The question is definitely for this time and culture. When we now are told that “You have your truth, and I have my truth.” And supposedly that’s the truth … when it is not. The truth is immovable, and immutable …if it really is the Truth.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
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
Today the narrative is that you can only speak truth if you have a certain percentage of melanin within your skin, and or you were raised in a certain socio-economic group, and or you belong to a certain gender classification, or you’re a certain age. Anyone who is outside of the preferred narrative is …nullified and incorrect and can no longer speak the truth. The definitions of certain words have changed so radically by those wanting to change the truth, that confusion reigns, and those in the proper ‘narrative’ are the only ones who can explain what really is going on or what anything really means.
Truth = Jesus
That should be simple enough.
Okay — now is when you separate those that have some truth and those that KNOW the Truth. Who did Jesus send to His disciples AFTER ascending into His Kingdom / Heaven? Easy answer – the Holy Spirit. What is the Holy Spirit’s purpose?
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. 1 John 2:27
One who has the abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit within them and has a daily intimate ongoing relationship — will know the Truth when they hear it NO MATTER WHAT THE SOURCE IS.
It could be the homeless person on the street, to the wealthiest individual, they both could speak the Truth. Does it mean everything they say is the truth? Absolutely NOT! But the Holy Spirit inhabited person recognizes the portion of what is spoken, no matter what the source, as the Truth when they hear it. The Holy Spirit recognizes Truth.
If you KNOW Jesus intimately, and are filled with His Holy Spirit, and you know Him intimately, then the likelihood of you KNOWING the Truth is much greater. If you’ve heard of Jesus, and maybe acknowledge there is a Holy Spirit, and you sit in a institutional Church, but rarely engage with the Word or have a deep and abiding daily two way conversational prayer life, then you will have difficulty discerning the .. truth and will easily be misled. The Truth for these individuals will become cloudy.
Unfortunately the institutional Church has not done a good job of discipleship. They’ve done a fantastic job of building a social club with dues.
So can you recognize the Truth when you hear it… no matter what the source is? Even if it is your spouse? Child? Homeless person? Even pastors get it right sometimes. Our problem comes from our culture today that says we are to believe someone completely in EVERYTHING they say because they come from the proper narrative, or title, or status. When we should filter EVERYTHING through the Holy Spirit no matter who is speaking.
The Truth is NOT an opinion. The Truth stands alone and NEVER can be moved. The Source of the Truth is OUTSIDE of humanity and science. Science may lead one closer to the Truth .. but within itself it is NOT the Truth. Real science is a method to discover the … truth of something. Obviously those who already KNOW the Truth will have a better platform to begin with the scientific method when postulating where to begin to look.
So what actually diminishes Truth? In actuality? Nothing. In the lives of people? Separation from Jesus. Separation from the Holy Spirit.
How close are you actually with God? Has an event in your past soured you from seeking God further? Those things need to be pursued, analyzed, and vetted. If you keep stuffing things down within yourself without putting the light of Truth on them — they will only get worse.
Get to know God intimately and you know the Truth.