When people deny the existence of truth, there are a number of negative consequences. One of the negative consequences has to do with having reality work against you.
I read this simple truth in a book by a pop philosopher, many years ago, and I have come to see that it is correct: If you deny reality, reality will work against you. By the way, when I write about denying reality, I’m also suggesting that this is equivalent to denying truth because truth is that which corresponds with reality.
As a real, simple, illustration of the importance of acknowledging reality or having reality work against you, think of someone who has an addiction. What’s the first step in dealing constructively with an addiction? Yes, that’s right, admitting it. Good answer.
We have to begin by admitting that we have an addiction. When we make that admission, what are we doing? We could simply call that: facing the reality of my situation. If we admit reality and call it what it is, now, we have entered a place where we have a chance to begin a helping and healing process. We can begin to deal constructively with this, now, because we are acknowledging reality.
But what happens if we don’t face reality?
If a person—who’s addicted—says, “I don’t have a problem! I wish everyone would get off my back. All these nosey, busybodies just need to leave me alone. I’m fine.”
What happens?
That person denies reality. Does reality, then, change? No, of course not. Reality doesn’t change. Reality never changes because we deny it; it just continues to work against the person.
Truth is fundamental, it could be thought of as a first principle. Because it’s one of those foundational principles that have to be in place, first, so that other principles can be understood. Philosophy professor, J. Budziszewski says, “The consequences of denying first principles are cumulative and inescapable.”
If we deny a first principle, like truth, the consequences will be cumulative. In other words, they will continue to accumulate on us. And, ultimately, we will be unable to escape the consequences. This is part of the reason why everyone—even the most ardent denier of truth—knows that he has to live life as if there is such a thing as truth.
You can deny the existence of truth, and argue passionately against the truth day in and day out, and come up with brilliant philosophical arguments to prove that truth is unknowable, but when the doctor comes with lab results of the biopsy that they did on your tumor, we all know that the truth matters, don’t we? Suddenly, the staunchest relativist wants to know: “What’s the truth, doctor?”
If you deny the truth, you are denying reality, and if you deny reality, it will work against you.
Dan Marler
First Church of God
Oak Lawn, IL
www.VisitUsOnline.org
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Jesus Is The Answer?
When I was a little kid, growing up in the church, I was taught, “Jesus is the answer.” The basic idea was that, in an ultimate sense, Jesus is the answer to everything.
Well, I believed that. What do you expect? I was a little kid! That’s what the big people taught me and that’s what I believed.
Then, as I got a little bit older. I got frustrated with that concept and it seemed simplistic to me. I believed in Jesus and I knew that there was a certain sense in which he was the answer, but I also began to think that wasn’t a sophisticated enough approach to deal with all the realities of life in this complex and difficult world with its significant problems.
To say that Jesus is the answer seemed a little bit weak and insufficient to me, in fact, it even seemed like the response “Jesus is the answer” was used as an excuse or a cop out, sometimes.
Now, I’m older and I’ve lived a bit more life—I’ve dealt with a lot more problems and seen a lot more trouble—and you know what? I’m realizing in a new way, I’m realizing in a little more mature way, that it’s true. It has been true all along. It’s taken me a while to see just how ultimately true it is, but Jesus is the answer. He is. I see that more clearly, now. (I don’t see it perfectly, but I see it a little more clearly.)
I know it sounds too simplistic—like I said, I’ve been down that road—but it’s not. It’s the truth. Jesus is the answer. In fact, what I’m understanding, now, is that there really is no other answer.
Nothing makes sense outside of him—ultimately. Nothing really ever gets fixed outside of him. Life will never truly be lived—the way it was meant to be lived—outside of him. No love is truly possible outside of him. No relationships work, the way they were meant to work, outside of him. This broken world will never, ever, ever, be made right outside of him.
I don’t mean to make light of the scope of your problems or difficulties. I don’t mean to minimize whatever it is you’re dealing with. I don’t write this as an excuse or a cop out for not taking appropriate action, but . . . in the ultimate sense: Jesus is the answer.
Dan Marler
First Church of God
Oak Lawn, IL
http://www.visitusonline.org/
Well, I believed that. What do you expect? I was a little kid! That’s what the big people taught me and that’s what I believed.
Then, as I got a little bit older. I got frustrated with that concept and it seemed simplistic to me. I believed in Jesus and I knew that there was a certain sense in which he was the answer, but I also began to think that wasn’t a sophisticated enough approach to deal with all the realities of life in this complex and difficult world with its significant problems.
To say that Jesus is the answer seemed a little bit weak and insufficient to me, in fact, it even seemed like the response “Jesus is the answer” was used as an excuse or a cop out, sometimes.
Now, I’m older and I’ve lived a bit more life—I’ve dealt with a lot more problems and seen a lot more trouble—and you know what? I’m realizing in a new way, I’m realizing in a little more mature way, that it’s true. It has been true all along. It’s taken me a while to see just how ultimately true it is, but Jesus is the answer. He is. I see that more clearly, now. (I don’t see it perfectly, but I see it a little more clearly.)
I know it sounds too simplistic—like I said, I’ve been down that road—but it’s not. It’s the truth. Jesus is the answer. In fact, what I’m understanding, now, is that there really is no other answer.
Nothing makes sense outside of him—ultimately. Nothing really ever gets fixed outside of him. Life will never truly be lived—the way it was meant to be lived—outside of him. No love is truly possible outside of him. No relationships work, the way they were meant to work, outside of him. This broken world will never, ever, ever, be made right outside of him.
I don’t mean to make light of the scope of your problems or difficulties. I don’t mean to minimize whatever it is you’re dealing with. I don’t write this as an excuse or a cop out for not taking appropriate action, but . . . in the ultimate sense: Jesus is the answer.
Dan Marler
First Church of God
Oak Lawn, IL
http://www.visitusonline.org/
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