So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
– John 8:31-32
Tell me what to think. Tell me what it says. Tell me what to believe. Tell me how to live.
We exist in a world where far too often we are told to listen, to blindly obey, but discouraged to question. When this happens, we become a culture that relies on others to tell us what and how to think and believe, relieving us of our own reason, curiosity, common sense and even creativity. What do you think is replaced by how do you feel? Emotion is positioned to rule over reason. At this point, fear and pleasure become the primary motivating factors.
We saw this during the COVID “epidemic.” Fear was the primary tactic to divert people from sensible questioning. “Trust the science” introduced a catchy phrase that at its roots meant, “conform don’t question.” Hindsight usually illuminates deception, over-reaction and error. But it takes critical thinking and objective questions in order to learn from experiences and situations.
Take the theory of evolution for example. Kids are taught that we are merely a series of mistakes, mutations that randomly occurred over billions of years. Where did these cosmic blunders start? To that degree, where did the matter for the cosmos ever come from? No where, it just is. However to question such a statement is to be unscientific and religiously rebellious. Don’t rock the boat, don’t question, don’t think for yourself, just accept.
Trust the science.
On the other hand, these same kids are encouraged to become emotionally driven, to follow their heart, to filter their thoughts and actions through their feelings. As a result, misunderstanding, poor decision making and unhealthy behaviors fill the void where rational thought once lived and would question the origin of life, creation, the possibility of higher power.
The Christian lifestyle is the antithetical position of this mindset. It runs in opposition to culture, to sociology, to this very world.
The Bible, the Living Word of God is an amazing thing. Because it is inspired by God Himself, we can deem it truthful, not simply because of our proclamation, but because God is truthful. What does this mean? It means we can have confidence in the words, principles, historical accounts and teachings it contains.
The great thing about truth is that it isn’t afraid to be questioned, debated or even scrutinized. The truth has nothing to hide, therefore truth can stand up to rational, critical, mathematical, even scientific thinking and examination.
But truth also allows for the personal and emotional experience. Because God is truth, which means He is authentic, we can ask Him any questions we are struggling with, even the “why” questions that stem from tragedy, trials and tribulations.
God created in us a mind that has the ability of rational thought. That has to always lead to questioning everything. Here is where we discover the truth. And the truth will always lead to the origin of all certainty, God Himself.
Werner Heisenberg, a German theoretical physicist and one of the main pioneers of the theory of quantum mechanics said this, “The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.”
Jason Metz, lead Pastor
