Fact vs. Truth for Christians - A Deeper Dive
Message Recap
In this week’s message, we looked at the differences between truth and fact from a Christian’s point of view. This week's scripture reading (John 18:37-38) recounts the interaction between Jesus and Pontius Pilate as the religious leaders sought to strike down the rebellious movement Jesus created. Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king. Jesus responds, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate, somewhat sarcastically, asks, “What is truth?”
As Christians, we believe the Bible contains truth. We might argue about the source and inspiration of the Bible. Some believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God given directly to humans, while others believe it was written by humans inspired by God. Arguments for the literal interpretation of the Bible are waged against the idea that it is an allegory. Despite these arguments and different points of view, almost every Christian has united in the belief that the Bible reveals truth.
Through the centuries, arguments over such things as how Bible came to be and whether we should treat every word as a literal instruction directly from God have caused division within the Church. As our world continues to fracture from division and hostility, we, the body of Christ, should consider changing our thinking and discussions to elevate the truths while relegating the facts to their proper supportive role.
The “facts” presented in the Bible are often difficult to reconcile because we’re dealing with ancient languages. Consider how much English has changed in just a few hundred years. The writings of Shakespeare and Chaucer sound like a foreign language to the contemporary ear. Similarly, translating from the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic used in biblical times can be a struggle, given the evolution of language over time. For example, if we read this week’s scripture word for word in Greek, we’ll find the word alethia translated to “truth,” but we won’t find a Greek equivalent for “fact.” The translators responsible for the New International Version (NIV) evidently felt the word “fact” was necessary for the passage's context, even though there was no direct Greek equivalent. So, not only do we find different words in the various translations of the Bible, we find two different methodologies of translations: word-for-word and paraphrase. While each has its advantages, it is no wonder we sometimes disagree when it comes to interpretation.
None of this is to suggest the Bible is void of proven facts. On the contrary, archeological evidence supporting Bible accounts has been collected over the years. But is scientific proof really necessary? For example, we have no direct evidence that the creation story occurred in six days as we understand time. But we still accept the truth that God created the world and everything in it. Likewise, there is no physical proof that Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, we accept the truth that humans are sinful and, as such, cannot stand in God’s presence without divine intervention, which is Jesus. The point is, no matter which side of the facts you choose, the truth remains the same.
Not knowing the facts can be troublesome in our relationship with God. But if God wanted us to know all the facts about his creation, purpose, and desires for us, then he would have already found a way to reveal them. It seems clear that God wants us to know truths. Perhaps God has intentionally made the facts incomplete so we would develop faith. After all, there is no faith if everything is fact. Faith is an essential component of our walk with God. Finding proof is relatively easy compared to having faith in the unseen, which is the focus of this week’s Deeper Dive.
Is Ours A Blind Faith?
Today’s world is fixated on facts. We demand proof for every claim made. Given the reach and dependence on social media, “fact checker” sites have grown increasingly popular. The Washington Post, a highly quoted news source, awards “Pinocchios” to articles, comments, and speeches based on the number of false claims.
As Christians, we don’t require facts or proof to support the truths found in the Bible. Instead, we accept those truths by faith. Some who are critical of our faith might suggest that ours is a “blind faith” - belief without true understanding, perception, or discrimination. But does God really expect us to follow blindly?
One of the greatest demonstrations of faith found in the Bible is the Old Testament story of Abraham and God’s instruction for him to kill Issac, his one and only son. God’s request seems unthinkable, but we’re told Abraham didn’t question God. He followed God’s orders and traveled to a far-off mountain, intending to kill his son. At the very moment when Abraham was ready to complete the deed, God stopped him and said,
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Was Abraham rewarded for blind faith? The author of Hebrews offers this explanation:
“17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”
One of God's greatest gifts, the characteristic that differentiates humans from the animal kingdom, is the ability to think and reason. Scripture contains other stories where reason and understanding are used to support faith. Reason and logic help us find truth. Jesus told his disciples that He is the truth (see John 14:6), so reason and logic should always lead us to Jesus.
As in the story of Abraham and Issac, there will be times in our walk with God when we must act purely on faith because we do not have the whole story. Don’t succumb to the criticism of non-believers. This isn’t an act of blind faith. It is based on what we have learned about God’s nature and character. It is the result of the truths we find in Scripture, rooted in our personal experience of walking with God daily.