The problem with truth is our own tendency to try to define
it in absolute terms. Our desire is to
remove any gray area and force truth to be presented in clear black-and-white
terms. We expect truth to be simple,
childlike, and easy enough to be understood.
Yet how quickly we dismiss simple truth, as too simplistic; take for
example the phrase “God is Love”. We
refuse to accept this simple truth as all-encompassing, but treat it merely as
a partial definition of what God truly “is”.
Yet we are completely unable to define “Love” or “God” in absolute
terms. We have a great deal of knowledge
about both, but with all our combined wisdom, we remain fools. Christians argue about the definition of
truth with the world, and worse, with each other. We try to enforce our understanding of truth
on each other, and claim this as our obligation. Yet when Christ gave his final command to His
followers before leaving for heaven, He simply directed we “love each
other”. The world would recognize us as
His followers if we adhere to this simple directive. He did not say to us “expound truth”. Rather the Holy Spirit would “reveal” truth
to us as our humility increased and we became ready to receive it. Only the proud believe they “know” absolute
truth.
The Pharisees in the time of Christ were such devout,
serious, religious leaders. They were
proud of their traditions, created to insure they would be unable to break
God’s law again and suffer another exile to a foreign land. They setup lists of do’s and don’ts trying to
guard against infringement of the law.
But to no avail. In talking about
the simple truth “thou shalt not commit adultery” – the wisdom of the day
interpreted this as do not have sexual expression with a married person
(whether you are married or not). This
is in fact a very strict definition or interpretation of this precept. It is so strict in fact, that it ignores many
other related issues attacking the minds of the people both then and now. Christ elaborated on this truth when He said,
“I tell you that if you look at another woman and lust after her, you have
already committed adultery in your mind”.
This additional insight into the truth addressed the motives we carry in
our hearts and minds. As it happens our
motives, imaginations and thoughts are as much to be addressed by this precept
as our actual actions. Was the first
interpretation wrong? No. It was simply incomplete. The Pharisees were proud of their religious
fervor, and did not take it well to be corrected by this author of the Law.
Christians read these passages in the New Testament and
denigrate the Pharisees as too proud, arrogant, and full of themselves. The same Christians then turn right around
and commit the same acts, in the same way, and choose to be totally ignorant of
their own faults – despite having just read the example of the Pharisees of
old. We make fun of them; then imitate
them word-for-word. How is it different
for us to claim to have absolute knowledge of truth, than it was for the
learned Pharisees of the day of Christ?
In fact, the Pharisees did have “an” understanding of truth. But they did not complete the knowledge. Are we any different? We judge so often and forgive so little. We strive for justice and equality more than
accepting a lesser portion, or an unfair result, in order to love our
offender. We very seldom turn the other
cheek, and instead punch with the other fist.
The world may be at war with us.
But why do we choose to go to war with it? The unenlightened are not our enemies, they
are our family. Those that do not accept
the beauty of the truth of Christ are not swine. They are you and I at a different stage of
our lives. Were it not for the mercy of
God, that person you despise for not accepting truth might well be you.
Christians would have less cause to compromise with each
other, if they had more humility and willingness to learn in their
understanding of truth. Perhaps heaven
is big enough to accept an entirely different kind of Christian than you are
today. Perhaps the changes you are so
keenly aware of that “need” to take place in another person’s life, will wind
up taking place in yours. After all, if
you truly allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into ALL truth, then He will. It may not be others who change as a result,
it may be you. This growth is so often
blocked by our own mix of pride, tradition, and understanding of truth. Maybe it is we who need to “unlearn what we
have learned”. How much deeper could be
our understanding of even basic truths if we did not so casually dismiss the
need to study further since we already know about them? We think we have all the knowledge we need
about a particular topic and dismiss the need to know more. This was the arrogance of the Pharisees and
it is our arrogance as well.
The Martyrs of old set an example for us we tend to be so
reluctant to imitate. They did NOT
compromise their faith, or the truths they clung to. Not even in word (all they had to do to save
themselves was lie about what they believed) or deed. But they did not disobey the laws
either. They lived under the laws of the
land. When those laws became in conflict
with their faith, they chose to remain faithful to their faith. But this faithfulness to God was accompanied
by NON-violent behavior. They made no
wars to enforce their beliefs. They did
not seek to have violence come to them, but when it did, they faced it with
quiet dignity. Sometimes martyrs sang
hymns of praise to God while being tortured by their enemies. They made no compromise with evil, but made
no violence against the unrepentant.
They loved their enemies enough not to try to kill their way out of
danger. Instead they prayed for their
captors.
Those Christians who advocate violence do dishonor to their
Lord. They resemble more the ranks of
the fundamentalists around the world who have embrace violence as the solution
to their issues. Violence has a long
history of resolving nothing. Rather it
inspires generations and generations to come to follow its addictive
precepts. Revenge is never fully
satisfied. Peace is never achieved. Learning to allow the differences of others
to exist in your world is the beginning of productive compromise. This tolerance is the beginning of
understanding between two people otherwise at odds. Understanding then enhances truth. It is a beginning…
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