Friday, August 27, 2010
What Is Truth?
What is truth? This famous question was asked of Jesus by Pontius Pilate, the man who, according to tradition, perpetually washed his hands after condemning Christ to be crucified. Ironically, Pontius was talking to the one who claimed that He was “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
U.S. President James Garfield said, “The truth will set you free but first it will make you miserable.” That is often the way it happens; God allows life to unsettle us until we are finally willing to take an honest look at ourselves and admit our need for change. Many of us have to hit bottom before we finally admit our need for a Savior and accept His plan for life.
Entire groups of people and even nations find themselves in the same predicament from time to time. They try to live according to their preferences while ignoring the dictates of the One who created them. Too often the people group or nation must crash before the majority of its people are willing to admit that God and his ways are right. It is a miserable process, but one that can be expedited if people will just be humble and honest.
I was recently encouraged by a bit of honesty that bled through the article excerpted below:
"CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The monthly schedule is church-like, with its parenting classes, guest speakers and small group meetings to hash out shared beliefs. But God isn't part of this Cambridge congregation.
Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University, is building a God-free model of community that he hopes helps humanists increase in numbers and influence.
Epstein sees potential in research showing that there are more people with no religion. In the latest American Religious Identification Survey, released this month, 15 percent of respondents in 2008 said they had no religion, compared to 8.2 percent in 1990.
Epstein believes that group includes large numbers of people who are humanist, but have never identified themselves that way and can be reached.
At the same time, there is broader acceptance of those with no faith, as indicated by President Barack Obama's mention of "nonbelievers" in his inaugural address, Epstein said."
Maybe America’s intellectuals are finally getting honest about humanism being a religion. Maybe there are some who are beginning to admit that schools of higher education have been the seminaries for humanism for decades. Maybe if we can admit this truth we can begin to understand how that much of the mess we have gotten ourselves into is rooted in the problems associated with the religion of humanism.
Perhaps I should say it more plainly: The miserable truth is that when a nation trusts more in man than in God (as recommended by the religion of humanism), the result will be chaos in the home, disorientation in societal morals and values, and selfishness and greed in the marketplace. The truth is that America switched religions but pretended that their new religion was not a religion at all. The truth is that humanism is a religion paid for by tax dollars and forced upon us through schools, museums and many other “secular” vehicles. It is a faith in man rather than God. It is the most arrogant form of idolatry.
But here’s another, more encouraging truth. History has proven that when an individual or group of people will admit their need for God, He will quickly and gracefully forgive them and lead them back to a better path. Often one’s misery will lead to a “born again” experience that will set people free. The truth is that you and our nation can be set free, by putting their faith in “The Truth!”
U.S. President James Garfield said, “The truth will set you free but first it will make you miserable.” That is often the way it happens; God allows life to unsettle us until we are finally willing to take an honest look at ourselves and admit our need for change. Many of us have to hit bottom before we finally admit our need for a Savior and accept His plan for life.
Entire groups of people and even nations find themselves in the same predicament from time to time. They try to live according to their preferences while ignoring the dictates of the One who created them. Too often the people group or nation must crash before the majority of its people are willing to admit that God and his ways are right. It is a miserable process, but one that can be expedited if people will just be humble and honest.
I was recently encouraged by a bit of honesty that bled through the article excerpted below:
Harvard Chaplain Oversees Godless 'Congregations' for Humanists
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University, is building a God-free model of community that he hopes helps humanists increase in numbers and influence.
Epstein sees potential in research showing that there are more people with no religion. In the latest American Religious Identification Survey, released this month, 15 percent of respondents in 2008 said they had no religion, compared to 8.2 percent in 1990.
Epstein believes that group includes large numbers of people who are humanist, but have never identified themselves that way and can be reached.
At the same time, there is broader acceptance of those with no faith, as indicated by President Barack Obama's mention of "nonbelievers" in his inaugural address, Epstein said."
Maybe America’s intellectuals are finally getting honest about humanism being a religion. Maybe there are some who are beginning to admit that schools of higher education have been the seminaries for humanism for decades. Maybe if we can admit this truth we can begin to understand how that much of the mess we have gotten ourselves into is rooted in the problems associated with the religion of humanism.
Perhaps I should say it more plainly: The miserable truth is that when a nation trusts more in man than in God (as recommended by the religion of humanism), the result will be chaos in the home, disorientation in societal morals and values, and selfishness and greed in the marketplace. The truth is that America switched religions but pretended that their new religion was not a religion at all. The truth is that humanism is a religion paid for by tax dollars and forced upon us through schools, museums and many other “secular” vehicles. It is a faith in man rather than God. It is the most arrogant form of idolatry.
But here’s another, more encouraging truth. History has proven that when an individual or group of people will admit their need for God, He will quickly and gracefully forgive them and lead them back to a better path. Often one’s misery will lead to a “born again” experience that will set people free. The truth is that you and our nation can be set free, by putting their faith in “The Truth!”
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