MORALITY: Is there a standard of right and wrong?

Most people have an instinctive awareness that they should do good and avoid evil. Why is this? Is it because there is a knowledge of right and wrong written on our hearts?

Previously I have written on two scientific arguments from cosmology that point to a Creator. These two powerful explanations for God’s existence are the Cosmological and Teleological arguments. In this post I would like to briefly explore another compelling philosophical line of evidence pointing to God’s existence. This is the Moral Law.

In essence, it goes like this:

1. Every law has a law giver

2. There is a moral law

3. Therefore, there is a Moral Law Giver

If the first two premises are true, then it would follow that the conclusion would be true, there is a Moral Law Giver.

BEHIND LEGISLATION IS A LEGISLATOR

I think everybody would acknowledge the first premise is true. It is obvious that every law has a law giver. I personally work for a governmental agency in the County of San Bernardino that enforces the California Building Codes. Building and Safety’s primary responsibility is the enforcement of building standards adopted by the County and approved by the California legislature. There would be no laws or “codes” if we did not have a body of lawmakers or legislature.

When we hire a new employee they sign a contract. One of the many things this entails is a “code of conduct”. There are certain rules and regulations that must be adhered to as part of their conditions of employment. It is very obvious to the employee that someone or more than one, created and wrote these rules.

When a police officer gives you a ticket for speeding, he must appeal to an established law that allows him to cite that specific violation. There are many examples we could give to reinforce this point.

So if there is a Law Giver behind the law, how does that apply to morality? If there really is a Moral Law then something or someone must be behind it. Is premise two correct? There is a Moral Law.

IS THERE A MORAL LAW?

It seems obvious that all people are impressed with a fundamental sense of right and wrong. However, there are some that try and deny this.

Well know atheist Richard Dawkins wrote the following in his book The God Delusion,

“There is at the bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good. Nothing but blind pitiless indifference.”

Is this really true? Does this line up with our human experience? Is there really no evil or good? Are we living in a world without a God? Are we just highly evolved animals with no purpose?

In the wild a coyote will kill a rabbit because it needs to eat. It has not done anything morally wrong. There is a “circle of life” in the animal kingdom that we all recognize. Many times only the strong survive. Animals have no moral obligation to one another. The are just doing what animals do. If God doesn't exist, we should view human behavior in the same way. If Mr. Dawkins is correct, we should be able to kill someone and it shouldn’t really matter right? No action should be considered morally right or wrong. He says there is no evil and no good. So “murder” is just a personal decision and there should no ramifications. This is absurd right? But why is it absurd?

This is a problem for Atheists. They want to do away with God, but they must admit there are moral standards. However, without God, these standards do not exist. Here is a quote from Michael Ruse - Atheist, Philosopher of Science at Florida State University:

"The man who says that it is morally acceptable to rape little children is just as mistaken as the man who says 2 + 2 = 5"

We all know it is wrong to hurt or torture an innocent child. Even though some do this horrible act, deep down they know it is wrong. You see without an objective standard of meaning and morality, then life is meaningless and there is nothing absolutely right or wrong. Everything is a matter of opinion. You may as well just eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Again, we know this is a faulty concept.

“Former” atheist C.S. Lewis once struggled with the problem of evil. However, this subject eventually caused him to realize there had to be a higher standard and he eventually became a Christian. He made the following observation:

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”

Francis Collins was a “former” noted atheist and scientist. He wrote the following:

“Why would such a universal and uniquely human hunger (for God) exist, if it were not connected to some opportunity for fulfillment? Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feel hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water.” {Source: “The Language of God”, 38}

The Law written in our hearts

The Bible addresses this “hunger” or truth stamped upon our hearts.

“…The work of the law is written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness…”

“Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse!” Romans 1

Regardless of people’s opinions or what our culture may say, we have this “built in” understanding of what is morally right and wrong.

Moral Relativism

Many will say that is just your personal value or opinion. They will assert that morality is relative. They will argue that there are no universal values that help us determine what is right and wrong. They will claim, “that is your moral truth” or “everything is relative.” They may point out that different cultures have different standards therefore there are no standards. They argue moral relativism makes us more “tolerant” of other people’s beliefs. When challenged with truth and logic, these arguments do not stand up. When evaluated you will discover even different cultures have common moral standards. We should definitely be tolerant of others but our culture has re-defined the definition of “tolerance”.

This is why it is so critical for parents and influencers of the youth of our generation to be equipping them with a Biblical Worldview. In his book “The Closing of the American Mind” professor Allan Bloom says the following,

“There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of; almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative…The students, of course, cannot defend their opinion. It is something with which they have been indoctrinated.”

Because of this, our culture has become close-minded to the possibility of knowing truth. The truth is that this objective morality is common to all people and given by God. It has nothing to do with our personal opinion or beliefs. Even though our culture may express this relativistic view, they do not live that way. Their actions contradict their “beliefs”.

If you treat someone who believes morality is relative unfairly you will find out real quick that they must admit there is a standard of right and wrong. Try stealing money from them. Take their cherished car or burglarize their house. If there is no standard, then I should be able to do that. After all I am just exercising “my truth” and morality. Like the animal kingdom, if I am stronger than you I will just take it from you. You have no right to complain if you adhere to your relativism. Again, we know this is absurd and if given the chance, they would try and defend themselves against you.

This view just does not match our intuitive understanding of right and wrong. If we take this concept to its ridiculous conclusion, a mass murderer should be no different than the sweet God-fearing lady who obeys the law and tries to help others. Almost no one would make that claim.

DOES MORALITY REQUIRE A MORAL LAW GIVER?

We have provided evidence that there is an objective morality that applies to everyone. Where does this come from? Since this law is written on everyone’s heart, it must come from a source greater than ourselves. The best explanation is for the existence of a Moral Law Giver (God).

For evil to exist good must exist, and for good to exist God must exist. An Atheist may say, I don’t need God in my life to be good. In a sense they are right. People can be good without knowing or believing in God. That is not the argument. There would be no standard of goodness without God. Even though they don’t “believe” in Him, they really need God to make their case. It is like someone who reads a book but does not know the author. This happens all the time. You can read a book and not know who wrote it personally, However there would be no book if there wasn’t an author!

CONCLUSION

We have provided ample evidence that premises one and two are both correct. Every law has a Law Giver. There is a Moral Law. Therefore, the last premise is true. There is a Moral Law Giver and He is God. He is the standard of goodness. Without Him there would be no objective right or wrong. However, God does exist and you can know Him.

The Moral Argument is just one of many reasons that add to the vast cumulative case of evidence that points to our Creator. Jesus said in the Bible:

“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

If you haven’t done this, now would be a good time!

TWO MAJOR THREATS ATTACKING OUR FAMILIES

10 Strategies to overcome them

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Parents, our children are growing up in a culture that has abandoned truth, morality and strong biblical principles. While there are many influences, I see apathy and lack of training as two primary threats attacking the family unit today. However, I have a message of hope and would like to share 10 strategies that will help us overcome these threats.

APATHY

"Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. State of indifference or suppression of emotions"

I was recently talking to a youth leader on a college campus here in Southern California and he said that most young people today are more excited about their new pair of Nike's than talking about anything related to God or religion. This is a sad commentary on our culture and there is probably a lot of truth to this statement. However, from my experience (and there seems to be research to substantiate it) there is still a ray of hope. There are many young people that are still open to reasonable explanations, but they also want authentic relationships. This should give courage to those of us who have a heart for the youth of today's generation.

So how do we address this apathy? It all starts with us!

1. Be Enthusiastic

Show your passion and excitement for God in front of your children. They are very observant and you generally cannot fool them. They know where you spend your time and what you are excited about. Even if they do not share your same commitment, they cannot deny a consistent life that is on fire for the Lord. I have experienced that passion and enthusiasm can be very contagious. The origin of the word comes from the Greek word enthousiasmos, from "en-theos" which means in God, or possessed by God! Nobody should be more enthusiastic than a Christian who is walking with and possessed by God. We should be living our lives in such a way that people want what we have!

2. Be Consistent

Put a high priority on fellowship and spiritually focused activities.

The Christian life isn't just about Sundays!

Of course going to church on Sunday is very important and our children should see that this is a critical and consistent part of your routine. However, Sundays are not the only day we should be focused on God. And it is not the responsibility of the pastor or youth leader to train our children. While they play an important role, it is up to us parents to be the primary influence training our children. I am reminded of the passage in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 that reads:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

This passage tells me our faith and relationship with God is part of our daily life. It is so critical to implement this into our own family units. We should be taking every opportunity to share and equip our children to know and love God. We can find "life lessons" in our daily activities. God's handiwork is all around us. A special note to fathers: You need to be the spiritual leader of your home. Spend time reading the Bible together as a family. Pray regularly together. Talk about life. Initiate deeper conversations. Spend time together as a family and have fun. Love and cherish their mother, your wife. Avoid being hypocritical. Again, your children will be quick to observe your behavior. Hypocrisy will always destroy your testimony for Christ.

3. Be Relevant

Talk about issues that they are experiencing every day in their world. It is surprising what our young people have to deal with on a daily basis in school, in the workforce and in their general interactions with their peer group. Here are just a few of the characteristics of this current Generation Z:

• They live in a post truth culture.

• Only half of teens today believe gender is defined by one's sex at birth. They believe it is a social construction that culture creates. You choose what to identify as.

• Over 80% of students agree that same sex couples should have the right to marry.

• They have a different view of the family unit

• Their worldview is post-Christian

• They feel overwhelmed. They are impatient.

• Social media is one of the defining characteristics of this generation

• They are drawn to causes and movements

• They are diverse and have an entrepreneurial spirit.

• Only 4% of Gen Z has a biblical worldview

• They are exposed to more competing worldviews-at earlier ages-than any generation in history.

{Source: So The Next Generation Will Know - McDowell & Wallace}

These are just a few characteristics and some great issues to lovingly and patiently communicate about with your children. Remember, these are young people that God loves. Everyone has a unique story. Take the time to invest in their lives. We need to build relationships and listen. Stay positive, stable and always point them to truth, but remember to speak the truth in love.

4. Be transparent

Tell your stories that they can relate to. They want to see you are real and have imperfections and weaknesses. Show how God has used you in spite of these imperfections. Ask questions without judging and try to find things you have in common. My children have enjoyed when I share experiences when I was their age. Since they were not there, it seems intriguing to them. Also share your excitement about when they entered your life. Relay stories about their birth and different experiences you remember when they were very young. A favorite activity is to go through old photo albums with them. These "old fashioned" pictures are "new" to them. They have grown up in a digital world. All of this shows you are real and genuinely care about them. It is just another tactic to help diminish the apathy that is invading our families.

5. Pray Constantly

While these are not in any specific order, this should probably be at the top of the list. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing". Also, James 5:16 assures us that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." This is so important. I try to make a goal of daily spending concentrated time talking to the Lord about everything. I share my desires, hopes, fears, thankfulness, etc. I ask for wisdom and direction. I pray for my wife and children for safety and wisdom as well. My goal for my children is to raise joyful, secure, well balanced and confident children that want to serve the Lord and are growing and developing their own God given talents. I certainly cannot do it on my own and I need to ask God for His help. I know He loves them even more than me and wants what is best for them.

TRAINING

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

6. Equip them with truth

Teaching is a part of training but there is a significant difference. Teaching your children is providing them with information and helping them gain knowledge. Training takes this knowledge and equips them to apply it in the real world. Teaching is important, but we must train our children if they are going to engage the culture and be effective.

Recently my son was trying out for a spot on the Little League Roster in our city. He is relatively new to the sport and has little "real life" experience. I spent many hours "teaching" him about the game of baseball. We talked about the various positions on the field. I explained to him about outs and innings. We discussed singles, doubles, triples and home runs. We talked about bunts, walks and sacrifice fly balls. I even drew him various diagrams. We watched YouTube instructional videos. I explained how to swing a bat and the importance of shifting your weight and driving the ball with your back foot planted. I explained the importance of charging a slow ground ball hit in your direction. This was all "teaching". It is a very necessary part of learning the game.

However, we took it to another level when we started to "train". We knew there was a date on the calendar for the upcoming tryouts. I took my son to the baseball diamond at our local park. I started hitting him ground balls. We played catch. I pitched him live fastballs and trained him in every facet of the game I could think of. This was as close to the "real thing" as he could get. We did this for many days and several hours at a time. Then the day came when he was really put to the test. All of this training paid off as he successfully performed and completed the drills that the coaches had prepared. He passed the test and made the team! The training had prepared him to accomplish his goal.

As parents, this is our responsibility when it comes to the more important areas of life like our faith and commitment to God. We need to equip them with knowledge, but then we need to train them and equip them with a biblical worldview so they can successfully navigate the culture with a confident faith. When the tests of life come, they will be ready. We need to prepare them for what they can expect. That leads me to my next point.

7. Expose them to bad ideas

This may sound confusing at first. We love our children and want to protect them from harmful exposure, right? So why would we want to expose them to bad ideas. The fact is, they are going to be exposed to bad ideas anyway. I want to be able to be proactive and have them hear the "bad ideas" from me first. I also want them to know there are answers to these questions. They do not need to be afraid. Even if they don't have all the answers, it is comforting to children to have a resource and know there are good answers.

I want to be the best Christian apologist that my children know!

For many years I have been breeding high quality AKC Golden Retrievers that have brought much enjoyment to their owners. Many have become service and therapy dogs that have provided much needed guidance and comfort. Obviously, we care for our animals and want to protect them. When my puppies are about 6 weeks old I start a regimen of vaccinations. Have you ever considered how a vaccination works? I am actually administering a small amount of controlled "poison" into their system such as Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis, Adeno Virus, Parafluenza, etc. Why would I do this to a precious vulnerable puppy? Well, what happens is that their system builds up an immunity to this disease or "poison" or evil or whatever you want to call it. That way, down the road when the real disease comes their body is ready for it. They recognize it. They have "seen this before" and are equipped to handle it and usually it is not fatal.

Well, I am sure you understand the greater meaning to this illustration. This is what I want to do with my children when it comes to the lies, evil, or "poison" of our culture. I want to expose them to these bad ideas such as, if God is so good why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? The Bible is full of errors. Truth is relative. There are no moral absolutes. Faith is not compatible to science. Why would a loving God send someone to Hell? I want to have my children hear these claims from me. I want to teach them the truth and equip them to be able to answer them on their own. That way when they hear these things in high school or college it is not new to them. Like our puppies, they have built up an immunity. When these real challenges come, they can say "I have seen that before" and it will not destroy their faith. In fact, when you are equipped with the answers, it will produce a confident faith that you want to share.

8. Provide Security

All of this needs to be done in a safe and secure environment. Children need to know that they can ask any question and it will be taken seriously and they will be treated with respect. We need to make sure we are being "age appropriate" with our kids and not giving them more than they can handle. We need to provide the answers they need to hear. I recommend giving the AAA treatment to your children. That is: ATTENTION, AFFECTION,APPROVAL. This is an important part of the training process that builds confidence and security and will benefit them in their adult years. Spend lots of time with your kids, individually and collectively. Cultivate meaningful relationships. You will never regret the time you invest in your children. Your time lets them know they are important and valuable. Show them appropriate affection. Give them lots of hugs and let them know you think they are beautiful and handsome. Let them know you are proud of them. Catch them doing things right. They need to know you will always be there for them. You love them unconditionally. This security leads to a quiet secure confidence.

9. Create opportunities for them to engage the culture

This is one of the most important areas of training. Get creative and look for unique ways for them to get involved and help equip them to engage in the culture. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are a few ideas:

Challenge your children to defend their faith

This may be in your family Bible reading. Read a chapter and then ask them specific questions about what you just read. You may also do some role playing. Ask them questions like, "Why do you believe there is a God?" "Why do you trust the Bible?" "Who is Jesus Christ? Was He just a man or is He God?" This is a time not only to teach "what" you believe, but "why" you believe it. This is a very valuable exercise and an opportunity to test your kids in a safe environment.

Take them to another church

This can be a great opportunity to reinforce what you have been teaching them, but sometimes it makes more of an impact coming from another source. It is also a good idea to take them to a church that may have a completely different worldview. This gives you an opportunity to discuss it later and test why this is or is not the worldview that lines up with the Bible.

Get them out of their normal environment and interact with the public

This may mean a visit to a college campus to talk to students about their worldview. It could be a trip to the beach or a local street fair or Market Night. Our church has regularly done this and I have seen fantastic results. We set up a booth and just pass out Bible tracts and give the gospel to those who will listen. We may ask a thought provoking question like, "Where are you going when you die?" It generates many great conversations and generally results in you digging into the Word of God to make sure you know what you believe and why.

Take your family to an apologetic conference

This is another great way to expose your family to some great training that is available. There are many fantastic Christian apologists that have a passion and desire to equip young people and parents alike to be prepared to defend the Christian worldview. This is also a great opportunity for your children to invite their friends and connect with other young people in a very intentional and structured environment.

Have a youth night in your home

This is another great way to connect with your local community. Your children can invite friends and you can be prepared to share some things that will help equip them to have a stronger faith. It is also a great way for parents to build bridges and develop relationships with your children's friends. You could even show a faith based movie which will plant a seed that God can use. Provide a friendly casual environment that is conducive to building bridges and gaining trust.

Find ways to serve

Go on a missions trip. Or get involved in your church's children ministry. Teach a class, which will force you to learn. Go to a hospital or visit elderly people in a senior care facility. It could involve serving food at a shelter or preparing care packages to the homeless. Get creative and find a need and fill it. This is a great way to show the love of God in a practical way. The Bible is true when it say that it is "more blessed to give than to receive".

10. Set the bar high

I have found that my children can do more than I generally require of them. That is why I have set the bar high and have seen great results. I have noticed many parents expect great things when it comes to academics or sports. They expect them to thrive in the workforce. So why when it comes to the more important matters such as their faith, would we expect anything less. I have tried to do this with my children. If you believe in them and properly equip them, they generally will do what it takes to be successful. I treat them like adults and they rise to the challenge. I think this approach makes our young people feel valued and respected and they want to please and are excited about the challenge.

IN CONCLUSION:

Many of us want to have a huge impact and change the world. While this is a lofty goal, I recommend something a little more attainable and quite frankly I believe more in line with Scripture. I believe the greatest impact we can have is within the walls of our own homes. Our culture is destroying the family unit. God has given us very clear instruction on how to build a Godly home. Proverbs 3:5,6 instructs us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."

If God has blessed you with a family you have a tremendous responsibility. It all starts in the home. If we impact our family and motivate and equip them with a biblical worldview it will have a tremendous impact. Think if every family took this challenge seriously and obeyed the Scripture of bringing up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Families make up communities, counties, states, countries and the world. Let's all focus on our individual responsibilities and just "bloom where we are planted." Focus on your immediate sphere of influence. If we implement the above strategies I believe the apathy will disappear and we will be trained and "equipped for every good work."

God Bless!

James Werner

Generation Equipped Ministries

Does TRUTH matter anymore?

“Dad I’m serious, I am telling you the truth!” These are the words one of my children exclaimed as they tried to convince me to consider their position. It made me smile as I realized the appeal was challenging me to consider truth.

But is truth even important? Does it matter? Can you know it? Should we be teaching it to our children? These are all great questions worthy of exploring. I would like to consider a couple of different views of truth, what happens when man determines truth, and then focus on a knowable and higher standard of truth.

If you are a parent you already know we do not have to teach our children to lie. It comes naturally as a result of sin and our fallen nature. This is why it is so important to teach our children to tell the truth from a very young age.

But why teach them something that is not even knowable? This is absurd, right? I have made an effort to teach my children the truth of the Bible since they were very young. Obviously, this would be a waste of time if I could not define and articulate what truth actually is. Think about this for a minute.

Christianity or any other religion or worldview could not be true (including atheism) if you could not define truth. The Bible or any other book could not be true either. It would all just be a matter of opinion.

A POST TRUTH CULTURE VIEW

First, let’s talk about the standard of truth that seems so prevalent in our society today. Many in this generation have a very different standard for evaluating truth.

I think it was very telling about our culture when Oxford Dictionary declared a few years ago that the word of the year was “post truth”. In essence, to many this means that objective facts are not as important as feelings and emotions. We all have our own “personal” truth. This is certainly not a new concept. The Scripture is full of examples of people desiring to “do what was right in their own eyes”.

Most young people today get their understanding of truth from a culture that says it is grounded within the individual. It is subjective and situational. This is basically, “you have your truth and I have my truth.” Whatever you choose to believe is your truth. I have my own personal experiences and have my own truth. You become the creator of your own truth. My opinions and my beliefs, determine my truth.

So, consider this for a moment. If my truth is different than your truth, then you cannot tell me what to do. I am just following my truth. For example, if I believe homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle, who are you to tell me it isn’t? I have my opinion and you have yours. If I need money and steal your wallet, who is going to tell me that is wrong? Again, I am just following my standard of truth. You could apply this to many similar situations. Can we really have anything more than a subjective truth? Can we really know anything for sure? That leads me to my next view of truth.

OBJECTIVE TRUTH – Truth is what matches the facts.

Relying on your feeling, experiences, and emotions does not change the facts. Truth is absolute and knowable and it is self-defeating to claim that it isn’t!

In this view, truth is absolute or an objective reality. It can also be defined as “that which corresponds to its object.” Truth is not personal, and it does not belong to me or to you. Whether everyone, few, or nobody believes it, truth is what matches up with reality. “Subjective truths” are personal, private, and can change.

Do you realize how we rely on truth in our daily activities? I set my alarm to wake up at a certain time. I drive my car along a familiar route to work. I stop at the ATM and make a specific withdrawal. I conduct a morning meeting that had been arranged and placed on my calendar. You get the point.

Think about your doctor appointment? How about your airplane flight? We would not be able to function if there were not some standards, point of reference, or absolute truth!

God has instituted certain unbreakable laws that operate throughout the universe. Think about science, math, or music. If we could break these laws, or if they only worked some of the time, the entire universe would be chaotic.

Have you ever noticed that people demand absolute truth when it comes to things such as safety, medicine, money, transportation, or court proceedings? Why should it be any different when it comes to the really important matters of morality, the Bible, or God?

So while our culture may say we live in a “post-truth” world, in reality our actions prove every day that truth matters. Deep inside all of us is an awareness that truth exists. I believe that awareness was placed in us by God who gives us a hunger to know truth. It really does matter. I am reminded of the quote by C.S.Lewis,

“…Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.”

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MAN DETERMINES TRUTH?

In our post-truth culture we live in, man determines truth. Man makes himself the ultimate authority. But does this really work?

The Christian worldview is very different from this cultural mindset. Often you will hear statements that basically say, “just follow your heart.” But is this wise? The Bible tells us that being guided by our emotions or our heart is foolish. We are told the following in Jeremiah 17:9:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

We should not trust something that is described as deceitful and wicked. So if we should not follow our heart, what should we do?

FOCUS ON A HIGHER STANDARD

When you start with a Biblical Worldview, it will be in sharp contrast to the post-truth culture. For a Christian, the Bible or the Word of God is our reference point and not man’s opinion. We know the source of truth! We can know for sure that things are right and wrong because the Creator of the universe has given us clear direction. Truth is grounded in the character of God; it is objective and universal. He reveals Himself through Scripture and nature. As Christians, we also have to Holy Spirit residing in us. We can filter everything through the lens of the Bible which is the source of truth. The Bible sets a very high and reliable standard. This is why it is so important to possess first for our own, and then teach our children to have a Biblical Worldview.

You see I do not believe in Christianity because that is how I was raised. I do not believe in a heaven because I want it to be true. I do not believe the Bible because of some “blind faith”. I believe in these things because they are true. I believe for any honest person that is seeking truth, they will find it.

In Scripture Pilate asked the all-important question, “What is truth?”

The irony is that he was looking at the one who WAS Truth! Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Truth was standing right in front of him.

The world today desperately needs to hear the message of the gospel. They need to have a personal encounter with the One who claimed to be the Truth. What a privilege to be ambassadors for Christ to represent the truth. May we do it with knowledge, wisdom, and character.

Some may contend that it is arrogant to say you have the truth. Remember this; it is not just your truth. It is available to everybody. Truth is not invented. It is discovered. It is true whether you believe it or not. The message may offend, however as messengers we should not be offensive in our delivery. I am reminded by the following quote from Augustine:

“We love the truth when it enlightens us, but we hate it when it convicts us.”

Consider the following verses:

“…Instead, speaking the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

“Test all things, hold fast what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

In conclusion, yes I believe truth is important. It does matter, you can know it, and we should be teaching it to our children.

Parents, I encourage you as the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

We should be encouraged when our child tries to convince us by saying, “Dad I’m serious, I am telling you the truth!”