Writer, Phillip K. Dick said," Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
In religion and politics, this is a valuable quote to remember.
For example, just because you don't want to believe that hell exists, doesn't make its reality go away.
And in politics: just because you want to believe that our country can fund every good thing, doesn't make the reality of limited resources a thing that can be ignored.
But whose reality really counts?
Unfortunately, those who hold power in society often dictate just whose reality we will live by.
If God has been reinvented by these people so that He wields only limited power and is uninterested in truth (just so long as one is sincere), then I must live my life looking only to government for my sustenance and standard for conduct.
But what if this government fails?
What if my current religion or philosophy proves incapable of providing me with peace and spiritual security based on true reality?
I'm sorry, but I refuse to be tolerant of my friend's truth just because she sincerely believes it.
Oh, I'll love her and be her friend, but I will not agree that her truth (whatever that is) is TRUTH.
If her truth is true, then it must also be true for me. It she says the sky is pink, it better be pink to me, too. If her reality only works for her, then where does that get me?
My friend cannot say, "I follow Jesus," and then say in the same breath, "But I also believe that there are many roads to heaven."
A truth cannot be true and false at the same time.
Like the old conundrum:
Both of statements are true: I tell the truth 100 percent of the time. I'm lying right now. How can that be?
Answer: these statements add up to a lie.
If you state that you always tell the truth, but are lying right now, then you are lying about telling the truth 100 percent of the time. Hence, you are a liar.
Reality is truth.
Truth is reliable.
But if your reality is false at any time, then I cannot rely on your reality at all.
Every statement that you make is suspect.
What does God's Word say about truth?
Jesus, speaking to His heavenly Father said: "Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)
Jesus, speaking of Himself said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"I, the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right." (Isaiah 45:19)
"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:6)
Truth must be true all of the time. It cannot be relative truth. Or I cannot trust it.
After all, would you base your life on a "could be, but not necessarily," or on
an "absolutely 100 percent reliable"?
That is reality that can be trusted.
In religion and politics, this is a valuable quote to remember.
For example, just because you don't want to believe that hell exists, doesn't make its reality go away.
And in politics: just because you want to believe that our country can fund every good thing, doesn't make the reality of limited resources a thing that can be ignored.
But whose reality really counts?
Unfortunately, those who hold power in society often dictate just whose reality we will live by.
If God has been reinvented by these people so that He wields only limited power and is uninterested in truth (just so long as one is sincere), then I must live my life looking only to government for my sustenance and standard for conduct.
But what if this government fails?
What if my current religion or philosophy proves incapable of providing me with peace and spiritual security based on true reality?
I'm sorry, but I refuse to be tolerant of my friend's truth just because she sincerely believes it.
Oh, I'll love her and be her friend, but I will not agree that her truth (whatever that is) is TRUTH.
If her truth is true, then it must also be true for me. It she says the sky is pink, it better be pink to me, too. If her reality only works for her, then where does that get me?
My friend cannot say, "I follow Jesus," and then say in the same breath, "But I also believe that there are many roads to heaven."
A truth cannot be true and false at the same time.
Like the old conundrum:
Both of statements are true: I tell the truth 100 percent of the time. I'm lying right now. How can that be?
Answer: these statements add up to a lie.
If you state that you always tell the truth, but are lying right now, then you are lying about telling the truth 100 percent of the time. Hence, you are a liar.
Reality is truth.
Truth is reliable.
But if your reality is false at any time, then I cannot rely on your reality at all.
Every statement that you make is suspect.
What does God's Word say about truth?
Jesus, speaking to His heavenly Father said: "Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)
Jesus, speaking of Himself said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"I, the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right." (Isaiah 45:19)
"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:6)
Truth must be true all of the time. It cannot be relative truth. Or I cannot trust it.
After all, would you base your life on a "could be, but not necessarily," or on
an "absolutely 100 percent reliable"?
That is reality that can be trusted.
Amen! Great post, Dena.
ReplyDeletethanks, Susan.
ReplyDelete