What if contained within the truth that sets us free, there is a need for us to acknowledge that our ability to possess the truth absolutely isn't even possible and due to my limited vision some of what I believe to be truth more than likely isn't? And instead, truth is more about TRUTH having grabbed hold of us, and that reality begins to produce in us, rest and peace and the ability to love?
For how long have there been people screaming "Just give me the truth"? Or even worse...."I/we have the absolute truth"!!!!!! You don't have to study much of human history to see that the most destructive moments in history have been led by people claiming such a thing. Here's how one of my favorite authors says it. "We have seen the horror that has resulted in the course of our history every time a person or group has claimed to express truth in its entirety, believing their word to be identical with the truth, or that truth could not be "elsewhere" or "other." This attitude has given legitimacy to all dictatorships, oppressions, falsehoods, and massacres."
Maybe the way we have been going after "truth" just keeps people all agitated and on an adventure in missing the point? The more Solomon learned the less he said he knew and the more frustrated he became until he saw the pursuit as vanity. Think about it. In this complicated convoluted activity we humans call communication, is it even possible to put together out of all the things that are going on, something that is truth...that is, truth as we define it? Or at best is it just a collection of what we each perceive from what we think we have seen or from what we have been told?
The quote above about the dangers of approaching truth in this way is then followed by this. "One person's word against another's is the only possible fragile pointer to truth, like a compass quivering in its case. And quite apart from human pretension to have a proud, exclusive corner on truth, even if we could seize truth as it is and transmit it without wasting any of it and without confusion, truth would crush us of its own weight and prevent us from living. In order to live, we need truth to be expressed by the most fragile agent, so that the listener remains free. The uneasiness which enables us to keep going involves knowing that we will never be able to grasp truth in its entirety, or be able to bring our adventure to a close by identifying our life with truth." This humility might just help us when it comes to living with one another....until that day when we see in full.
You would think with all the effort that has been made by countless people through the ages to find truth through the activity of "fact finding", humanity would be in a better place today. But such does not seem to be the case? Maybe reality is that truth exists on a completely different plane and we have confused truth with the accumulation of accurate facts and the two are not even close to being the same thing?
Maybe truth is more about faith. And faith is more about listening and picking up signs so that we can love...not based on what we think about someone and what they believe but instead based upon the truth that someone loved us/loves us even while we are saying and believing all kinds of crazy stuff?
6 comments:
Maybe the Truth is a person and what we need is the knowledge of that Person given to us by the Holy Spirit.
Alot of angst (amongst other things) has been created for people in this desire to find the truth that will set us free.
An sad irony considering it may have been a semi-offhanded comment, made by the Lord and directed towards the Jews that were listening to him.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
I have not searched for "truth" in a long time. Having read probably too many different views and philosophies of the world, I've come to the conclusion that people don't really want the "truth." What people want is harmony of the soul and validation of their moral viewpoint. What people want is to feel safe, and people feel safe when they are amongst other people who think as they do.
It's been a pleasure as always to read your thoughts, Kent :)
Regards
Shivana
Can we know the truth?
What does the truth do to us as a people?
It is amazing how lies and untruth effects the body in so many ways. Great post and blog. I enjoy reading but havent had the time to visit in a while because I have been suffering with severe migraines. I hope you have a great day bro!
Great post. Great. Shivana echoed my thoughts as I was reading this.
What amazes me is how it turns out so differnetly when you thought, when you seize hold of the thought that you can't ... well, seize truth :) You would think that would be a stressor, and perhaps it is in an egoic sense, but in a spirit sense it brings that blessed relief where you can lay down your power trips and your insistence on striving to gain your perfection so God won't send you to hell forever. And boy, the world needs a bit less of that sort of thinking.
(Aside: if there was an eternal hell (which in my limited knowledge I do not at this time believe there is), and if I was a veangeful person like a vengeaful deity would be who would send everyone to hell forever for being human and not laying hold - even though in Calvinistic terms apparently he has CHOSEN some people to get it some not to ... well, when I consider the hell on earth that sort of doctrine has bought, even though I am not a veangeful person, part of me would surely delight in seeing John Calvin roasting in there for a bit/
But only for a bit. Like, a second or two ;)
Isn't it interesting where all of this seems to be leading us. Being left with the questions instead of thinking we have the answers...as in accurate facts. I think the Ellul quote is speaking of part of the truth that sets us free...that we can't fully comprehend it or possess it fully. The truth that is setting me free is this...he/truth has grabbed hold of me. I'm safe at home with Father. Now that's freedom and changes everything.
Sue, it was funny hearing our friend say that he is actually wondering if Calvin was even a christian. I know he was saying it tongue in cheek but goodness gracious...from my perspective today, he had picked up some things that seem antithetical to Jesus.
Truth, has a name my friends, its name is Jesus. And if God is love then perhaps, love is the better part of truth. I have a 'religious' litmus test these days. But would you feel safe with him on a deserted island. I'm afraid at this point J Calvin is not one of those people....
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