A truth model is a hypothetical idea of what we believe to be the truth about a particular issue. A properly functioning truth model will be adaptable in the face of new information, and proper maintenance of our various truth models is key to expanding our understanding of the world around us. Truth models can be very simple (gravity works, things that go up must come down) or very complex (what do we believe about the John F. Kennedy assassination?)...
We construct our individual truth models as a result of having to make decisions constantly throughout our lives. Having a ready made template on hand quickens the decision making process, or in some cases it totally eliminates the need to ponder a choice. If I have already decided that Ford cars are best, when I go to look for a new car, I've shortened the quest considerably--I'll only have to choose a style and color from the Fords available. When we go to the polls, we've got a truth model in place which generally makes voting a snap.
But how do we go about constructing our set of truths? Does the man who buys only Ford cars have a legitimate set of reasons, arrived at by personal experience and research which leads him to be brand loyal? Or does he buy only Fords because he was trained to think that way by his father? Do you vote for one party or the other because you've carefully considered all of the consequences of electing the candidate you're voting for? Or do you simply vote like your parents or your peers vote, having never researched the issues?
Daily life involves so many decisions that we simply have to construct truth models in order to expedite living. Of course what is true for the Ford guy is not at all true for the Chevy guy, and the Democrats have a different set of truths from the Republicans. So truth on most levels is indeed relative.
But what about Ultimate Truth? Can it be relative too?
In John chapter 18, Pilate asked the question that has been on the minds of unregenerate men for eons...
38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
It has become popular in this day and age to make the claim that even ultimate truth is relative, and that whatever each of us decides becomes truth to us. Oprah Winfrey has descended into this heresy, and is leading many away from the Truth she once professed to know.
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/11/oprah-and-friends-to-teach-course-on.html
http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=artNewAge.article_1
If the ultimate truth is that everyone's version of truth is correct, how can one such as Oprah tell me I'm wrong when I say that Christ is the only way for any of us? The moment she tells me I'm wrong about Christ being the only way, she has destroyed her own version of ultimate truth, which was supposed to allow me to be right. See? The whole notion is dunder-headed.
But as Christians we have professed Christ and confessed our sins and we follow Him and keep His commands because we love Him. We have been born again, and we have been made partakers of Ultimate Truth, which is salvation and wisdom from God. There is no room for any other truth. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He said that no man comes to the Father except through Him.
Remember, too, that God warned us over and over again in His Word that many would come to deceive.
1 Peter 3:15 says But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (NIV)
But how do you defend your faith in Christ if your truth model is either incomplete or distorted into nonsense? Does you truth model allow all verses you come across in the Bible to fit somewhere on it? Or do you find yourself constantly "wordsmithing" God's Word, telling yourself and others that it really doesn't mean what it says in certain places. Do you cast out some scripture on the premise that it was written for different folks in a time long ago? Do you find yourself claiming things like "Christ was speaking metaphorically here," or Paul really didn't mean "all" but only "some?" Does your theological view of scripture look something like this?
Realize that even renaissance theologians often got things wrong (obviously this is true, since they disagreed with each other so often). The Bible is intended to be understood. You don't have to be a scholar to make sense of it, either. In fact, I think many folks have had their understanding severely impeded because they have chosen the teachings of others rather than reading and studying for themselves. Now I'm not questioning the value of good Bible teachers, I'm just emphasizing that I have seen many led down strange roads to bizarre doctrines by people they put their trust in. Trust God above all, and let the Holy Spirit teach you, as John says in 1 John 2:26-27:
26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. (NIV)
If you don't read your Bible daily, studying to show yourself approved as Paul advises, what is your truth model going to look like? As mentioned earlier, many of us forsake reading God's Word, favoring to read the writings of other ministers and teachers, believing that this is a viable substitute to the Bible. Then when we do read our Bible and we come across a passage of scripture that doesn't seem to fit onto our truth model, we often go back to the same fallible architects of reason who confused us in the first place--rather than praying for an answer from God. We are stubbornly unwilling to adjust our truth model, rather preferring to adulterate scripture so it fits with our already preconceived notions. Circular reasoning is often employed as a means of wriggling out of these conundrums. Scientists do this when their pet notions begin to crumble in the face of new data. They question the data, rather than their own theory. Such is the usual state of humanity--and none of us are immune to doing this. When we study the Bible and continue improving our biblical truth model (which of course is our Ultimate Truth) we need a lot of Holy Spirit led prayer to step out of our own limited mindset, and into God's. Unless and until we are able to do that, our biblical truth model will be our idol.
Let me be clear, though--I'm not against reading Christian authors and of course we should always consult our pastors for better understanding. But realize that when you consult only men and leave God out of the equation, you put yourself in a precarious postion. Soon, you will be thinking just like your mentor--and being not divine your mentor could very well be wrong. And if he missteps, you will be prone to follow him right off the straight and narrow--so be diligent, always, letting the Truth in the Bible be your guide.
Dan Newberry
