Message From The Pastor
Is Truth in the Eye of the Beholder?
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” means that beauty is subjective and it depends on one’s perspective of what beauty is or is not. I am reminded of this when I watch the news in our generation. The reason for the connection to this common phrase is because we live in an age in which truth has become something subjective, something that is in the eye of the beholder. I am convinced that one of the reasons for this is the erosion of our foundation for what differentiates between truth and error. Americans had historically held that the Holy Scripture was our basis for such truth.
Something that I have been trying to reinforce among those who attend our church is that it is important that Scripture be our baseline for truth. In my 35 years of ordained ministry I frequently encounter Christians who only use their upbringing as their source for truth. Often, when encountered with what God’s word actually says and what they have been taught, they will lean toward their upbringing rather than the immutable truth of God’s word. I am convinced that this view is partially responsible for the tribal view that we have in America today.
It doesn’t take long watching senate hearings or courtroom trials to see that this is true. I really want to see this change. I desire that it start with me and my family. I have been trying to get back to the basics of God’s word. The passage that I started this article with states that God’s word is breathed from God. It doesn’t have its basis in human philosophy or reason. The four-fold uses of God’s word are: instruction, conviction, correction, and training in the goal of our righteousness. When this goal is met we become what we were meant to be and have fulfilling lives doing good works for the right reasons.
I want all of us to step back from our tribes. Whether you vote R, D or even I, look at what God’s word says. Not what we were raised to believe but what it actually says. If it is not specifically mentioned in Scripture do not make it an absolute. The art of agreeing to disagree on disputable matters has got to become important to us once again. I have discovered that by listening to the opinions of others I can weed out what my tribe says and see another perspective on the issue. Again, it all must be founded in what God’s word says.
In Christ, Pastor Ken
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