CNN had an interesting article up on their web site today. Part of it is as follows:
‘Truthiness’ is the word of the year
The word — if one can call it that — best summed up 2006, according to an online survey by dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster.
“Truthiness” was credited to Comedy Central satirist Stephen Colbert, who defined it as “truth that comes from the gut, not books.”
“We’re at a point where what constitutes truth is a question on a lot of people’s minds, and truth has become up for grabs,” said Merriam-Webster president John Morse. “‘Truthiness’ is a playful way for us to think about a very important issue.”
As I reflected on this characterization of 2006, the year that is almost all behind us, I could not help but go to the Scriptures and look up a few verses by way of contrast. I wanted to see what The Book said about truth – to see if what constitutes truth really is up for grabs or not. Here is a sampling:
Joh 1:14-17 The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father’s unique Son, full of grace and truth. (15) John told the truth about him when he cried out, “This is the person about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’” (16) From his fullness we have all received one gracious gift after another. (17) For while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Joh 8:32 [Jesus, to His followers] “…And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Joh 8:44 [to the Pharisees] You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood by the truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Joh 14:17 [the Holy Spirit] … is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, for it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, for he abides with you and will be in you.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.
Joh 18:38 Pilate said to him, “What is ‘truth’?”
Rom 1:18 For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of those who in their wickedness suppress the truth.
Rom 1:25 They exchanged God’s truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Eph 4:25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, “let each of us speak the truth to his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Eph 6:14 [our spiritual warfare involves truth] Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,…
3Jo 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
That is truth that comes from the Book not the gut!!
1 John has a number of verses, that I have not included here, that speak of the truth being in us (or not, if we live in darkness).
May God grant us the grace and strength to walk daily in this kind of truth – not mere “truthiness”! The definition of truth is not up for grabs!
Be encouraged as you “walk in the Truth”! [Scripture references from the International Standard Version. Underlining mine - for emphasis.]