Biggies. Those are big questions asked to Christian leader Ravi Zacharias at the University of Michigan. “Biggies” has been our series for the last few weeks.
Two weeks ago, Designer genes. Did God really create the universe? The case for a Creator.
Last week, Rolling stone. Did Jesus really rise from the dead? The case for a Savior.
Today, Nothing but the truth. Are the Scriptures really true? The case for the Bible. There is a Truth who wants to give you direction and set you free. But truth is under fire in this world. Let me explain why this is so important.
For Maryanne’s birthday, I decided to sign us up for dance classes down the hill at CVCC. A little German lady was our instructor. You’ve got to practice 100 times a day!
I had to listen and learn to follow the directions. Don’t follow the directions and you will be stepping all over the toes of your partner. Follow the directions and you will be free – free to dance. Following the directions and finding your freedom go together.
Be honest. Some of us don’t feel so free right now. We are tied up. Maybe you’re not free to be all you want to be at work, at home, at school. Maybe you’re enslaved to shopping or to drinking or to working. Or you can’t quit fighting with your spouse or friends or kids. You’re trying to find your own way – follow your own directions – and it’s not working. You’re stepping on toes everywhere. Where are you not free?
I want to introduce you to a claim made by a leader almost 2,000 years ago. This leader talks about direction and freedom. It’s a radical statement. It’s stunning. It’s especially relevant for today.
If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32 (ESV)
Who’s speaking? It’s Jesus!
Now, based on this statement, what’s His goal for me… for you? You can see it in the very last word of the verse. He wants us to be free. Freedom. Jesus is saying, “I want you to be free to dance in this world. I don’t want you stepping all over everyone else. That’s no fun for you or for them. I want you to be free to dance.”
A misconception about Jesus is that He’s all about saying “no.” “Don’t do this! Don’t do that! No!” He’s not like David Spade on the commercial on TV. (“C E No! E I E I No!”) Jesus is really about setting people free. Sure, He says “no” to certain things, just like our dance teacher said “No, don’t put your foot there, but here.” But the “no” from Jesus is to make room for a greater “yes.” He’s all about us being free to be the best we can be.
How do we get this freedom? Look at the verse. It’s by knowing the truth. That leads us to ask some questions: What is the truth? Is there a truth? Who knows the truth?
77 times in the Bible Jesus is quoted as saying, “Truly, truly I say to you…” or “I tell you the truth…” Was He really telling the truth?
When you think about truth today, you’ve got to understand something about the world in which we live. Experts in the fields of education, theology, and philosophy are recognizing a cultural shift. It’s a cultural earthquake of monumental proportions.
We have moved from modernity to post-modernism. And it’s not going away. Modernism is coming to an end. We’re no longer in the age of reason and linear logic. Modernism said that by human reason we can come to the truth. Postmodernism challenges that.
What is it? A definition is in your worship guide.
Post-modernism says that external, absolute truth – that is, a truth that is true for all people, in all places, and at all times – cannot be known through reason or science. Truth is either non-existent or unknowable. Reason is… contaminated by… prejudices, environment, and upbringing. The idea of truth is created rather than discovered. (Taken from In Search of Certainty by Josh McDowell and Thomas Williams, p. 6.)
Postmodernism is in the movies. Think Matrix.
It’s influencing business. Think Starbucks.
It’s influencing architecture. Think the Lewis Building at Case Western right here in Cleveland. The inside of the building is just as postmodern as the outside. Here’s what the website says, “No two classrooms are exactly alike, so students are constantly faced with changing perspectives.” That’s postmodernism at work.
At the risk of oversimplifying a very complex issue, let’s just compare a modern world-view with a postmodern worldview.
Modern Post-modern
… reason (think!) … experience (feel!)
… answers … questions
… verbal (words!) … visual (images!)
… functional (what works!) … creative (what’s interesting!)
… objective … subjective
Truth is all a matter of interpretation. A word only has the meaning that the reader or a hearer gives it. Postmodernism denies that there is an absolute truth. Truth is seen as relative. So, any expression of spirituality is valid.
How is postmodernism impacting the church – especially our young adults, our youth and our children? One story:
Amber, a 16 year old girl from a solid church was asked, “Is it wrong to engage in premarital sex?” She said, “Well, I believe it’s wrong for me.” “But do you believe that the Bible teaches that premarital sex is wrong for everyone?” Amber’s eyes shift back and forth. She weighs her answer. “Well, I know it’s wrong for me, and I have chosen not to have sex until I’m married. But I don’t think I can judge other people on what they do.”
Amber believes that truth is not true unless people choose to believe it. Over 80% of our kids claim that “all truth is relative to the individual and his/her circumstances.”
I’m guessing you’ve heard someone say, “As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, it’s OK.” Many people now have a one-word worldview: “Whatever.”
If you are headed off to a university, you need to know what you will be facing there. Parents, our kids need to be ready. It’s not that postmodernism is inherently bad. There are good elements to it. It’s just different. The modern world-view has its flaws, too.
The challenge of today is this: How do we take a stand for truth in a world that listens with its eyes and thinks with its feelings? To help us with this, I asked someone who’s on the front lines right now to join me today.
Today’s guest:
Steve Piscura from Kent State University. Steve is working on a double major in English and Journalism.
I now you have been facing post-modernism big-time at Kent State What’s it been like? How has your faith been challenged?
Postmodernism says, “There’s no knowable truth.” I know you’ve had these discussions with your friends and faculty. How do you challenge that thinking?
What has kept you from falling apart?
What advice would you give my generation about raising a child in this culture?
What advice would you give your peers?
Right now, after spending a couple of years in a post-modern educational environment, what is your attitude toward the Bible?
Steve is still trusting the Bible as the source of truth. The Bible says it’s an inspired book. And that means more than someone who says, “I was inspired to write a song.”
All Scripture is breathed out by God…
II Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
Why can we say that the Bible is inspired by God and our source of truth?
The Bible passes…
… the unity test.
Think about it. The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by 40 authors over a 1500 year span in three languages and on three continents. Yet it is clearly one Book.
Scholars and farmers and fisherman all write about the same thing. The poor, the rich, and the in-between all write the same stuff. City folks and country folks give a consistent message.
They had no idea that their words would eventually be incorporated into a Book people would be reading thousands of years later. But each part fits into place.
All these authors wrote on hundreds of controversial subjects with a unity that you can’t explain by chance. The one consistent theme in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is God’s work. Each writer tells part of the big story – creation, the fall, redemption through Christ. That’s the overarching theme.
I’ve been studying this book for over 20 years and I’m not finding hidden flaws, but discovering greater beauty. Sure. I’ve heard people talk about so-called flaws and discrepancies in the scriptures. Approach the Bible with skepticism and you will find flaws. But approach the Bible with an open mind and you will find unity and consistency.
Big deal. So what? What’s this have to do with me?
There’s a businessman who just learned that the parent company is changing the rules on you. You know it’s going to cost your clients money and they are going to look somewhere else for your product. You don’t know what to do. You’re thinking, “Where do I go to get the truth about what to do?”
If that’s you, you need to know that there is a truth. And if you get to know Him and His word, He will give you direction and set you free.
Your commandments – [your truth] – makes me wiser than my enemies.
Psalm 119:98 (ESV)
Truth matters. The Bible passes the unity test.
Some of you might be thinking, “Come on, Rick! You can’t really trust the Bible as an ancient piece of literature, can you? It’s been tweaked over time. I have a hard time selecting it as a truth source.”
Well, think with me. The Bible passes…
… the history test.
The Bible talks about a king of Babylon named Beltshazzar. How’s that for a great name for your little one? Beltshazzar? Well, the historians said that the name doesn’t show up in ancient Babylon. So, people said about the Bible… ANNK! The Bible is wrong! Then in 1956, archaeologists unearthed three stones. On them was inscribed a story how a king left Babylon to fight in a war and left his son, Beltshazzar in charge. The historians had to do a 180 and say, “We’re wrong The Bible is right.”
Over 25,000 archaeological discoveries prove the Bible. Dr. Nelson Glueck is probably the greatest modern authority on Israeli archeology. He said:
"No archeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible."
This book passes the historicity test. It gets an A+. As time rolls on the so-called problems are shrinking rather than growing.
Big deal. So what? What’s this have to do with me?
There’s a young adult here who has lots of questions. About career. About marraige. About living at home. Need direction.
If that’s you, you need to know that there is a truth. And if you get to know Him and His word, He will give you direction and set you free.
I have more understanding than all my teachers for Your testimonies – [Your truths] – are my meditation.
Psalm 119:99
Truth matters. The Bible passes the historicity test. And it passes…
… the manuscript test.
There are 184,540 words in the NT. Scholars have debates concerning about 400 of those words. Most of the debates are over grammar or spelling. No major teaching of the Bible is in question.
Josh McDowell says, “The Bible compared with other ancient writings has more manuscript evidence than any other piece of ancient literature combined.”
You’ve heard of Plato and Aristotle. Have you read their complete works? How about the Cliff notes? Think. Their historicity and accuracy are never questioned. Yet we have less than ten manuscripts.
Take a guess. How many manuscripts of the NT do you think we have? Would it make you feel good if the NT had 10? How about 20? Or 50? Get this: We have 24,300 ancients documents of the NT that we can use to compare and get as close to the original as possible.
God has supernaturally preserved His word.
Some would say, “Rick, what about the miracles? You don’t believe in floods and resurrections, do you?”
If there is a God who created this world, then miracles are possible. God doing miracles? It’s just a hobby to Him.
Big deal. So what? What’s this have to do with me?
There’s someone here in a very difficult marriage. You don’t know which way to turn.
You need to know that there is a Truth. If you get to know Him and His words, you’ll find direction and freedom to be all you can be.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word – [Your truth].
Psalm 119:114
Truth matters. The Bible passes the manuscript test. And it passes…
… the prophecy test.
The Bible is full of fulfilled prophecy. A lot of people went out on a limb to predict things that would happen.
Just take Jesus. He fulfilled 300 prophecies about His life. There are prophecies in the Bible about how He would be born and how He would die.
A mathematician, Peter Stoner, studied the mathematical probability of just 8 of the 300 prophecies about Jesus. The chances that any eight of these would come true is 10 to 17th power. That’s a number I can’t quite comprehend.
Think silver dollars. Get enough to cover entire state of Ohio 13 feet deep. Mark the back of one coin. Take a giant mixer and mix ‘em up. Blindfold a guy and drop him off from a helicopter anywhere in the state. Tell him to pick out the marked silver dollar on one try.
That’s the same chance that Jesus would have to fulfill only 8 of 300 prophecies. He got all 300 right.
Big deal. So what? What’s this have to do with me?
There a child here who’s been hurt by a parent or a sibling or a friend. That child has been carrying the hurt and confusion around. “Can I trust ever again? How do I make sense of my messed-up life?”
If that’s you, you need to know that there is a truth. And if you get to know Him and His word, He will give you direction and set you free.
I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts – [Your truths] – give me understanding that I may live.
Psalm 119:141, 144
Truth matters. The Bible passes the prophecy test. And it passes…
… the personal test.
The Bible is reliable about what it says about me and my condition. It cuts trough my veneer. It’s gets in my face. It talks to me about me.
Sometimes, I’m almost scared to read its pages because it cuts right through to my motivation and my sin.
I’m going to let you in on something personal about me. True confession time about what I read. In my bedroom is a John Grishom book. I like the fast-paced stories he tells. And in my office there are two shelves filled with books about baseball. Grisham and baseball.
Do you think 1300 people would show up to anyone me teach about Grisham and baseball? Do you think they’d sing about it? These books don’t change a life.
Yet I hear all the time, “Rick, have you been reading my email? Have you been talking to my boss or my spouse? You must know what’s going on in my life! Wow. It seems like I’m the only person in the place.”
It’s simple. God is speaking through His word to change a life. This book, the Bible, is supernatural.
I talk to people who say that their problem with Jesus and the Bible is intellectual- that the Bible has been tweaked. But I’ve learned that often their problem is not really the Bible. Their problem is that the Bible points out their problems. Most people are afraid of the Bible. They want to steer clear of the Bible. There’s a sense in which we don’t read the Bible. There’s a sense in which the Bible reads us.
Lust gets exposed. Greed comes out into the light. Selfish desires are shown for what they are.
Big deal. So what? What’s this have to do with me?
There’s someone here who’s enslaved. You know you’re not free. Maybe it’s shopping or eating or partying. Maybe it’s worry or work. You hate what’s going on in your life. But you’re afraid to step away from what you know. And you don’t know what to do.
If that’s you, you need to know that there is a truth. And if you get to know Him and His word, He will give you direction and set you free.
This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise – [Your truth] – gives me life.
Psalm 119:50
Truth matters. The Bible passes the personal test.
People say that Christianity is for those people who need a crutch. That it’s for the weak. Don’t give me that weak stuff. Don’t say that if you’ve never had the guts to read the Bible for yourself.
Do you have questions about the Bible? God says, “Come on, big boy, ask the questions.” Just don’t accept the standard criticism that some pseudo-intellectual is going to try to dish out. Profs can be guilty of just parroting whatever they heard in grad school.
Think for yourself! The Bible will penetrate your heart and life. God will use it to change you. He’s using it to change me.
No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
II Peter 1:20-21 (ESV)
Remember Jack Nicholson’s line to Tom Cruise? You can’t handle the truth! That brings up a question:
How do I handle the truth?
1. Meet the truth.
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 (ESV)
Ravi Zacharias was a teenager in India. He says, “I had no hope; I had no meaning. I had no promise for the future, for my life.” No wonder he was suicidal. His dad was a highly placed government officer who served under the Prime Minister of India. He was powerful and he saw Ravi’s life heading nowhere. His father once looked him in the eye and said, “You’re going to make nothing of your life; you’re an embarrassment to me.” A few hours later, Ravi attempted suicide. He asked himself, “Why live?” No hope, no meaning, no truth.
Ravi was lying in a hospital bed when a man walked in and wanted to speak to him. Ravi was in intensive care. He was dying. The man gave Ravi a little New Testament and asked his mother to read it to him. Her English wasn’t very good, but he turned to the fourteenth chapter of John and read it to her and asked her to read it to Ravi. And there as he lay dying, he heard the words of Jesus saying, “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life, no one comes unto the Father except through me.” Ravi prayed a simple prayer and said, “Jesus, I really don’t know much about You, but if You are the way, You are the truth, and You are the life, enter into my life and change not only what I do, please change what I want to do.”
Ravi says, “In that room, I invited Jesus Christ into my life. He changed not only what I did; He changed what I wanted to do. He changed my heart.”
Have you met the truth? Listen carefully. There are four questions in life. 1. Origin: Where did I come from? 2. Meaning: Why am I here? 3. Morality: How should I live? 4. Destiny: Where am I going? When you look at the person of Christ, you’ll find all of those answered.
Meet the truth.
2. Know the truth.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
John 17:17 (ESV)
Some of us like to take the summer off spiritually. Not this year!
Try the truth test: Read red 92!
Some Bibles are called “red letter editions.” The words of Jesus are written in red. We are asking you to consider reading the words of Jesus this summer. Just read the words of Jesus for yourself! He claimed to be the truth. So, read the red. Read what’s red. Read red 92. You can pick up a reading guide in the foyer.
This will keep you on track spiritually this summer. Buy a little notebook. Pick out a verse or two and write a paraphrase. Then stop. Ask yourself, “What was Jesus saying? How can I apply this to my life?” Write down a couple of your thoughts.
Read what the One who said He was the truth says in His Book that claims to be the truth.
Know the truth.
3. Live the truth.
Authenticity. Reality. Integrity. That’s the best defense of the truth in a postmodern world.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22 (NIV)
This is what won the battle for truth for Steve Piscura. He saw reality in his mom and dad. Do people – your kids – see that in you?
Live the truth.
* * *
If you are a skeptic, I’m not asking you to naively accept what the Bible says because “We say so.” I’m asking you to be open-minded enough to read and see for yourself whether what you find is truthful or not.
A truth to take home: The Truth will be my guide to freedom.
A verse to remember: If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32; ESV)
A question to answer: How will I take in the truth this summer?
* * *
Where are you not free? Maybe you’re not free because you’ve never met the truth, because you don’t know the truth, or you’re not living the truth.
When I follow direction, I am free… to dance. Freedom to do things right.
* * *
