God has an amazing life of adventure and purpose waiting for us all. But very few people find it. A lot of people think “I tried the God thing, but it didn't work.” The problem is that the promises of God don't happen without the practices of Jesus. AND Most people aren't taught what those practices are. OR how to live them out in a busy life in the real world. Good News! Jesus promised, “I am the Way.”
In other words, if we learn to do what Jesus did, we’ll discover the pathway to purpose THAT God has for all of us. This Lent season we will explore the 7 practices of Jesus to help you grow spiritually. Religion doesn’t lead to real life– following Jesus does. This is “The Way” is our series leading up to Easter
The followers of Jesus for the first 100 years were known as the followers of The Way - The way of Jesus. The pre-christian label was a by-product of Jesus' famous statement from John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
The problem is many people don’t understand what this means. Jesus tried to let us know how difficult it will be to stay focused in his most famous teaching when he said Matt 7:13-14.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it
This week we look at another “Way.” The Way of Truth.
The chosen video today is a great example of the uncomfortableness of truth, its ramifications for culture and even the acceptance of a world in opposition to The Way. The scene is dripping with tension and innuendo. I squirmed the first time I watched it, wondering if I would have just agreed with the governor to not make problems or be as honest as Jesus in his response.
There is a popular saying in our culture today - “You live your truth and I’ll live mine.” The phrase live your truth is used as an encouragement for people to accept and openly express themselves authentically. It follows the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” (Essays) The overall message of “live your truth” is to not let society’s norms and expectations influence and overwhelm you. You should remain steadfast in who you are and treasure what you have.”Live your truth” implies that each person has his or her own truth deep within that must be discovered and lived out. One person’s truth may differ from another’s. This is not what the Bible teaches; there is just one truth. Truth is not subjective. It is not dependent on what is known, felt, or experienced by any particular person. It is not malleable, and it cannot be molded and shaped into a personalized form to suit us. People who speak of “my truth” and “your truth” are more accurately referencing “my opinion” and “your opinion.” Truth can have different interpretations, and people can see truth from different perspectives, but there remains only one truth.
The Way of Truth represents the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate guide for believers. Walking in the way of truth involves a life of obedience, faith, and alignment with God's will. It is a journey marked by the pursuit of holiness and integrity, reflecting the character of Christ.
The problem with any pursuit in this life is the continuing struggle of wading through all of life’s choices and deciding on what actually aligns with God’s will versus our own.
It’s an age old question that can be found in the scriptures in a number of places. This morning let’s dive into a scripture from 2 Peter 2. While you are looking for it, let me refresh your memory. Peter, the rock, is writing to all the churches in what is present day Turkey. There are a number of new “teachers” on the scene who are skewing the original message to suit their own agendas. Paul is writing to “warn” against blindly accepting what they teach. We will start in 2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Can we be honest with one another? I know it's enticing to think we can live carefree and unhinged lives. It's the devil’s greatest ruse to get us to believe that we can live in the fantasy that our choices in life don't have consequences both now and for eternity.
For us, following the way of truth means living a life that is consistent with biblical principles. It involves regular study of the Scriptures as well as other practice of spiritual disciplines (like prayer, fasting, silence, etc.) and deep reliance on the Holy Spirit. We are called to be witnesses through words and actions, showing others the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives and inviting them on a journey of their own.
Asked by the BBC to identify the defining moment in his life Desmond Tutu spoke of the day he and his mother were walking down the street. Tutu was nine years old. A tall white man dressed in a black suit came towards them. In the days of apartheid, when a black person and a white person met while walking on a footpath, the black person was expected to step into the gutter to allow the white person to pass and nod their head as a gesture of respect. But this day, before a young Tutu and his mother could step off the sidewalk, the white man stepped off the sidewalk and, as my mother and I passed, tipped his hat in a gesture of respect to her!
The white man was Trevor Huddleston, an Anglican priest who was bitterly opposed to apartheid. It changed Tutu’s life. When his mother told him that Trevor Huddleston had stepped off the sidewalk because he was a man of God Tutu found his calling. “When she told me that he was an Anglican priest I decided there and then that I wanted to be an Anglican priest too. And what is more, I wanted to be a man of God” said Tutu.
Huddleston later became a mentor to Desmond Tutu and his commitment to the equality of all human beings due to their creation in God’s image was a key driver in Tutu’s opposition to apartheid.
Source: This story has been widely reported including by Tutu himself in a 2003 interview with the BBC and in Tutu’s Nobel Prize ceremony.
Truth is not subjective. Truth is not relative. The way of truth is unchanging.
If we were to read the rest of 2 Peter 2 we would see it highlight the natural proclivity for mankind to manipulate and hedge the truth. In so doing, believers have faced opposition from various sources, including from within. The false teachings, cultural pressures, and moral relativism still exist today. As Believers, we are encouraged to remain vigilant and grounded in their faith, resisting the temptation to compromise or dilute the truth for the sake of acceptance or convenience.
As Augustine of Hippo is quoted as saying, “The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”
The way of truth is a foundational concept in the Christian faith, calling believers to a life aligned to God's Word and the example of Jesus Christ. It is a path that requires dedication, discernment, and a deep commitment to living out the truth in every aspect of life.
No what…
References: Quest Bible Commentary - p.1799-1801, Warren Weirsbe Commentary - 2 Peter 2- p.448-449
https://www.gotquestions.org/live-your-truth.html
https://biblehub.com/topical/w/way_of_truth.htm
