Truth Defined

I am on in interesting journey right now.  Very exciting.  Cheryl and I just began a study call the Truth Project that basically spends 12 weeks going through a comprehensive study of truth.  It basically takes a look at life from a Biblical perspective, explains truth and the relevance of the Christian worldview.  Now, that may sound convoluted, bit it is pretty simple really, and this is how I feel God revealed this to me.

In the days leading up to this study, I was going over this idea of truth in my prayer time.  I realized I could not define truth in a clear way.  I feel like I know what truth is, but articulating it is something else entirely.  Here is what I feel God revealed to me as an analogy for what I believe will be a journey that He is taking me on.

Cheryl McCabe is my wife.  That is real. That is my reality. I have documents, witnesses and the government to prove that fact.  It is reality and it is true, but it is not truth.  A man cannot walk into my home a tell me that he has decided that he wants Cheryl to be his wife and then take her away and call her his wife.  You just can't do that. The only way for Cheryl to no longer be my wife is for us to "change" or divorce.  This is the difference.  Real truth must be absolute.  It is by definition absolute and cannot be changed.  Truth is not relative.  The minute we make truth relative, it ceases to be truth, and becomes our own created reality instead.  

God is absolute.  God is unchangeable.  God has always existed and by nature cannot ever change.  This leads me to the fact that truth defined begins and ends with God.  Not just God as a spiritual being, but his nature, his principals, and the biblical account of who he is.  Of all the religions in the world, of all the beliefs, the God of the Bible is the only one who has not ever changed and cannot change.  He is where truth starts and ends.

I believe in God.  I have always believed in God.  He has revealed Himself to me in a way that I know for sure He is real.  My belief does not relay on people to represent him well.  My belief does not depend on church or religion.  My belief is in the God of the universe as a good and loving creator.  I want to articulate that in a way that makes sense.  I don't want to push God on anyone.  I do however want to speak the truth when asked and when given opportunity.  Anyone that feels they have found something worth believing in that strongly I think would feel the same way.  I trust God to reveal Himself to others just like He has to me, but I certainly want to be an instrument of that revelation whenever the opportunity arises.

That's all for now...would love to hear some of your thoughts!

Asking the question...

What goes through your mind when you see a homeless man or beggar downtown, or at the entrance to the Best Buy parking lot? If I am honest, I don't think my mind ever goes directly to love. The things that go through my mind are much less spiritual. I wonder how they got there, what mistake they made to end up where they are, will they really buy food, are they addicted to drugs, when was the last time they showered, stuff like that. Now I am just being honest here. I want my thoughts to go immediately to love, but they don't.

I was thinking the other day while passing a homeless man, about Jesus and the encounters he had with the poor and downtrodden. I was thinking about the encounter he had with the blind beggar at the gate to the temple. When Jesus saw that guy, He had several options. He could have been like everyone else, and just kept going. He could have put a couple coins in his hand and been on his way. Oh yea, He is Jesus, so he also could have just healed him, and continued on about his business. Now, if you remember the story, He did heal the guy, but before He did that, He asked him a question. What do you want me to do for you? Now, Jesus is God, so I am sure He knew what the guy needed. What blows me away is that Jesus took the time to ask the question. He made no assumptions. This guy could have said, well Lord, I am blind, but I would rather have a bunch of money if it's alright with you. He could have asked for any number of things. Of course we know from the story, that he asked to see again. Jesus knew that this guy was not just a beggar, but a brother, and he treated him as such. He asked the question and then ministered to the need.

I am not saying I am going to rush out and talk to a homeless person, because I won't. My hope though is that the next time I pass a homeless beggar on the street, maybe I would take the time to pray for him rather than pass judgement. maybe someday I'll even ask him what I can do for him. I guess the main difference between the beggar on the street being just a beggar or being my brother, is me asking him the question.