I've spent a good part of this week since coming back on vacation catching up on the mail - sorting things, answering letters and reading. I subscribe to a lot of publications; probably about half are directly related to religious issues; the rest are mostly news or public policy oriented. I think I've worked almost halfway through the pile by now. And it struck me fairly early on in the process of digesting all this stuff that one particular theme seemed to predominate. The question "What is truth?” was the subject of all of the articles in the summer issue of a publication called Renewal News, published by Presbyterian and Reformed Renewal Ministries. And the same issue kept popping up as I read my way through the stack throughout the week. And the more I read, the more depressed I got.
The most shocking thing I read was in an article by Chuck Colson called "The Crisis of Truth.” Most of us know that most Americans no longer believe that there is any such thing as absolute truth. In a 1995 poll by George Barna 72% responded that there was no such thing as truth. And before we comfort ourselves with the notion that that only applies to the secular world, and not to us, let's look at how many Christians believe exactly the same thing. Take a guess. Go on. And don't be afraid to guess high. The answer is that in the same poll 62% of people who identify themselves as evangelical Christians said there is no
such thing as absolute truth. That's only 10% less than the population at large, and a 10% increase in only 5 years. That scares me, and I hope it scares you. If we follow the one who says, "I am the truth,” and yet we believe there is no truth, we believe in nothing.
Well, I continued to read, and what caught my eye next was that the Utah Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) is promoting polygamy as a solution to the problems of working mothers. Elizabeth Joseph said, "I've maximized my female potential without the trade-offs associated with monogamy.”
Another article revealed that the woman who reviews research on the health risks associated with abortion for the Federal Centers for Disease control is a militantly pro-choice feminist who dismisses any test which suggests that such health risks do exist and should be taken into account by women contemplating abortion.
Two related stories jumped out at me next. In one branch of the military, carrying a stretcher has been redefined as a 4-person task instead of a 2-person task, so that the average female can perform it. In another, the qualifying distance for throwing a grenade has been reduced to enable more women to meet the standard.
In story after story, what leaped out at me was the determination to advocate whatever benefits one's personal convenience or political philosophy, regardless of evidence to the contrary. The overriding principle seems to be winning at all costs, with truth the first casualty in the war. And far too few even regret the demise.
"What is truth?” indeed. You would think the church, at least, would be able to hold on to a few central principles. The PCUSA's abortion policy statement says that "Problem pregnancies are the result of, and influenced by, so many complicated and insolvable circumstances that we have neither the wisdom nor the authority to address or decide each situation.” Who has the wisdom and the authority to speak to life and death issues if not the church? More troubling yet, I was challenged at my ordination hearing for affirming that Jesus Christ is the only way to reconciliation with God.
Parker Williamson, the Executive Editor of the Presbyterian Layman, writes
"To say 'I don't know' is more than an admission of ignorance; it is a statement of faith. False faith. It reflects an ideology that says no human being can know the truth. It suggests that all we can testify to is our truth, our experience... It is a declaration that we humans are the center of our universe. We know only what we feel, think, and opine, and we cannot be certain about anything else.
"Those who hold this position often accuse evangelical Christians of arrogance. Following Pilate's lead, they taunt the believer: How... can you claim that your opinion is the truth, and by implication, all other faith experiences are false?” Pilate's progeny believes that truth is ultimately whatever each of us says it is, for with no final arbiter outside ourselves, one person's opinion cannot be used to rebut another.... Ironically, the charge of arrogance best fits those who deny any possibility of absolute truth, for nothing reveals greater conceit than the determination that I alone determine what is true. Promoted under the [label] of tolerance, this affirmation is actually the most self-centered claim that a human can make."
One of many incidents that illustrates this fact is the persecution of African-American Ron Greer of Madison WI, a firefighter and pastor, for openly proclaiming his belief that homosexual behavior is sinful. Picketers outside his church have chanted slogans like "Hey hey, ho ho, Christian hate has got to go”, and "Bring back the lions!”
And this is only a small sampling of the stories that have crossed my desk this week. It's hard to keep from being depressed, and angry.
C. S. Lewis, as always, had something to say about this 50 years ago... In his book "Paradise Lost” on Milton's classic about Satan's fall, he describes the world ruled by Satan as one "not only of misery, but also ... of lies, and propaganda, of wishful thinking, of incessant autobiography.”
Doesn't that sound like our world? "...lies, propaganda, wishful thinking, and incessant autobiography.” And C. S. Lewis wrote 50 years ago, and things have only gotten worse. How can we help but be depressed, and angry, and frightened? There are two temptations. The first is to withdraw, to opt out, to huddle together in a corner with other like-minded people. The second temptation is to attack, to strike out at those who disagree with us, to call them names and call for their destruction. Both of these tactics are ineffective, and the second is even counter-productive. But what else can we do? Is there anything we can do?
The answer as usual is given to us by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul. Two thousand years ago he wrote words of power and comfort and encouragement to the churches in Asia Minor.
"We are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
The first thing to remember is that we are not fighting against people. ]The big lie - that truth does not exist - is not only our enemy, it is also theirs. By and large, the people who live by these lies are victim. People who have accepted the notion that there is no truth outside their own experience are trapped inside the dreariest prison imaginable. They are slaves to their own limitations and there is no way out, because there is nothing outside themselves. The "incessant autobiography” that C.S. Lewis talks of, is what Parker Williamson meant when he said that "all we can testify to is our truth, our experience... " If experience is all you have, all you are, of course you batter at the boundaries you identify as your prison. But the boundaries they are battering against are reality, and the ultimate reality is God.
We may feel helpless, even hopeless sometimes, when we look at our world; I know I sometimes do. But we, at least, are not hopeless - because we know there is a power at work greater than we are. Nor are we helpless.
The second thing to remember, then, is that the power we rely upon is not our own. Paul begins this passage with that reminder:
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
I find it helpful to think in terms of a radiation suit, rather than medieval armor plate. Because what we are fighting is pervasive, sneaky, invisible - much more like radiation than like a cavalry charge or a rain of arrows. We can't find a target to shoot at, or see it coming and run for shelter. It's in the air we breathe and the food that we eat. And what God has provided for us can protect us even against what we cannot see. The first and most important effect of God's power is to protect us. It is not our job to defeat Satan; that's been done. Our part is to refuse to surrender. Our part is to clothe ourselves in Christ, and to stand fast.
What is it that God has provided?
"Having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
The first thing we must equip ourselves with is truth. A clearer translation might be, "to fasten the belt of truth securely around your waist.” This is a double image: the first point is that when you wear long skirts, fastening your clothing securely around your waist is vital preparation for any vigorous activity. It is also a sign of readiness for service. In this context, Paul is telling each of us to commit ourselves not only to be truthful, to ourselves, to God, and to one another, but also to be committed to the truth of Jesus Christ. That truth is what holds all the other pieces together, and readies us for service. In addition, truthfulness - honesty - is both an essential distinguishing characteristic of a servant of Jesus Christ and a direct rejection of the Father of Lies.
The second item is the breastplate of righteousness. Like truthfulness, this is a mark of the follower of Christ. Wherever righteousness fails, the Adversary rejoices. The breastplate protects the vital organs, especially the heart. The practice of righteousness - justice, morality - nourishes and strengthens the heart, spiritually oxygenates the blood, gives energy and enthusiasm to the believer.
What is next on the list? We are to be shod, Paul says, with the gospel of peace. Why on our feet? I believe that is to remind us that that every move we make must be grounded in the good news of reconciliation, the end of warfare between God and man, between Jews and Gentiles. Of course this is a difficult sell to make to those who insist that they are not at war with God, they are at war only with those who claim to know the truth. And it will not be believed as long as we are fighting with each other or using the world's weapons against our adversaries. It is not the world's peace, of course; the peace of God that passes understanding is available even in the midst of battle. It is the profound internal peace that comes from long and intimate association with God. We make this offering to the world, even to those who oppose us, even in the midst of battle. .
Item number four is the shield of faith. Because, even though the other items are sufficient for the general ambient atmosphere of hostility - the radiation we began with - there are other, solider missiles flying about as well. Some are merely the spiritual equivalent of gravel thrown up against our windshields as we drive down the back roads and superhighways of life. But some are aimed directly at us. No matter what kind of blows we may receive, however, faith protects us from despair, from surrender, from all kinds of spiritual damage. We may be shaken, but we will not be consumed.
The helmet of salvation comes next. And of course the head is another vital part. What's the difference between protecting the head (with salvation) and protecting the heart (with righteousness)? My take on this image is that Paul is now talking about eternal life. The helmet is the guarantee that God has already redeemed our lives, we are already rescued, it is our ultimate assurance of victory.
And at last comes the only piece of offensive equipment: the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. And believe me, it is an offensive piece of equipment in these days, filled with unfashionable ideas like truth and judgment and sin and repentance. Note, too, that Paul doesn't say, "Here's your sword.” He says "take up the sword of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is a better swordsman than we are, folks. We are to lift the word up, and let the Spirit aim it at the heart. It'll be much more effective if the target of opportunity hasn't already been numbed by being beaten over the head with it. The Word of God wielded by the Holy Spirit has power far beyond anything we can see. But we are called to take it up, to take it out, to lift it up so that it might be heard.
We cannot force anyone to abandon the lie that there is no truth. But we can do what we have been called to do.
We are to remember that we are not fighting against people, but against spiritual forces.
We are to remember that it is God's power we rely on, not our own.
We are to clothe ourselves in the armor of God, which is Christ.
And finally, Paul tells us, we are to "pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints...”
Having done all this, then we are to stand.
Only the armor of God can prevail against the great lie that there is no truth outside our own experience. Jesus said it all when he said, "Those who who want to save their life will lose it; but those who lose their life for my sake ...will save it.” No matter how superficially attractive the propaganda of self-fulfillment is, the incessant autobiography, the barren I AM of the relativist, leads only to death. The truth of Jesus Christ is the only way out; the truth of Jesus Christ is the only alternative; the truth of Jesus Christ is the only protection. Clothed in Christ, we are already victorious.
