What Is Truth?

Truth, newspaper

What is truth?” This was the question Pilate asked Jesus after hearing the Lord’s claim that He came to testify to the truth (John 18:36-37). When we think about truth, we must understand two things: (1) it is unchanging and (2) it is the same message for all. The word of God is truth (John 17:17). His word does not change (1 Peter 1:25) and is to be preached to all people everywhere (Mark 16:15).

Many have the idea that there can be many truths – you may have your own truth, and I may have mine. This is not what the Bible teaches. The same message of truth is for all. The differences come from our perception of the truth. These perceptions can be very different, despite a common message.

In the minds of man, truth can have various characteristics. Let us consider the conflicting characteristics of truth depending on the perspective of the hearer.
Continue Reading

The Catholic Church’s Search for Aliens

Last week the Associated Press reported that the Vatican is looking for signs of alien life. They have called in thirty scientists from several countries to study “whether sentient life forms exist on other worlds.” If extraterrestrial life is possible, there is also the question about “its implications for the Catholic Church.”

The subject of aliens is an interesting topic to many people. But what, if any, bearing does it have on our faith or service to God. Regardless of whether extraterrestrial life is possible, or even if intelligent life forms do exist on other planets, there are some truths that we must remember. These will not change, no matter what is discovered by science (or the Catholic Church).
Continue Reading

More Righteous than the Religious

Jesus and the Pharisees

The title of this article may sound a little odd. But let me begin by stating that this article is not about how organized religion is wrong – it is not. The point of the article is not to say that religious people are not righteous – many of them are, and they should be. So what is the purpose of this article?

The title is based on one of Jesus’ statements from the Sermon on the Mount:

For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

The scribes and Pharisees were regarded as the religious leaders of that day. Jesus’ point was that in order to follow Him, we must live up to a higher standard than what is commonly accepted – even commended to us – among the religious world. Doing just enough to blend in with those who are religious is not enough to be part of His kingdom.
Continue Reading

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Rejoice

Writing from prison, Paul told the brethren in Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). This instruction was so important that Paul repeated it. He also gave a similar command to the church in Thessalonica when he wrote, “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Whenever we see a command like this, we ought to take note of it. We do not have the option to either rejoice or not rejoice depending on our circumstances. We are to “rejoice always.” The reason why this command must be given is because it is sometimes difficult or unnatural to rejoice in certain circumstances. Our lives here are filled with trials. Job lamented, “Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil” (Job 14:1). The wise man noted the difficult nature of our existence here: “Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest” (Ecclesiastes 2:23). It is sometimes difficult to rejoice. But as Christians we must do so.
Continue Reading

Even Barnabas

Paul told the brethren in Galatia of the time when he came to Antioch and had to rebuke his fellow apostle Peter or Cephas (Galatians 2:11-14). The reason why Paul rebuked him was because of his hypocrisy. Peter knew that God accepted the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35; 11:17-18). He also knew that God accepted them without them adopting certain aspects of the Law of Moses like circumcision (Acts 15:5-11). Yet when certain Jews arrived, he withdrew and refused to associate with his Gentile brethren.

Peter’s sin is usually what we emphasize in these verses, and rightly so. But Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, believed it was also good to single out Barnabas as one of the ones who went along with Peter. Paul said, “Even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:13), indicating that Barnabas’ fault was significant. What lessons can we learn from Barnabas’ sin here in Antioch?
Continue Reading

Ted Haggard’s Complaint Against “The Church”

Fallen Evangelical “pastor,” Ted Haggard, has been speaking out recently about the scandal involving homosexuality that brought him down and the reaction of the religious community to his sin, particularly the “Christian Right.” Notice the following article from the Christian Post about how he believes the “Christian Right” needs to change.

Haggard: Christian Right Off Course, Needs to Change

It’s a short article, and an interesting read. I just wanted to comment on three things Haggard says.
Continue Reading

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). This simple, concise statement reveals some important truths.
Continue Reading