELIEVE! I BELIEVE!! I BELIEVE!!!