Truth in Our Age

Articles

MISC
07/08/15 - MISC

Truth In Our Age

Dee Bowman
03/30/14 - Truth

We live in an age of religious and moral confusion. Morality is in a state of serious degeneration. And instead of being concerned about that degeneracy, society is puffed up with pride about its broad-mindedness, even while it pompously declares its toleration as moral progress. Religion, rather than fighting back against this moral retrogression, has decided to join the broad-mindedness and give in to society’s tolerations. Even today’s worship is, in most churches, merely a religious adaptation calculated to suit the fancies of the masses.

Thus our nation continues on a course that seems sure to bring about its own destruction. And sadly, it is doing so with impunity, even with a sense of smug self-satisfaction. Having become devoid of so many ethical principles, our society seems bent on descending further and further into a quagmire of moral degeneracy, one which produces with it a secularized, empty religion.

The solution to this situation is difficult, mostly on account of the subjective spin that has been put on truth. Truth is what you make it in this society. There is seemingly no such thing as an objective standard for morality, or even a wisp of a moral code that actually says what is right and what is wrong. In today’s world, if I think a thing to be right, it’s right–even if it’s wrong to you. It’s a moral maze. The conscience becomes confused because it has lost any sense of moral direction. And so man wanders about in moral aimlessness. No one knows which way to go, even though everyone goes around acting like he does.

Truth is defined in the Bible as a reliable, understandable means for determining a proper and approved course of action. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) is more than a statement of the Savior’s provisions, it’s a statement of the reality and reliability of truth–truth than can be acted upon to determine a proper course of pursuit, a course that results in both moral purity in the present and everlasting life in the hereafter. Jesus affirms Himself to be the true and living way.

The God-given Scriptures are affirmed to be what is needed for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17). As such, they offer discernable, definitive truths that thoroughly furnish all we need. They leave no room for subjective interpretation, only a detectable, reliable method for living a moral life. They not only define the course we should follow, but warn about what happens if we don’t. Bible truth is both definitive and functional. “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” said Jesus (John 8:32).

There is a need for revival in this country, a need for a standard that directs, a need for a truth that is the same for all men. There is a need for a return to the Bible. And that will not be done on a national basis, but one person at a time. It is unclear whether or not the present tide of immorality can be turned, but it is certain that persons can know and obey the truth; and it is certain that those same persons can recommend that truth to those who come under their influence. Furthermore, their influence can have an effect, and might well turn the tide.

But we cannot plant the seed when it’s still in the barn. There needs to be a revitalization of our evangelistic fervor. We need to see clearly what is the real need right in our own backyard. It has to start somewhere.

The process for such a noble endeavor is assigned and illustrated in II Timothy 2:2. “The things thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.” It’s a one-person-at-a-time thing. It starts with me, then multiplies. No big programs are needed–only a love for the souls of men. No big evangelists are needed–only a love for the souls of men. No gimmicks are needed to draw them in. The gospel will do that. That is, if we’ll let it.

Want to help change our morally declining world? Bring one soul to Christ.