What is Truth?

David Murray takes a look at the nature of truth in this overview of questions two and three of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

The Pendulum's Reaction

I saw a post today from Julian Freeman that does a great job stating something that I've found myself thinking a lot lately.  Far too often when we are developing our views (be it religious, political, or just about any other kind, for that matter) the primary influence far too often tends to be our moving away from a perceived wrong as opposed to our moving toward a perceived right.

To illustrate this, Freeman uses the example of a pendulum, which in moving away from an unbalanced position not only moves toward balance, but goes beyond it in the opposite direction.  He offers the following questions that we would be wise to consider in our reactions to positions with which we disagree:

• Is the content of the position really erroneous or has it just been given inappropriate weight?
• If I am moving from an extreme position, am I moving to an extreme position? Is there a middle-ground?
• What is good in the position I'm rejecting that I stand to lose?
• If I'm rejecting something because I feel like I don't like it, why do I feel like that?
• Who am I following? Are they prone to unnecessary extremes?
• Does the measure of my passion for this issue reflect the Bible's passion for and clarity on this issue?

Freeman goes on to comment,

The trick, I think, is to be pulled to truth like a magnet to its pole rather than to be pulled away from extremes to opposite extremes. Easy to say, harder to live.

I pray that God, by his grace, would allow me to cultivate a deep enough longing for truth in my heart that I would pursue truth out of an ever-increasingly-pure and purified mind that is willing to be wrong, willing to change, willing to believe what I may not like at first, and willing to stay put even when it seems like it would be nicer to change camps.

And I also pray that he would give me friends who observe me carefully and tell me when I'm just over-reacting.

Click here to read the entire post.

Some Final Thoughts on Harold Camping

Yesterday I was invited to be a guest on the local radio program Off the KUF with Tom Sumner. It was a fun experience for me to return to my roots in the radio studio as we discussed Harold Camping, faux raptures and what the Bible really says about the end of the world. I want to point out a couple of good things to come out of this whole experience that I mentioned on the radio program. After this, we'll leave Harold Camping alone...at least until October, which is when he says the world will actually come to an end.

I am thankful first of all that, because of this whole episode, there was a great deal of talk (and hopefully at least a little bit of thought) about spiritual matters. News outlets around the country discussed the idea of the rapture. As I drove home on Friday afternoon, it even dominated the discussion on sports radio. And hey, I got the opportunity to talk about the gospel on the radio yesterday.

Secondly, we were reminded of a reality that is especially important in our day. Harold Camping believed quite passionately in what he proclaimed. But no matter the fervency with which he believed these ideas, that did not make them true. It is not our faith that is ultimately most important, but rather the Object of our faith.  And truth is not dependent upon what we believe; it is what it is. We can't all be equally right. Even in this age of relativism, there are those whose beliefs are wrong.

If you'd like to think further about issues of the Lord's return, others deal with it far better than I have. Click here to listen to Allistair Begg's sermon, or click here to read a short devotional message from Mike Wittmer. And while we should certainly refrain from date/time predictions, may those of us who are Christians long for Christ's return. For when he returns, we will experience the greatest good: We will be with Him.

Keller Speaks the Truth in Love about the One Who is Truth and Love

Saw a great interview with Tim Keller on MSNBC as he was publicizing his new book, King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus.  In my estimation, Keller is one of the sharpest pastors in the Church today, and does as good a job as anyone of living out both ends of Paul's injunction in Ephesians 4:15 to "speak the truth in love."  I very much look forward to reading King's Cross.

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(HT: @Scott Sauls)