As far as much of society is concerned truth has been placed on life support, and few really seem to care. The idea that truth is real, that it is objective and absolute is an absolutely archaic idea in a world where, philosophically speaking, relativism rules. And the people of God have not been immune to this problem. Many Christians are scurrying for cover as they struggle to be true to the truth of God’s word. They want to take truth seriously, to live it faithfully, and to express it articulately to others-but the world seems to be making that more and more difficult.
Christians are constantly bombarded by a worldview that says things like, “Christianity’s true for you, but not for me.” “Everything is relative.” “Who are you to be so judgmental and intolerant?” ”Don’t you know you can do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody?” “Christianity is just one path among many to God.” And the underlying assumptions of statements like these are indeed a world away (this one and the next) from the view contained in Scripture (John 8:32; 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 4:12).
Christians may be tempted to embrace relativism, but to do so is to be caught in the crossfire of what men think and what God’s truth actually is.
Hear the word of God on this matter: “Buy the truth and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23). Throughout the Bible, there is an emphasis on the fact that truth is real and universal in its scope. Truth is true-even if the majority do not know it. Truth is true-even if it is not popular or admitted. Truth is trueeven if few agree as to what it is (Ex. 23:2; Matt. 7:13-14). Truth is true-even if few follow it (John 14:6; Heb. 5:8-9). Truth is true-even if no one but God grasps it fully. Notice that Proverbs 23:23 deals with a commodity, an acquisition and a prohibition.
THE COMMODITY – “THE TRUTH.” There are other “choices” out there on the market, but the commodity desired is truth. As relativism has increasingly become the norm of our culture, fact and fault have increasingly diminished. Most institutions of higher learning, the media and many politicians obviously embrace the belief that universal, objective truth (1) does not exist; or,(2) cannot be known. By denying the existence of any ultimate authority or standard, relativism implies that the pursuit of truth is an exercise in futility. Everything, or almost everything, falls into the gray area of opinion. It is highly significant that 2 Thessalonians 2:11 speaks of people being “condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Truth is a commodity that is not to be mocked or taken lightly. And truth is to be found in God and His inspired word (Num. 13:19; Rom. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
THE ACQUISITION- “BUY THE TRUTH.” Jesus on one occasion spoke of the kingdom of heaven being like “treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”; (Matt. 13:44). We use similar terminology today when we say, “I just don’t buy it,” or “He sold me a bill of goods.” So truth is to be “bought.” We are to buy what is truly the truth because there are many counterfeits (1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:21): We are to buy only truth because Satan is a master at mixing truth and lies (John 8:44). We are to buy the truth at any price because it is to be prized and valued. Truth is precious, practical and useful both now and forever. Truth is to be bought now. So many people seem to have good intentions, but the “someday”, of doing what is right never comes along.
THE PROHIBITION- “DO NOT SELL IT.” Truth is an investment that is not to be sold under any circumstances. A person cannot love God without loving truth, since He is the very embodiment of truth (John 14:6; Heb. 6:18-19). Truth is to be bought at any price but to be sold at no price! Some sell out truth for financial gain; others, for respectability, for fame or position. Others sell out truth in order to please family and friends, while some sell out truth simply because sin gave them temporary pleasure (cf. Heb. 11:24-25). The cost of truth may be great, but to sell it is to cheapen and diminish its eternal value.
To speak of the value of truth is not to speak the language of arrogance or isolation. It is to speak of the priority of integrity and intelligent conviction. There must be a standard that is authoritative and true. There is something within men that desire such, even though many dismiss and disparage it. To the relativist, “everything is relative.” That is, everything except the universal truth that “everything is relative.” Go figure the reasoning on this. But further, the relativist is unwilling to relativize his relativism. They claim to be very tolerant, but many relativists are amazingly intolerant and inconsistent when people do not buy into the “everything is relative” philosophy. But why aren’t they? If what is true is true only for you, then I see no reason why it has to be true for me.
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