NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

PROPER 12

View from the Pew

Jesus, at his trial, told Pilate that he had come into the world to testify to the truth. “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18: 37). Pilate then asked, “What is truth?”

What is truth?

In the New Testament usage, Truth can be defined as the body of thought which God has revealed to mankind for the purpose of drawing them out of sin and into loving Him. It is the body of Christian teaching which believers accept and present to the world as they fulfil the Great Commission. Thus, Jesus speaking to a group of Jewish believers, said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8: 31, 32).  Jesus, our ‘overcomer’ has set us free from sin and death.

Our Lord, in one of the seven “I am” statements, said “I am the way, and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). As the truth, he makes God’s promises real. Jesus is, in truth, the only way to the Father.

In another context, we see Jesus telling the Samaritan woman at the well, that God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4: 23,24). How do we do this? We need to worship sincerely, earnestly, and with a right spirit.

When we worship in spirit and in truth we are worshipping from the depths of our being, guided by the Holy Spirit. Scripture says that the Holy Spirit tells us how to pray. We should therefore be open to the Spirit’s prompting. When God is worshipped in truth, we do so honestly, without hypocrisy, standing open and transparent before Him. Jesus is Truth. We must have a relationship with Him and trust in his word, which is truth.

The Bible also implores us to be truthful in our speech and in social relationships. It is the opposite of lying or slander. A person of truth is one whose words can be trusted. Lying is considered a grievous evil (see Rev. 21:8).

In this age, we are bombarded with so many sources of information, all claiming to be the truth, and many are just means of getting attention and to encourage us to click, like, subscribe and share. How does the Christian navigate all that is available and discern the truth?

Brothers and sisters, let us pray for discernment so that we may believe God’s truth, share the truth, speak truth and the truth will set us free.



Allison Fenton