"God's words are not simply true in the sense that they conform to some standard of truthfulness outside of God. Rather, they are truth itself; they are the final standard and definition of truth. So, Jesus can say to the Father, 'Your word is truth' (John 17:17). What can be said about the truthfulness of God's knowledge can also be said about God's words, for they are based on his perfect knowledge and accurately reflect that knowledge: God's words are 'truth' in the sense that they are the final standard by which truthfulness is to be judged: whatever conforms to God's own words is true, and what fails top conform to his words is not true...When you think of God's truth, what comes to mind? Is it something that you deem important, or is it something that you can set aside for the so-called "greater good?" Of course, you will have to ask yourself what the "greater good" is! If it is anything other than the glory of God, then the "greater good" is no good at all. If the "greater good" is anthropocentric, meaning that we have to make the church look good in the eyes of the world, then you see the "greater good" purely through uninformed human eyes!
"In fact, as we begin to think true thoughts about God and creation, thoughts that we learn from Scripture and from allowing Scripture to guide us in our observation and interpretation of the natural world, we begin to think God's own thoughts after him! We can exclaim with the psalmist, 'How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!' (Ps. 139:17)"
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, IVP, Leicester, England, 1994, p196
The first question of the Westminister Shorter Catechism asks the question: "What is the chief end of man?" In plain modern English for those who don't know what this question means: "What is the ultimate purpose of man?" The answer? "Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."
The greater good must always be to glorify God. We must always see glorifying God as the ultimate good. How does this relate to believing and proclaiming the truth?
When we disregard the truth of the gospel, we disregard the glory of God! The glory of God is inherent to who He is. The fact is that truth is also inherent to God. The way we handle God's truth says a lot about us.
Our faith and truth go hand in hand. If our faith is not based on truth, then we believe a lie and our faith is not based on the one true God! We can claim all kinds of relationships and warm fuzzy feelings, but it remains a lie!
God's truth is not something to be fudged to make it more accommodating to people. Where God's truth speaks of His love, we shouldn't make it look other than it is. On the other hand, where God's truth speaks of His wrath, we shouldn't make it easier than it really is. Where the gospel brings offense, we must not lighten the offense. The gospel is an offense to the world as it is. When we work to remove the offense of the gospel, we no longer have the gospel. God's truth diminished, is no truth at all!
As a result, we must hold to ALL God's truth, not just what we prefer to believe.
For more on the importance of truth to God, I have written enough to show how we need to resist error in the church and how we need to stand for the WHOLE truth of God.
3 comments:
What makes "god's" truth true? How can you say that "I am god and therefore it is true"? What sort of piffle are you teaching our children? Truth is not what one person sais. The difference between me as a science-enthusiast and you as a believer is that I search for answers and am willing to adapt that understanding as evidence is found. You simply accept what somebody tells you. How many sickly individuals would not have survived if doctors decided not to try to find a cure. Religion cultivates a "so be it" attitude.
Dicks doesn't understand nearly as much of life as any thinker or scientist.
Anonymous, you clearly have not read mr Dicks comprehensive writings in order to make such an insulting statement such as "Dicks doesn't understand nearly as much of life as any thinker or scientist."
I know few other thinkers who can state their solid arguments so well and able to be measured extensively - a true scientist.
Drix
Anonymous #1:
It is exactly because Christians believe that there is a God that we could actually expect things to be in order, and as a result something like the medical sciences could advance as it has.
When you follow a God that created everything, then you could expect things to be in order. With anything else as the "creation" model, there can be no expectation, because tomorrow it can change.
Of course, this all points to actual design.
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