What Makes Something True??
I made a quick video about an interesting conversation with a friend today about “truth” and the validity of those who speak truth.
Leave some comments, lets start a conversation!
I made a quick video about an interesting conversation with a friend today about “truth” and the validity of those who speak truth.
Leave some comments, lets start a conversation!
13 responses to "What Makes Something True??"
There is no such thing as objective truth…our humanity colors what we see and say.
Truth, biblical truth in particular, is not something scientifically diced up on a cold slab, the word of God is incarnate in flesh, so in that context we have to express truth and receive truth–as subjective humans, not machines.
And, why am I not on your blogroll yet? Hmm…
I would say NO! There’s no way that a human failure would negate a God inspired truth. To say so would probably negate half the Bible (considering that David, Paul and others were horrible human failures at one point in their lives.) God uses willing ‘vessels’ to bring forth truths to humanity and we’re all subject to our own human nature.
Now granted if a person continues to live in unrepentant sin and still proclaims new truths, I would question that scenario. If a person is not obedient to the absolutes found in the Word, I would highly doubt God is going to use that particular human avenue to bring forth new truth.
I'm gonna be honest… I was watching your video and about to get into it, when my wife started talking to me and I totally didn't hear the rest of it.
Gonna have to come back & listen later. Not even sure why I'm leaving this comment.
Alex was drinking car bombs during his last comment…apparently…
the issue is not whether the Bible is true or not because this dude wrote a book and its being pulled off shelves…the issue is this dudes books are being taken off the shelves, and his life is no longer true…and, his credibility is like a fat guy being your personal trainer…makes NO sense!
If you wait for someone “perfect” or living in total accordance with any belief system to come forward with something, you’ll be waiting a long time. There are a long list of “sins” that everyone engages in…and the truth of God transcends that imperfection…whether it’s ongoing or not. You know, it’s the baby and the bath water. Keep what’s real, leave the rest. Let he who has no sin cast the first stone. Anyone?
Does someone’s character nullify the truthfulness of his claim? Well, yes and no.
On it’s own merit, someone’s character is a separate issue to the truthfulness of a claim. A doctor can be an arrogant jerk, but have a spot-on medical diagnosis. His view is true and his character has no effect on the truthfulness of his diagnosis, as a diagnosis.
Though this may be true about truth itself, it is different when the discussion turns to the “communication of” truth. Here, you don’t just have content, but content delivered by a person. This is where someone’s character can have an impact.
The impact is not on the truthfulness of the claim itself, rather, the impact is on the credibility of the truth claim. A well-known liar can speak truth all day and never be given the time of day because he has no credibility. Though the truthfulness of the claim is not threatened by character, the effectiveness of the truth claim is stunted because people don’t listen to the messenger because he has tarnished his credibility. Therefore they dismiss a true claim outright because it comes from a questionable source.
Therefore, someone with questionable credibility, is therefore going to be seen as having “questionable truth”. The truth is not questionable, the truth is true. However it is perceived as not credible because the messenger has caused this perception.
Truth is often the casualty of flawed character.
Outstanding Comments People!!
I am seeing a solid connection between the person speaking the truth, their integrity and the effectiveness of the communication of the truth.
I don’t have this all sorted out! This conversation is meant to be a journey to a Godly conclusion on this whole matter.
Keep the fodder coming!
I guess if I wrote a book they’d have to pull it. Not because I’m homosexual, or tempted by homosexuality.
I over eat. I eat way WAY too much. I don’t often reach out to those around me in need. I have used the lords name in vein, I know that I am not living fully to how God wants me to live. I used to be a drug addict, an alcoholic and I’ve had sex before marriage. I’ve even masturbated. *SIGH*
Heck, if you look at people’s lifestyles as a judgment on if we can read what they write, then go ahead and pull half of the Bible.
Henri Nouwen struggled with homosexuality his entire life, and that does not make what he wrote less true. The term “Wounded Healer” mean anything?
It’s not what we struggle with, it’s what we overcome. It’s not how we slip up, it’s how we recognize and move forward. Pulling his books, and judging him does not help him realize his Sins. Loving him, counseling him, and HELPING him might help him realize his lifestyle of sin and MAY make him want to overcome it.
Love your neighbors. You don’t have to read their books, but love them. If you don’t agree, then YOU don’t buy the book. period.
I love you guys. Really I do.
my answer would have to be no. i believe that God uses people no matter what stage of life they are in or how far along in their journey with God they are.
some people screw up but have said some pretty impactful things that have come from God. i wholeheartedly believe that God uses people from all aspects of life. i believe we are called to be cultivators of culture. we weed out the bad in culture and pursue cultivating that which is good in culture. if someone says truth but is involved in some form of sin (which by the way, we all are guilty of that) we need to be able to process through cultivating those things that were truth & apply them & help that person to be restored as a brother/sister in Christ.
if God can speak truth through the mouth of a donkey, don't you think that God could do the same through a fallen man?
…sorry for the long rant!
Chad, you asked “Does it invalidate the truth they have spoken?”
Not according to The Bible. Phillippians 1:18 tells of how Paul purposed to rejoice in the declaration of God’s goodness and the declaration of Christ, regardless of whether the motives of the person making the declaration were selfish and insincere. Who are we as fellow sinners, let alone brothers and sisters in Christ, to declare the declaration of that truth null and void?
Phillippians 1:18 – “What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
Absolutely not. Someone who has fallen or made a horrible choice does not invalidate the truth they shared. At least not to me because I wasn’t placing my trust in them, I was/am placing my trust in the Truth who is Christ.
And I’m going to guess that my name not being on your blogroll is just a mishap, yes? I mean, seriously, you spent a weekend with my husband in Palm Springs and you don’t have my blog on your blogroll?
We’re gonna need to talk about that, my friend
Great discussion Chad!
This is one of those areas which just doesn’t sit well with humanistic ideas of justice, but does sit well with the grace, mercy and love of our mind-blowing God.
In other words, the truth that is spoken doesn’t change because of the sin of the messenger.
In God’s eyes, humanistic “big” sin is no worse than what we might consider “little” sin. We’ve all fallen short of His glory.
As Dan said though, if they continue down that sinful path, unrepentent, God will remove the gifts He’s given them and find someone who’ll do the job His way…or at least closer to His way.
Remember the situation of the fortune-teller girl, who spoke the truth but whose spirit wasn’t right (and was unrepentent), she had to be silenced.
It’s a fine line.
soooo Mr. Markley,
!. so good to see you! Hope you guys are well. 2. name one person that isn't flawed besides Christ, we're all f'd up people Christian or not. 3. 2+2 will always = 4…..always, not matter who says it. 4. miss you guys.