Truth2Freedom's BlogThe mindset in postmodernism is that objective truth does not exist. But in post-truth, the person believes that objective truth exists, but they subordinate truth to their preferences, or their comfort. In other words, one doesn’t care that truth exists or what the truth is if it doesn’t line up with one’s preferences. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" - George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. Faith in Jesus Christ is our response to God's elective purpose in our life. These two truths--God's initiative and man's response--co-exist throughout the Bible. The gospel is "the message of truth" because truth is its predominant characteristic. Salvation was conceived by the God of truth (Ps. 31:5); purchased by the Son, who is the truth (John 14:6); and is applied by the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). To know it is to know the truth that sets men free (John 8:32). Believers are people of the truth (John 18:37), who worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), and who obey the Word of truth (John 17:17). People have rejected, neglected, redefined, and opposed God’s truth for centuries. Some cynically deny that truth even exists or that it can be known by men (John 18:38). Others foolishly think that denying truth will somehow make it go away. Truth determines the validity of one's belief. Believing a lie doesn't make it true. Conversely, failing to believe the truth doesn't make it a lie. The gospel is true because Jesus is true, not simply because Christians believe in Him. His resurrection proved the truth of His claims and constitutes the objective basis of our faith (Rom. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:3). Truth is our protection and strength (Eph. 6:14). Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth. At the heart of every false religion is the notion that man can come to God by any means he chooses--by meditating, doing good deeds, and so on. But Scripture says, "There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus Christ, and we come to Him by confessing and repenting of our sin, trusting in His atoning death on the cross, and affirming His bodily resurrection from the grave (cf. Rom. 10:9-10). There is no other way to God. False religious leaders and teachers talk much about God’s love, but not His wrath and holiness; much about how deprived of good things people are, but not about their depravity; much about God’s universal fatherhood toward everyone, but not much about his unique fatherhood toward all who believe in His Son; much about what God wants to give to us, but nothing about the necessity of obedience to Him; much about health and happiness, but nothing about holiness and sacrifice. Their message is full of gaps, the greatest of which leaves out a biblical worldview of the saving gospel and replaces it with the worldview of postmodernism with its dominant ethical system of relativism. The Bible describes mankind in the end times: “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Spiritual answers cannot be deduced by human reason alone (1 Cor. 2:14). It’s not that spiritual truth is irrational or illogical, but that human wisdom is defective, because it’s tainted by man’s sinfulness, and unable to perceive the things of God. That is why the Bible is so important. It gives us the answers we can’t find on our own. It is God’s Word to mankind. Scripture is divinely revealed truth that fills the vacuum of spiritual ignorance in all of us. Post-truth is the word of the year for 2016 and also the philosophy of the day, According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. In a “post-truth” world, people make choices based on emotion and experience rather than objective fact. So in a post-truth world, truth is irrelevant. What exactly is a post-truth culture? It’s a culture where truth is no longer an objective reality. It has become subjective. It’s what’s true for me—my beliefs, my opinions, determine my truth. So in our post-truth culture, man determines truth. Man makes himself the ultimate authority. This starting point, which rejects God’s Word and the idea of moral absolutes, makes truth subjective. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Christianity is grounded in objective truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Objective truth exists because we have God’s Word. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Thy word is truth” (John 17:17), and Paul and James describe the Bible as “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18). The Psalmist says, “The entirety of your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). Jesus Himself said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). When Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6), He wasn’t expressing His personal belief or opinion. He was speaking the truth, a fundamental reality that doesn’t change from person to person. It doesn’t matter if our culture thinks all roads lead to God. The truth of the matter is “no one comes to the Father but by [Jesus].” This blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell
I love the verse :
keep driving toward tomorrow
the clouds promise
clearing rain
It’s wonderful.
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the best part of looking in the rearview for me, is to see how far i have come….when you first break away though i def dont look back…its too close…
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When you mentioned breaking away I thought of cycling and how imperative when you “break away” to keep your eyes forward (there’s a life lesson there my friend.)
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Stunning pictures & your verses complements perfectly ~ I specially like reaching out for beauty and new life ~
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Sometimes we must try to cancel out and escape from the past. Moving onwards to the hope that is ahead in life…Great images to support your words:)
Eileen
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Thanks Eileen. Yes we have to let the bridges burn in order to move ahead. Thanks for the visit. Hope you had a great trip.
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Route 66! I knew it had to be more beautiful than the old TV sitcom! Wow. They seriously illustrate your point. I love the proximity of the burning bridges in the rear view during the push forward. Eventually comes the time in our journey when we can look back and enjoy–or forgive–who and where we were. I like the breakdown of that journey into three stages though while we’re living it, it seems like many more.
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It (66) really is like going back in time. I really hope to drive the entire route one day. Thanks for your comment
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I think we cannot regret what we see in that rearview mirror. That is our past, for better or worse. The thoughts and the experiences cannot any longer be relived. Good to aim for / reach out for the beauty ahead….and look forward to the ‘new life.’ Very nice!
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yes. The past is the past it will only hold us from the promise of the forward journey.
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This is really something, so well put.
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Thanks
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This intramofion is off the hizool!
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There are no words to describe how boiduaocs this is.
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I like the idea of not dwelling unnecessarily on the past and looking forward instead, even though we know it is not always going to be an easy path. Thought-provoking piece!
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Nope life is not easy but a journey that meanders many unexpected places. Thanks for your comment
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__I wrote a short story in 2003; a Mahican native boy chased, each night of the full moon, his shadow, One night he caught that shadow and it disappeared, but in glancing over his shoulder, he became aware of that “Contrary” shadow, that which left behind. From than instant forward, he was always conscious of his “Contrary” shadow… and how it may have affected others.
__Nice work here, thanks for charging my memory! _m
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Well thanks for sharing. I think it should be shared – a valuable lesson taught.
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Words & pictures make this a lovely post to view…
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I liked the last lines best “New life blots out old stains” Living in the present with passion fully engaged doesn’t leave any time for regrets,
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Nice finish, hope abides. Living in AZ, I too am a fan of Route 66, such a storied route, so you know you’re never alone on that road.
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A spectacular write, kiddo, and I am so happy you are writing again. The top photo is stunning – “those are my bridges burning”……wowzers. Your four closing lines are brilliant!
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…a beautiful, cheering piece… i am delighted to have read this…. excellent… smiles… thanks for the poem!
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Superbly illaninutimg data here, thanks!
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Great pictures… and I loved the positive outlook… that there is a tomorrow when it would be beautiful. I really liked it.
-HA
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Such an effective use of image and word.. like turning a metaphor into a reality..also like how it was in real time and we came along with you
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glad to have some folks in the back seat on route 66
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So much wisdom here that can only be learned with time. Here’s to hoping to dance in moonlight one day!
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Moonlight dances are the best 🙂
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I like the positive tone that you addressed the prompt.
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