What is Truth?

In the past few weeks, the United State of America has broken with significant conventions, the most recent being the longly held stance the Vladimir Putin is dangerous dictator that needs to be contained by the West. What the West is itself is unraveling, as any form of consensus that emerged post war in the mid twentieth century disintegrates.

Whether this is bad or good is beyond the scope of this small piece. More to the point, how we came to believe what is true, or what is good becomes called into question during their deconstruction. That there was any semblance of commonality at all, held together for nearly 80 years is ahistorical. In the mid twentieth century, America and Russia were allies of sorts, against the common enemies on the European continent. That this would shift in a couple of years during the rebuilding shows how remarkably convention shifts. And, because truth is built on consensus, how quickly truth shifts.

Is there any wonder that people are confused about what is up or down, right or left. Is Israel in the wrong, or Hamas? Is Russia, or Ukraine? Can a man be a woman? It’s not simply that there is a new abundance of disinformation, as propaganda has existed forever. In America, we call it advertising and it’s lauded. Rather, it’s that the roots of our common agreements are shifting. Fifty years ago if you asked someone if a biological male could play in female sports, you would have been laughed out of the room. It’s not that we have new information on this subject, but our common consensus has been deconstructed. (It’s evident to see how quickly ethics change culturally, when they are rooted in consensus). Twenty years ago, free speech would have been fairly universally understood. But as J.D. Vance gave his speech before the Munich Security Council, there is a real question about whether European countries agree with the United States about its definition.

Truth itself changes.

In the total scheme of history, truth changes quickly, and is arguably changing at increasing rate with rapid technological changes. Ask any grandparent and they’ll shake their heads about what the newest generations thinks or believes good music is. While it is uncomfortable for those of us who root ourselves in convention, and is particularly dangerous for the weak and vulnerable as when their is uncertainty, they are the ones that suffer the most (Job 24:2-4), it is the very reality present in scripture just before the crucifixion of Jesus.

In that moment, Rome was truth. Power was truth. Pilate was truth. What he said, was true. So he says to Jesus as he stands before him, “What is truth?”(John 18:38)

“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” (John. 19:11)

I am truth, Pilate argues. The known world had organized itself around this truth. Fortunes were made and lost on this truth. Rome ruled, and it had to the power to determine truth. But Jesus’ response to this is telling,

“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above…” (John 19:11)

The consensus that operated the world might appear to be true Jesus argues, but it isn’t. Only what the Father declares to be true is true. No matter how much evidence there is to the contrary.

Consensus is short lived. Power changes quickly. The world fades, but truth stands.

That this comes just before the resurrection I’m convinced is the very thing the author of the Gospel of John is trying to tell us. Don’t believe the evidence that the world shows you. Don’t believe the newspaper or the pundits. Don’t believe power or status. These are simply passing consensus. If you want to know what is true, then watch me Jesus says, and as he bursts forth from the grave, resolutely adds, “I AM truth, I AM the way, I AM life.” There is none other(John 14:6).