Lets Get Real / Truth in Our World Today / Week 4

Truth in Our World Today

Various passages October 10 2021

I. Introduction:

A. Read Proverbs 14:6,33

1. Simply the better you understand something, the easier it will be for you to

know what to do and the wiser you will be!

2. So the better we understand our culture:

a) We will better understand why people say what they say and do the

things they do today.

b) We will be wiser in contending for the faith

c) We will be wiser to navigate these times without being squeezed into the

mold of the world

d) We will be wiser on how to impact others.

B. We stated the first week that we are living in a very unique time as many have

lived in two different cultural eras, which in many ways can be defined not by age

or generation but more by the way, we perceive the world and particularly the

way we think about truth. These two eras are called modern and post-modern

• So I am going to start by simply reading to you a 30,000-foot view of the summary of

my study of these. I would highly encourage you to download these notes from our

webpage later in the week.

II. Cultural eras

A. Modernism began in the mid-17th century with the rise of the age of

enlightenment - an age of reason where human understanding was used to define

the universe.

It was an intellectual movement that believed human reason and science gave us

access to truth, with the ultimate goal that knowledge of the truth would better

humankind. They could now ‘correct’ and ‘improve’ the political and social

condition of humankind.

Thus, the individual would no longer be at the mercy of religious and secular

authorities of the middle ages who dictated people what was true, primarily long

held traditions!

B. Postmodernism found its beginning more in the 60’s and 70’s

It is more an attitude towards truth claims than it is a generational thing. It began

in response to the failure of the modernist to provide this new and better society.

After two world wars, nonstop social revolutions, civil unrest and the cold war

modernity was declared dead by the academic world!

It was marked by questioning of reason, skepticism, radical uncertainty,

celebration of difference, and the reassessment of modern principles.

The modern age was marked by different large-scale theories, “grand narratives” -

one ultimate truth that could explain the totality of human experience. The

postmodern age was one of “micro-narratives” that focused on context/relativism,

subcultures, and diversity, none of which can claim an ultimate truth.

What is reality/truth? Rather than being an absolute objective truth, accessible by

rational procedures and experimentation, reality was relative and depended on

subjective experience. Truth is not something we discover out there that is beyond

us but rather something we construct. There is no absolute truth

The hallmark of postmodern thinking is the rejection of absolute truth. The three

byproducts of that are pluralism relativism, and tolerance

If anyone does not buy into these three byproducts then they are considered to

have left their brains at the door. If there is no absolute truth then all truths

are equally valid.

• Before we go on, we need to understand some...

III. Key definitions about truth

A. This is important because to be able to contend for the faith we need to

understand the words that are being used today in the battle for truth. Most of

them are not common to us but to understand them opens up a deeper

understanding about what truth and reality are

B. Following are the PBP pocket dictionary 2nd edition definitions regarding truth –

(see flyer)

1. Truth – what is real, that which correspond with reality.

2. Absolute – true for all people in all places at all times independent of any

outside factors.

3. Relative – truth is not fixed for all but is individually determined dependent

upon a person’s unique situation.

4. Objective – truth based on how things really are whether we agree with it or

not.

5. Subjective - truth based on a person's perspective, feelings, opinions and

circumstances whether it is real or not.

6. Exclusive – truth that is limited and excludes others.

7. Pluralism – Two or more differing or opposing views that are equally valid

and true.

8. Construct –every individual, group or subculture is free to create their own

reality/truth.

9. Material – the material world and its laws. Materialism or naturalism is the

belief that nature is all there is.

• Now with a better understanding of these words next I tried to make a chart that puts

the ideas of truth together through the lens of the modern and postmodern era and the

eternal era of God!

IV. Summary chart of truth

V. The problem as I see it

A. We see this kind of postmodern thinking all over our culture today. But my

biggest concern right now is how it has hit three major institutions of culture – the

media, politics and education. I believe it has hit both sides of the aisles in

different ways whether you are watching Fox News or CNN or you are a

Republican or Democrat.

B. Many of these institutions are constructing truth. They do it through what they

call talking points –

1. This is what we are going to talk about and this is what we want people to

believe.

a) So they talk about their talking points whether they are true or not and

almost always just half the truth at best – that which sides with their view

and never the whole truth.

2. Those who do not side with our truth are bullied, vilified, shamed or

cancelled.

3. Which shuts down all intelligent conversations, getting to what really is the

truth and what is real enough that we can build our life upon it!

C. The goal is no longer communicating the facts or what is true but rather

communicating their agenda! Bottom line – the loudest voice or the voice with

the most people behind it wins!

1. Here is the problem with that (pp) “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong

doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s

accepted by a majority.” Booker T. Washington

2. People are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts! Original

source uncertain but repeated by many

• So with this going on in our culture how can anyone depend upon what they are

hearing in a way they can build their life on it?

VI. Final app

A. So that brings us back to what we have learned over the last few weeks. God and

His Word are the only reality upon which we can rely upon to build our lives.

1. In a day and age where us common folk do not have access to all the facts

and only hear what people want us to hear and believe to be true and there are

so many contradictions we are hearing …

2. We need to make God’s Word the source where we can find truth we can rely

upon and build our lives upon!

3. The only “no spin” zone in the world that we can depend upon to build our

life upon is the Word of God!

4. Read Psalm 1:1-3. Read and speak as God gives utterance

B. I want to close this morning by giving you some books that can help you gain a

better understanding into the things we have talked about the last four weeks.

1. Another Gospel – Alisa Childers – use to be in the group Zoegirl. She tells

the story of how her faith was nearly destroyed by a progressive pastor and

how God walked here through that time and taught her the truth.

2. The Truth War – John Macarthur - basically John’s commentary on the book

of Jude and how it applies to truth in a postmodern age.

3. The Ever loving Truth – Voddie Bauchman – talks about how a 21st century

Christian can stand faithful and be a voice for truth in a postmodern world