Christian Living

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Truth: What Is It?
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


It is not always easy to be honest or courageous. In the spring of 2005, Lyn Nelson’s best friend told her in order to provide additional needed income for their family she and her husband stole small amounts of money from her husband’s employer. So small, in fact, that her husband’s multi-billion dollar a year industry never missed the money. In their belief, taking this money was proper and right because truth and goodness had been established—they had never been caught after 13 years. Truth, for them, is relative. What is true and good for them is not what others may consider true and good.

Lyn did not know what to say. She wanted to take hold of her and say, “You need to stop what you’re doing immediately, go to your husband’s employer and tell them what you did, then return what you both stole. But how would that come across—critical, judgmental, self-righteous, arrogant?” Instead, Lyn simply giggled and did nothing to change her friend’s mind about the matter.

Three months following her conversation with her friend, it began to bother her. Finally, Lyn decided to ask her minister what she should do. Without discussing her friend’s name but the circumstances surrounding her, Lyn asked: “What should I have done. I did not want to offend her, judge them or seem arrogant. You know truth is relative to the circumstance, is a personal thing because there is no absolute truth. Right, sir?”

“Lyn,” he responded immediately, “your friend would have benefited from knowing the truth. Truth is never relative. Have you ever noticed that when we talk about truth, for the most part, ‘the’ goes before the word ‘truth’. This indicates finality—‘the truth’. There is no exception. Jesus never said relative truth will set you free. Jesus said ‘the’ truth will set you free. Jesus also did not say ‘I am the relative Way, the relative Truth, and the relative Life! No, He said ‘I am THE Way, THE truth and THE Life. Truth CANNOT be anything other than what it is. Those who argue for a relative truth look for ways to do what your friend is doing. That is, to justify evil, lying, immorality and those acts that are wrong.

Lyn, always be gentle when giving people honest answers to wrongdoing. Take a look at what Jesus did when confronted with wrongdoing. Jesus did not condemn the person. Jesus condemned the action, the sin. Do not be afraid to question your friend’s or anyone's actions.”

In the future, when a friend asked or told Lyn about something important to her, she decided to be courageous and honest when talking to a person she knew. Lyn also realized truth has no substitute. Truth cannot be made relative or messaged as appearing to be true. To tell a person “the truth” is the sign of a true friend.

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