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Logic- relative truth is not absolute truth p.1 A poll taken in 2005-Aug., Barna reported in their survey that 35% of adults believe that moral truth is absolute -- not dependent upon the circumstances. 32% said that the circumstances always determine morality. 33% didn't know or did not respond. Among American adults with various religious worldviews, the following percentages believed that moral truth is absolute: 70% of Evangelicals. This was the only group in which a majority held the belief in absolute truth. 42% of non-Evangelical born-again adults. Unfortunately, that’s not much of an improvement from before.In 2009-DEC, Barna published a year-in-review which reported: Only one-third (34%) [of U.S. adults] believed in absolute moral truth. https://www.barna.org. Since then, the decline has been noticeable, and still one-third believe moral truth is absolute (35%). Two-thirds of American adults (44%) believe that moral truth is relative to circumstances. 51% of Millennials (those born between 1984 and 2002) are more likely than other group to say moral truth is relative. Among the generation categories 44% of Gen-Xers (those Born between 1965 and 1983), 41% of Boomers (those born from 1946 and 1964), and 39% of Elders (those Born 1945, or earlier). This affects numerous decisions, for example, many people choosing which religious system to adhere to, what group or church to join, does not involve a consideration of which one is true, but which is more comfortable for them, or what works for them. People are choosing what appeals to their own tastes, what feels right for them (pragmatism). But feelings are not a way to understand or gauge the truth; neither is what “works” a test for truth. Logic once accompanied education, from the time of Greek philosophy. Many things can work and not be approved by God or even be good for you in the long run.
Plato’s argument is used in the following discussion: Relativism is a philosophy built on the premise that one cannot presume to know ‘the truth;’ as absolute. That we make up our own reality. In spiritual matters, a relativist sees all spiritual paths as equal, leading to God. It’s like eating at a smorgasbord; we choose what we want to eat based on our taste preferences and what will fill our hunger at that particular time. We see this in secular culture, and this has now crept into Christianity. Logic, shaped by cultural thinking, prevents critical thinking. Ask people on the street a specific question and we can expect a mixture of opinions, even convoluted answers. Today, people would rather watch a video and not read it, the internet is driven by videos. Yes, they have their place but we need to consider that God gave us His Word. There is a reason we are to read to learn, to be knowledgeable, because it gives you time to pause and think, to ruminate, meditate on what you read. But today there are those who teach an eastern meditation technique to discover knowledge, which actually stops you from thinking! What was once present in our culture as logic, and reasoning for determining what makes sense to find the truth is no longer a valid tool; it's all about feelings, which cannot determine truth. We have all heard the phrase, that truth is relative. “Relative truth” is identified as what is true at only one time and at one place, it’s true to some people and not to others. It’s true now, but it may not have been true in the past, and, it may not be true in the future; it’s always subject to change, individually or collectively. Absolute truth means that what is true at one time and in one place is true at all times and in all places. What is true for one person is true for all people. Truth is factual; reality, whether we believe it or not. Contrary to the concept of relative truth, absolute truth is discovered or revealed. It is not invented by popular opinion, it cannot be decided by the Majority in a culture, or by religious men. The scientific fact of gravity, is an example of absolute truth. We did not invent gravity; it was discovered and is universal; it affects everyone equally (though it may not be fully understood). You can’t jump out of an airplane without a parachute and think you will float; that gravity will have no effect on you because you are higher up. You can try, but I guarantee it will be a very short time before you know the truth. Another example is breathing, all living creatures, animals, breathe (just not all in the same way, such as plants). Then there is Spiritual truth, which is God-given. Only a higher intelligent being who created us can know what is correct or best for us. In the same way that a loving parent would know what’s best for their children (humanly speaking). If relativism were true, then the universe could contain contradictory conditions and truths. An impossibility, for opposites cannot both be true. This would be a violation of the law of non-contradiction, which states that two contradictory statements cannot be true. For example, one cannot go forward and backward at the same time. Time goes forward; it does not go backward. No one is getting younger; instead, they are getting older. The law of non-contradiction is undeniable; you can’t use it without using it, and you can’t deny it without using it. Logic tells us that contradictions cannot both be true, so the concept of relative truth is false. This is a lot to digest, let me spell it out…If relativism were true, then nothing could actually be true. It would only be held as a temporary belief for some, not all people, for a certain length of time, and then no longer. Then the relative truth held in the belief system of a society cannot absolutely claim that something they hold is true. They can’t be absolutely certain, since everything is relative. If everything is relative to each person, then what you believe and what I believe, or what someone else believes, is different on everything, ad infinitum. Then whatever is believed is not true at any time, and what everyone believes is false. If relativism were true, you could never be mistaken or wrong because it’s true to me by my own standard. Even if I’m wrong, it still is true to ME. But it is not strictly true, for it is not absolute. You can only find out what is wrong by using something that is true, and compare it. Ex: We both see a color, but we do not agree it is the same color, it can be blue to me and red to you, if we do not submit to a standard, we can each call it whatever we want. In other words, belief statements are not necessarily truth statements, one is simply declaring their belief. If someone said I can fly, that belief may be a true statement to them, but not the statement itself. There has to be an ultimate standard, a line to divide what is right and wrong, true and false. God, the creator of all holds this standard, for he is the truth by his nature. Secularism and relative truth The final paragraph of the 1933 Humanist Manifesto I, declares: “Though we consider the religious forms and ideas of our fathers no longer adequate, the quest for the good life is still the central task for mankind. Man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievement. He must set intelligence and will to the task.” This is relative truth. Holding to relativism erases history and everything learned through all the centuries. Atheists are believers in relativism, but they are inconsistent, for they insist God does not exist. But to be consistent with their own philosophy, they must be considered agnostics. They must give room for the fact that he can exist at the same time someone says he doesn’t. The concept of relativism carries the concept that what is true to one may not be true to another. You cannot say absolutely, unequivocally, say there is no God. Only one of these views is true; the other is false - we are dealing with reality, logic that is conducive to reality. I’m not referring to judgment calls we make every day based on certain standards we have implemented. This is not like laws particular in each society, in our culture. For example we drive on the left side, but in England they drive on the right side. These are conditions made by man that are particular to their own laws of the land. . There are universal truths in various occupations, such as in math 2 +2 always equals 4. If someone comes along and says it's now 5. You can change it, but it would not be consistent to truth and reality. If you learned your whole life 2 + 2 were 5 does that make it true, or were you taught falsely? We know mathematics was with man from Genesis when God gave man a calendar and when he instructed Noah to build a huge boat. Egypt from 5 BC drew geometric designs. Traced to the ancient Greek (mathema), meaning "subject of instruction."Discovered with the Pythagoreans, who coined the term "mathematics" in the 6th century BC. If one practices relativism they cannot learn anything permanent, for there is no absolute truth. Without absolutes, education is a farce. For one to learn, there must be absolutes or the history of education is a farce. You’d be always learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim.3:7). If you took 10 years of college education at the end what you learned may no longer be held as true, you’d be right back where you started and no better for it. You started in a state of ignorance on the subject you were going to become educated on, 10 years later did not help progress your pursuit in learning.Why get a college education if what you learned about the subjects is no longer to be true after graduation? Living by relative truth stops human beings in their personal pursuit of truth in knowledge and neutralizes their moral growth. This dispenses ones pursuit to objectively examine the differences to see what really is true. And this is what has intruded on us today, in both secular and religious. Reality testifies that there are absolutes! Yet one does not need to have absolute evidence in order to acknowledge absolute truth exists. Examples of absolutes are all around us. We all need air to breathe, and we all need food and water to live. This is true for all people everywhere at all times. You don’t need to suffocate to know that one needs air to breathe. Relativism in spiritual teaching In spiritual matters, we find the Christian worldview is the most consistent with reality, there is sin, and there is a cure for sin. 1 John 2 says that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and are calling God a liar. There is also truth, and there is falsehood, but one cannot find what they are wrong in unless they have the ultimate standard. God believes in absolute truth because He is the giver of truth, having shared it with mankind throughout our history. He has told us our future, to give us a choice. We also find the concept of relativism in prophetic utterances today. This becomes most dangerous. What are the prophets saying for 2026? We need to pay attention – to the Words that God really spoke, not to their words.2026 will be more of the same of 2025, things will be unstable because humans are. Will sin increase? Yes, will lawlessness increase, yes. The world is on a downward trend. What they say is the same said previously, they are wrong on everything, just as they were the year before and the year before that. But few are paying ATTENTION, this too is prophesied. On the other hand, we have those admonishing the church to stay away from their prophesying, prophecy club prophecy gatherings prophetic art and music. Rick Warren who wrote a best-selling book’ The Purpose Driven Life,’ teaches that those who study Bible prophecy are not fit for the kingdom of God. His solution 'If you want Jesus to come back sooner, focus on fulfilling your mission, not figuring out prophecy.' Warren teaches that Satan will 'sidetracked you from your mission' if you study Bible prophecy. But Jesus spoke of prophecy, so that we know the time we are in and be aware of world events. To study prophecy is useless In an April 2009 article in Sojourner's magazine emerging church leader, Brian McLaren targeted Bible believing Christians who believe Jesus Christ is coming back again, suggesting that these type of Christians are the reason there is no peace in the Middle East. McLaren grew up with a dispensational view (believing Jesus Christ will literally return and establish his kingdom on earth). Now he has come to the realization this view is "morally and ethically harmful." He likens this belief system to racism in the 50s and 60s and says: "These doctrinal formulations often use a bogus end-of-the-world scenario to create a kind of death-wish for World War III, which -- unless it is confronted more robustly by the rest of us--could too easily create a self-fulfilling prophecy." He says what of these end-time believing Christians are doing is "terrible," "deadly," and "distorted." Clearly this man knows little to nothing about the bible or what Jesus taught. McLaren is also disturbed about Israel being a special nation in the eyes of God. He names Christian Zionists and Dispensationalists in disdain as they hold to belief that Israel is a nation under the Lord by covenant. Brian McLaren wants a face off with end-time believing Christians May 4, 2009. Mike Adams is another that teaches the same liberal concepts on prophecy If you are a Christian who believes that Jesus Christ will be coming again, you are not just unbiblical you are delusional, practically mentally ill. This has become a growing becoming an epidemic, a spiritual virus. He states Jesus is not returning to save anyone, he is sending a comet of total destruction. He says of prophecy, “I do believe that prophecy only shows us one possible future, ...”stating we control it(057 - Ezekiel Ch 38-39). That we determine what the future is (Sermon 050 - Revelation Ch 1-3 - God's warnings to the SYNAGOGUES OF SATAN, (false churches) that abandon His truth). However He also says, “God destroying humanity. … And God wills it. Nothing you or I can do about it. We can't stop God's comets”(102 - God issued his END TIMES warning). He even says, “This is the Comet defeats Satan” (068 - 1 Thessalonians Ch 5). Accusing Christians don't even know their own scripture. They've all been taught a pack of lies by their Christian pastors who also don't know scripture ” (My Job is to help you FREE YOUR MIND from delusions and myths) What does the bible have to say about these people? "[B]eloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? " (2 Peter 3:1-4) Tony Campolo, in his book ‘Speaking My Mind’, says that "'rigid' Christians who believe in the possibility of Jesus' soon return" are "the real problem for the whole world." That we are to blame for wars, and a host of other evils in the world when we believe what is written? The new age movement also holds to this view that what is thought as negative is changing reality, that Christians are the problem because they believe in a negative end times prophecy. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." We are mocked various clever ways, the Lord says, “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done”(Isa. 46:9-10). Selective in their scriptures they turn the Word which is perfect, that leads to salvation to be mans opinion. One of the Emerging church writers, Thomas Hohstadt, asked in his article: "How Do We Know We Are Not in a Cult?" His answer, you are in a cult if you believe you have all the answers and if you believe truth can be contained or absolutely defined. He says this because he is a relativist, which is what the emerging church is about. (April 2009 article in Sojourner's magazine by emerging church leader) Scripture tells us not to ignore world events that are signs to the soon return of Jesus. We do, not want to be among the foolish virgins who fell asleep waiting for the bridegroom" (Matthew 25:1-13). We believe that this effort to put labels on Christians who believe the Bible as a cult will only grow. Those who hold to the Word of God will be called evil, traitors, opposers, during the tribulation, it is these who will be against the unity of the antichrist as patriots to God's Word. Rev. 3:8-9 Jesus commends those who “have kept My word , and have not denied My name. “ Rev. 6:9 at the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” In the end they receive the promise in Rev. 12:11 they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,” We can’t test truth by our feelings. You can’t feel error, but you can use your mind to think and discern if it is truth. Neither can you distinguish good and evil by your feelings, because evil (sin) can feel good. For some people, facts and Bible verses are never sufficient. Proverbs says “there is a way that seems right unto man but in the end it leads to destruction.” Therefore God offers the people to “come, let us reason together” talk about their sins so he can give them the cure which is spoken of in his Word. Truth does not change, it's absolute, especially when it comes to God. Jesus made it simple there's 1 God, 1 book, l way, he did this so even a child can understand and come to know him. The spirit of our age is relativism, which is supposed to produce tolerance. It doesn’t. If we apply the relative concept of truth to spiritual matters, then all religions become legitimate and true; there would be no false teaching or false prophets, no idolatry. God himself says there are other false gods who are worshipped. Too many in the church can be observed as walking with the right leg that has truth and the left leg that has error, and so we walk with a limp. How long can we walk like this until we lose balance and fall to the ground? How long can the church waver between two opinions, can we walk the narrow path by allowing the worlds methods and ways to be looked as God’s ways? We must make decisions now for our survival. Case in point- the openness to spiritual teachings, ‘other faiths,’ even adopting their practices and calling it Christian! |
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