Is there a thing called Truth ?

Rev. Boipu Serto *

Last year I read a book by Florence Bulle 'The Many Faces of Deception' on discovering the real truth regarding the many controversies and teachings in the church. Florence resides in the US and worked as a clinical counsellor in a mental health clinic and wrote the book from her many years' experienced as retreat and conference speaker. I'm not here to write a book review or dissect her book but a lot of things came into my mind on the word TRUTH. Surprisingly, this is what Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?"

This is the question I'm sure many are confused observing the scenario of our land and the church. Many times I asked myself – Is there truth in the news I'm reading and listening? Or is there any truth in the kind of lives we lived as believers? Let's remember the Jews leaders twisted the truth to get Jesus arrested and crucified under the hands of the Roman soldiers. I really don't want to call this an article as there will be some portion, which may seem like a sermon. However, I want to put down two thoughts for us to contemplate regarding the word TRUTH.

1. Truth has been compromise/diluted

Just a glance of this first sub-topic, do I hear someone say, "Yes, it's true. We have compromised Christ truth for our own personal interest." Maybe there are some who are nodding their heads to agree with me. Throughout the church history, God's people have time and time again compromised on the truth of the gospel, and it shouldn't surprise us at this time that our Christian lives have not been a great example for the world to see.

Real mission is when we first become missionary in our daily lives, and then we send missionaries through our resources. True and fruitful mission begins with me, not in the mission field. The book of Judges 17:6 remind us, "In those days, there was no King in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes."

Does this sound familiar in our generation? It's kind of shocking to hear believers cheating their partner for their physical desires. Since the end of last year till now, I'm hearing people in ministry forgetting God-given partner and committing sin, and shameful to even mention in this article. This is no different among believers as well, compromising on many issues that have become a stumbling block for unbelievers.

Many years ago while teaching in the Kangpokpi Mission High School, I asked if a colleague of mine wanted to become a Christian. His respond shamed me, "Itao, what is it that is different from me and the Christians that I should embrace Christianity? I don't drink. I don't do what all the Christians are doing though preachers after preachers keep saying how a Christian should lived. I don't see any Bible characters. In fact, I give my tithe and thanksgiving and I never missed any worship services."

Of course, we can question his self-righteous attitudes; however, we can see many truths in what he said. When believers compromise on the truth of the Scripture in their lives, others can't see the real Jesus, and that is the area we dilute and compromise. I'm sure we all remember Isaac words, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but hands are the hands of Esau" (Genesis 27:22). That's how Jacob cheated his father Isaac.

Just the other day, we celebrated the Good Friday, the day our Lord Jesus died for us on the cross to forgive and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness and sins. Remember how the people in Jerusalem shouted, "We have no King but Caesar" (John 19:15). Many times our personal interest takes precedence over our faith, and the truth of the Bible has been either diluted or compromise. Our self has become the king many times, thus compromising what Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Through our action and living we have compromise the truth of Christian living and followers of Christ, just like apostle Peter who denied our Lord three times to saved his skin. We are in a way no different from Peter when we fail to live as true Christians – denying the Lord through our every day action. We have flowed with the tide of the world many times rather than be rejected or fearful of being call– Jesus freak or Pharisee for our religiosity.

We try to get along with others and want to be accepted by all even when we know certain principles that we do are against the Scripture, and though our conscience prick us in the nascent stage, later on we become numb to our compromising situation. And knowingly or unknowingly, we have become like rare ocean species that camouflage according to its surrounding and environment.

2. Truth has been hidden

In most of the English or Hindi movies, what stands out in the end is the truth that always has the last laugh. No matter how much the villain or those opposing the truth; the end is always the triumph of good over evil, or truth prevailing over lie. Mahatma Gandhi philosophy was 'truth triumphs'. Is this really true in reality?

Is there any incident that you think deserves justice but due to situation best known to us, true justice never passes the conference room? Have you come across any incident/s in our land? How about in the church? Are there stories about influential few who control the way the church should be run and many times the truth is kept in the dark? The disciples knew the truth of who Jesus is, but all ran away for their safety. They knew Jesus was the truth and had the truth, but they were afraid to stand for the truth when it matter the most.

I think we all know the story of David, who committed adultery and murdered and tried to hide it, but he couldn't hide his mistakes, and in the end God severely disciplined him. Not only his child died but the sword of deception never departed from his family. Can you now imagine the consequences when we suppress the truth? Do you know any truth that has been published in the media but somehow the truth has never seen the daylight? How about suppressing the truth in our church? It is not surprising how much the church life has been influenced by the worldly ways of thinking and mentality.

There have been cases when church has not taken a firm stand in few moral and ethical issues. Prophet Isaiah said, "Listen, O heavens, and hear O earth; for the Lord speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. An ox knows its owner, and donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand" (1:2-3).

Is this true about our Christians? By our low ethical and moral living, we have suppress and hidden the truth of Jesus' love and care. It will not be very wrong if I say our understanding of the true living God has become defective. Moreover, our church membership is only in the church registered book, nothing more than that.

Let's see how prophet Isaiah described his time –
(1) You have become murderers
(2) Your silver has become dross
(3) Your drinks are diluted water
(4) Your rulers are rebels
(5) You are companion of thieves
(6) Everyone loves a bribe
(7) You chases after rewards
(8) You do not defend the orphans
(9) Your widows are neglected.

Is this any different from our situation at present? Through our uncaring and carefree living, we have directly and indirectly hidden the truth of Jesus in our lives, that others don't see the truth about the living and resurrected Saviour Jesus Christ.

Concluding thought

The well-known apologist, Ravi Zachariah wrote a book Has Christianity failed you? The titled itself sparked questions in my heart. Has Christianity really failed the world?

Or is it the Christians that miserably failed the world? Take time to think through these questions. May this short article ignite our hearts to see the truth, know the truth, live the truth, and witness the truth..!