Truth or Consequences

Yes, there is a town in New Mexico named Truth or Consequences – and there used to be a television show by that same name. We also live daily with truth – and the consequences of whether or not we believe it.

Politically, it makes a huge difference. With the advent of social media, the truth has been stretched to the breaking point more than once, and the consequences are being felt around the world.

Fact checking has become a big business. The linked Hill article lays it out early in the article:

Oxford Dictionaries' International Word of the Year for 2016 was "post-truth," defined as "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief."

For Christians, we’ve heard about truth all of our lives:

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (John 18:38 KJV)

Non-Christians believe we are working on emotions and personal beliefs, not objective facts. That’s one reason I like the books written by Lee Strobel. “The Case for Christ” gives facts, though I doubt anyone can actually be objective. We all have reasons for our research, and Strobel’s goal was to disprove Christianity based on facts. Instead, he came to understand what prompted Pilate’s question:

Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:35-37 KJV)

We Christians believe the words Jesus spoke were written down by men who heard – and believed – what He said. We see the lives changed by His words. We read His words – and those in the Bible that were given to prophets centuries before, when His coming was promised.

Some people discuss Christianity with a believer, and make a determination as Felix did – not right now:

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:24-25 KJV)

Felix knew of the tremendous change in Paul’s life. Knew that at first he was putting Jesus’ followers in prison then one day that all changed and Paul went to prison for speaking of Jesus, for telling His story. Felix sent Paul back to prison. Festus left him there – until Agrippa came.  Read Acts 26 for the whole story, but finally Festus gave an answer that so many do today:

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (Acts 26:24-25 KJV)

Yes – some think we are crazy, but as Paul – we firmly believe we speak truth when we tell God’s good news. Then we have the third response, much as this from Agrippa:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:28-29 KJV)

Yes – so many are almost persuaded, and as Paul, we wish they were as we are today. No longer in bonds for being a Christian (well, in most places. Not so much in others), able to discuss our beliefs openly without derision, but with an open mind to study the words as the Bereans:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:10-11 KJV)

Spend time with Christians and the Bible. Be ready to determine the truth – whether those things were so. And, to understand the consequences.