YES, WHAT IS TRUTH?
CURTIS LYDIC

Pilate was not merely making conversation with Jesus when he asked that now famous question. He perhaps thought that Jesus was using the word too casually. Many people do, and it always grieves a thoughtful person to observe someone treating a profound idea in a light, easy way. Pilate was not prepared to appreciate Jesus’ meaning, but his question shows that he did appreciate the difficulty of defining truth. It would be good if all Christians appreciated the problem as Pilate did; but the fact is that many of us have been guilty of tossing the word back and forth in a somewhat irresponsible way.

For example, one hears much talk about “standing up for” and “contending for” the truth. There is something to be said in favor of such an idea; Jude admonished his readers to “contend” for the faith. Probably, however, we have abused this concept in our strenuous efforts to establish our own point of view with respect to doctrine. We have equated “truth” with our “position” in matters of doctrine, and have often acted heretically in so doing.

We have said of those whose doctrinal understanding was identical to our own that they “have the truth.” Comparing ourselves as a church with other denominations, our distinction is, supposedly, that we “have the truth,” meaning that we are right on baptism, instrumental music, organization, items of worship, non-use of clerical titles, etc., etc. The Pharisees spoke very similarly during the time of Jesus sojourn among them, comparing themselves with other sects, and as Jews comparing themselves with Samaritans and Gentiles. But there were Gentiles (and they were the aliens, remember) who seemed to enjoy possession of truth more than any Pharisee, such as the Syrophoenician woman who begged Jesus for “the crumbs from the table.” Similarly, I know people, Baptists, Presbyterians, members of the Christian Church, whose lives are a continuing display of the fruits of the Spirit, who seek in whatever they do to magnify God, and to hold up Jesus before their fellow men, who are instrumental in turning many hearts to the Lord. On the other hand, I have known many members-in-good-standing of the so-called “true church” who are carnal, materialistic, and self-indulgent so as to be quite unconvincing as Christians. Who, indeed, has the truth?

Jesus told Pilate that those who were “of the truth” heard His voice. The Pharisees, as doctrinally sound as they felt themselves to be, were standing outside Pilate’s hall crying “Crucify him!” Who is “of the truth” today? How are we going to hear His voice when we are so busy preaching to others that we have no time to listen?

Many, perhaps most, of my brethren will agree with the points I have raised here. But I have seen such agreement before, and then have seen the same men go right on with the same offensive, thoughtless propaganda.