Redefined

It’s gotten to the point that I can barely tolerate watching, listening, or reading any sort of broadcasted news. Listening to newscasters, political pundits, politicians, commentators, and political activists intentionally twist words, recontextualize, and redefine traditionally accepted and universally understood terms and definitions is maddening. Truth is being dissected and redefined.

Most disturbing is how far-reaching the tentacles of this “redefining” trend have become in our culture. The Church has not remained untouched.

We play a foolish and dangerous game of the mind and heart when we attempt to redefine words, precepts, and God-established practices for personal convenience or to assuage our conscience, or establish spiritual dominance, or even as a power grab. Whether we want to convince ourselves that we are living in obedience to God or hoping to vindicate and validate our self-rule, it doesn’t make a difference. Either way, it is a lethal and potentially damning form of self-deception.

Friend, we cannot redefine God’s constants – the fixed, unchangeables – without creating confusion, chaos, and collapse.

Whether it is. . .

• In the public square redefining truth, good, and evil;
• In the political arena redefining honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior;
• In financial markets redefining established basic economic principles and fiscal responsibility;
• In the educational system redefining our history, turning heroes into villains;
• In the medical community redefining life and death – its value, quality, and time frame;
• In the judicial system redefining justice, criminal behavior, penalties, and consequences;
• In our humanity redefining genders;
• In our family unit redefining roles and responsibilities;
• In our churches redefining sin, sin’s consequences, and the singular path to salvation through Jesus Christ alone;  or
• In our hearts and our lives redefining how we choose to relate to God.

When you read through the above list, it’s easy to see how man is attempting to redefine the totality of God’s creation. Is it any wonder that we are living in a time of confusion and chaos? Unsurprisingly, we are seeing the collapse of relationships, families, homes, churches, institutions, and systems throughout our culture and our world.

Finite man is attempting to redefine Infinite God.

Truth is not ours to redefine.

God is the Author of all Truth – the Eternal Source from which all Truth flows. God’s Truth is absolute and unchanging – it cannot be redefined to become something that it is not. God and His Truth are Immutable.

I compiled this list a few years ago when I wrote and taught a Bible study entitled “Nothing But the Truth – a 12-Week Study of Colossians.”  It is an appropriate reminder of Scripture’s view of God’s Truth.  

WHY THE TRUTH IS IMPORTANT

God is the author of all TRUTH

– The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever. Psalm 119:160 (See also: 1 Timothy 2:3 ,4)

Jesus is the personification of TRUTH and He bears witness to the TRUTH

– And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. …grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14, 17

– Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (See also: John 17:8; John 18:37; Ephesians 4:21)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of TRUTH Who reveals and guides us in TRUTH

– When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 (See also: John 14:17, John 15:26, 1 John 4:6, 1 John 5:6)

The TRUTH brings freedom from bondage to sin

– “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

We are to walk in the TRUTH

– Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:5

– Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling! Psalm 43:3 (See also: Titus 1:1, 3 John 1:3, 4)

Obedience to the TRUTH is purifying, it leads to sanctification, and it bears fruit

– Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. …And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:17, 19 (See also: Colossians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:22)

TRUTH should be in our hearts and on our lips

– These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace. Zechariah 8:16 (See also: Psalm 15:2, Psalm 51:6, Psalm 145:18, Proverbs 12:17)

We are to worship God in TRUTH

– But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23, 24

We are to be established in the TRUTH

– Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 2 Peter 1:12  (See also: Galatians 2:5, 2 Timothy 2:15)

Loving others as God loves is evidence of living in the TRUTH

– Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ…. Ephesians 4:15

– Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (See also: 1 Corinthians 13:6)

Satan and the wicked hate and will try to suppress the TRUTH

–  For those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. Romans 2:8 (see also Amos 5:10; Romans 1:18, 25; 2 Thessalonians 2:10)

It is possible to wander away from the TRUTH

– You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Galatians 5:7 (See also: 2 Timothy 2:18, James 5:19)

 TRUTH equips us to face the forces of darkness

– Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…. Ephesians 6:14 (See also: Ephesians 6:1-20)

TRUTH is our source of hope

– Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this, you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel. Colossians 1:5 (See also Ephesians 1:13)

TRUTH is abiding and eternal

– The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever. 2 John 1:1

As born-again believers and followers of Jesus Christ,

We are obligated to know the Truth.

We are commanded to stand for the Truth.

We are to be equipped to stand in the Truth.

But never, not once, are we told to redefine the Truth.

Know this in the depths of your heart,

It is God’s Truth that defines you.

Because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

2 John 1:2-3