“Quid est veritas?” said Pilate to Jesus.

What is truth?  Is there such a thing as absolute truth?

Many people, especially those of a progressive bent, deny that there is such a thing as objective truth and say that truth is a matter of perspective.  They insist that all truth claims should be recognized and embraced as equally true, and anything other than acceptance of that truth claim is narrow-minded and bigoted.  Tolerance of all viewpoints must therefore be mandated, except, of course, for viewpoints deemed intolerant, such as the exclusive truth claims made by Christians and followers of certain other faiths.

I believe there is absolute truth.  I am not so bold as to say that I understand that truth completely, but I know and follow one who does.  “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said.  I continually seek his guidance in the quest for reality and meaning.

The search for verity is not easy. The disciples of our Lord were taught by our Master over a period of some years, but they never completely understood His message.  Even the brilliant Apostle Paul said, “Now we see through a glass darkly.” How can any of us fully comprehend? The Lord God is beyond time and space and everything else that bounds our limited concept of reality. Yet, some things are very clear.  We are to love one another and do evil to no one. As Jesus said, “Even as you do to the least of these your brothers and sisters, you do it unto Me.”  God created the world and He created us.  We are to love and honor our Creator, and we are to be caretakers in the world that He made for us.

God, in the form of man, came to the Earth and lived among us.  We crucified Him, but his teaching remains with us.  Also, God left His Holy Spirit to guide us.  If we seek Him, we will find Him. Using the logical arguments of C. S. Lewis, we may note that some people think that the entire world is cruel and unjust, but from whence came their idea of cruel and unjust? How does one call a line crooked unless you have a straight line to compare it to? And where did that straight line come from? The answer must be from God.  In your inner being, with God’s help, you can discern good from bad, right from wrong. By consciously and constantly turning away from God, you will destroy your conscience and eventually become a creature of evil.

There is a standard, and in our hearts we know it.  But each of us fails to reach the mark.  We are all sinners.  The greatest sin is to pridefully look down on our fellow men and consider them our inferiors.  But for the grace of God, I myself will fail.  Who are we to judge?

Some people say they love God but dislike and avoid organized Christianity.  That attitude is understandable.  The Church, though ordained by God, is also a human institution filled with imperfect people.  At times, under evil or misguided leadership, it has done terrible things.  And those calling themselves Christians sometimes commit uncharitable or even heinous acts.  Yet, based on my own experience, I know that the average Christian congregations is a good and right place to be.  There you can commune with other believers in worshiping the Lord, seeking His truth, and performing good deeds in His name.  Look for a church in which God’s word is faithfully taught and where the congregants continually demonstrate the spirit of love and Christian humility.

The truth is out there, my friends.  Ask God to help you find it.