By David Geisler
Do you ever wonder how we as Christians are supposed to navigate our lives in a world where more and more deny that absolute truth can be known?
If our culture struggles to believe that absolute truth even exists, how are we supposed to have meaningful spiritual conversations with skeptics and atheists? How are those of us who follow Christ supposed to point others closer to the truth of the Christian message? We need to help others see, as my dad said in the first point of his 12 Points… “Truth about reality is knowable.” I believe each Christian should ask and attempt to answer this question for themselves in order to be an obedient follower of Jesus Christ: how can we proclaim the truth, and live our lives in accordance with the truth, in this kind of world?
Now let’s be honest, this question may become more troublesome for Christians to answer because of the fact that we now live in an age of fake news, and belief in absolute truth seems ever more elusive for us to grasp. The problem, however, is that if absolute truth does not exist, it makes moral choices more of a slippery slope! For if there is no absolute truth, then who can tell us how we ought to define right and wrong?
As a nation, we are even struggling today with questions like:
“Should babies be aborted to the point of birth?”
“Should we legalize illegal drugs?”
“Should everyone in society fully embrace the idea of same sex marriage?”
“How can I know my gender identity?”
“Why should marriage be limited to only one couple instead of multiple partners?”
Have you noticed that even within the church we are having trouble agreeing on certain “truths” in the area of political discussions? I am meeting more and more godly Christians who strongly disagree with one another about what values we should focus on in the realm of politics. So it’s not surprising to me that non-believers struggle to acknowledge that absolute truth can actually exist!
If there is no absolute truth, then who can tell us how we ought to define right and wrong?
How did we get to this point in our culture here in America? Certainly we have to admit we are a long way away from the moral decisions we wrestled with in American society in the 70-90’s.
During that time period, it became illegal to teach creationism, illegal to post the ten commandments in school class rooms, and prayer in school was abandoned. That was a time when we saw the degrading of morally acceptable standards in society. If we are honest, we cannot deny that some of the ills of our society today, ills that have birthed reactions like the “Me Too” movement, came about because of the moral choices we made in the 70’s – 90’s. These moral choices have had a devastating impact on our present culture.
Certainly those choices we made in the 70’s – 90’s may explain why our American culture seems more religiously pluralistic than at any time in our past history. Think about the multiple choices people make today about religion. After all, Christ wasn’t the only one who made some kind of exclusive claim. Muhammad claimed to be the last and final prophet. Others believe that Buddha was truly the Enlightened One. Hindus believe that Krishna is the incarnation of God for mankind. The exclusive choice of Christians in Christ alone is now seen by many as misplaced trust and harmful for our society. Have you noticed a new generation of atheists rising up in America, professing a belief in “no God”? Have you noticed that there is a significant group of Americans now who profess a belief in no religion at all, and that this group is growing exponentially every year? Certainly these other religious choices make the idea of faith in Jesus alone something more unpalatable to many in our society.
Because of all this, we shouldn’t be surprised that non-believers are more reluctant to embrace Christianity. Belief in Jesus as the only way to God seems to go against the grain of our modern culture, and against the common sense of many people. To imply that one religion is to be preferred over all the others may seem downright arrogant and intolerant, and maybe even a little evil. Consider the fact that it is only the extremely rare person (if that is ever the case) in America who goes to only one restaurant in his lifetime. So, many may wonder, “Why should we do anything different in our religious preferences?”
Belief in Jesus as the only way to God seems to go against the grain of our modern culture, and against the common sense of many people.
Our task certainly seems even more daunting than it was at the time of Jesus’s resurrection. Remember what a few of Jesus’ disciples on the road to Emmaus said to Jesus, being unaware of who he was, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened here in these days?” (Luke 24:18)
In order to make greater progress as Christians in our culture, we need to be like the men of Issachar in 1 Chron. 12:32, who understood the times in which they lived, and knew what they should do. My father, Norm Geisler, was someone who understood the times he lived in, and knew what he should do in his day. During the period of the 70’s – 90’s my father was concerned about three big obstacles to the truth of the Christian faith: Relativism, Pluralism and Agnosticism. . He fought for truth through debates, through teaching and mentoring, through writing books and articles, and by bringing the church together to help define Biblical truth through the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy.
Nowadays, I hardly speak anywhere around the country without someone asking me about how they can help non-believers see Biblical truth as more palatable. Here are six specific things my father taught me, that can help Christians provide a more balanced perspective on truth (especially numbers five and six):
- Truth exists.
- Truth is that which matches reality.
- God’s Truth cannot be contradictory.
- God’s Truth goes beyond reason but not against reason.
- I can trust God for things I don’t know, because of the things He has revealed to me that I do know.
- Christianity is a system of Truth with no “error” in its view of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). All other religions in the world are a system of error that contain occasional truths.
In helping non-believers construct a bridge of truth to lead to the Cross, even using the six points above, it may be helpful to try to remove first some prejudices associated with the idea of believing in exclusive truth. To some this belief carries with it a certain kind of arrogance and even a lack of humility. So as we share with others that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the only way (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5), we should not neglect to point out that no one chooses Jesus because they are somehow better than someone else. We Christians should always remember this truth: we are all just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread!
Christianity is a system of Truth with no “error” in its view of salvation. All other religions in the world are a system of error that contain occasional truths.
We should also not neglect to build “heart bridges” with others. We should remind others that Jesus taught that not only can Truth be known, but more importantly that knowing that Truth shall make you free! (Jn. 8:32). We should also remember that Jesus taught that He alone could forgive sins, (Luke 5:24) and that only through Jesus is it possible to have an intimate relationship with our Creator. (Jn. 14:6). The Apostle Paul said that it was only through the one mediator, Jesus Christ, that salvation was even possible (1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus’ disciple, Peter, declared that there is salvation in Jesus alone (Acts 4:12).
As you look for opportunities to help those in your circle of influence to understand the truth of the Christian faith, a free, downloadable bookmark may help you remember some ways to share the truth in ways they may find easier to accept. If you want to get a better grasp on these tools, which can help you share the truth in ways that are personally, culturally, and spiritually sensitive, try reading this book, or taking this self-paced workshop.
If you are struggling to understand the truth for yourself, and want help in clearly and logically thinking through the Christian faith, try reading my father’s book, The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True or downloading a free bookmark as a daily reminder for you, and/or dig deeper by taking this self-paced workshop.
