WORD OF THE YEAR: “Post-Truth”
“POST-TRUTH” There is a truth crisis in the world “Post-truth” was Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year for 2016 Adjective; “post-truth - “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief” (en.oxforddictionaries.com)
“POST-TRUTH” “It describes a situation in which feelings trump facts.” (Time Magazine) Not a new concept, but its usage increased during this political season: “post-truth politics” Example: “You may think you are prepared for a post-truth world, in which political appeals to emotion count for more than statements of verifiable fact.” (Washington Post)
God’s Word is Truth John 17:17 Psalm 119:142, 160 The truth is the gospel, Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5 Can know gospel… Eph. 5:17; John 8:32 Facts…Commands…Promises “but grow in the grace and knowledge…” 2 Peter 3:18
World does not define truth John 18:37-38 Feelings, emotions, experiences and traditions, Proverbs 14:12; 28:26 Academia, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 3:18-19 Majority approval, Matthew 7:21, 13-14
World and Jesus regarding truth “A” truth Subjective, changes Partial truth Bhagavad Gita, Koran, BofM, etc. “The truth” Absolute, emphatic authority, Gal. 4:16 Fullness of truth John 1:14, 17 World and Jesus regarding truth
World and Jesus regarding truth Essential truth Gospel/Doctrine Relative truth Adaptive Not fully knowable All truth, John 12:48; 16:13 Constant Enduring, 1 Peter 1:22-25 Can know, Ephesians 3:3-5 World and Jesus regarding truth
Christians are developing similar attitudes (Matt. 7:24-27) By confusing opinions with truth How to study, how to establish and how to apply Bible authority, Matthew 22:29; Acts 17:11-12 Teachers, Ephesians 4:11; Acts 8:30-35
Christians are developing similar attitudes (Matt. 7:24-27) By accepting worldly values and attitudes toward the truth When this happens, they view disagreement over truth to mean unity in truth is not possible Their solution? “Agree to disagree” 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (Ephesians 4:3)
Christians are developing similar attitudes (Matt. 7:24-27) By accepting worldly values and attitudes toward the truth These often see a judgment against sin as being hypocritical or self-righteous Since they refuse to commit to an absolute standard of truth (right and wrong) Jesus commended righteous judgment, John 7:24 (12:48); Luke 12:57
Psalm 25:4-5 Show me Teach me Lead me in Your truth and teach me You are the God of my salvation On you I wait all the day “For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth.” Psalm 33:4