TRUE OR FALSE: THERE'S NO SUCH THING As
TRUE OR FALSE
I have been accumulating some scary statistics over the last year from the likes of George Barna and Josh McDowell, who I just heard quote most of these recently in Phoenix. (See "Beyond Belief to Conviction" by Josh McDowell) The question is: How do you determine truth or your worldview upon which you base what is right and wrong? It’s usually primarily shaped by 1 of these 4 areas: experience, reason, tradition or Scripture. These days worth, value and truth are determined more by experience than the Bible.
In 1991 52% of "born again" youth believed there was no absolute truth (no right or wrong - it’s all relative..) Today that figure has risen to over 80%. Compared to 2 years ago, just 1/2 as many American adults believe that absolute moral truth exists. (22%).
However, to make the statement that there is no such thing as absolute truth, is to say it is true that there is no such thing as absolute truth, which is a logical contradiction. When you stop to think about 9/11, I hope that most would say it was wrong and evil to murder so many. If truth is all relative then the terrorists could not be blamed for doing something they ‘felt’ was right and true.
While most "born again" youth may say the Bible is the Word of God, 58% said all religions teach equally valid truths and 65% said there is no way to tell which religion is true. Nearly half (46%) believe Jesus committed sins and 51% say He died but did not raise from the dead.
In other words, many in your church may claim to be Christian but would also say it doesn’t matter what religious faith anyone associates with since they all teach the same principles and truth.
Interestingly, 41% of the adults who attend Christian church services in a typical week are not born-again Christians - meaning they have not embraced Jesus Christ as their Savior or Lord (#1 in their life.) People seem to be more religious these days but not necessarily followers of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, beliefs do affect behavior. Among the sad results of these beliefs is that kids are 200% more likely to steal, 200% more likely to physically hurt someone, 300% more likely to use illegal drugs and 600% more likely to commit suicide when they don’t have a Biblical belief system.
A San Diego Union newspaper survey (5/22/03) showed that 75% of people active in their faith (reading the Bible regularly, worshipping, etc.) considered themselves to be "very happy." The number dropped over 10% for those less active and went down to 51% for those claiming to be agnostic or an atheist.
Since this post-modern world often considers experience more important than facts and most kids process thoughts through their feelings, emotions and relationships, we need to make relationships with others a high priority. Remember that truth without relationships leads to rejection. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
If you happen to be a true follower of Jesus, He said some pretty absolute things like "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6) I would encourage people to think twice about calling themselves Christian or follower of Jesus if they don’t believe what He said. If you aren’t sure what He said, then read the Bible! It’s even available on the Internet and CD ROM if you’re not comfortable with books. Start with the book of Luke or John. If we’re involved in secular education for 40 hours a week or soaking in TV and other forms of entertainment for another 30 hours and we only read or hear the word’s God has given to us for 1 hour a week, do you think we will be more like Jesus or more like Bart Simpson and the Osbournes? We tend to be most like the people we hang out with so I encourage you to hang out with Jesus. He’s ‘dying’ to get to know you better!
Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.