I would like to take the next few weeks and explore some of these areas, particularly answering how Christians should act, believe and respond in each of these areas. I really would like to hear from you. If you have areas you would like for us to discuss here, please email me: [email protected]. Let me know the areas in which you have questions or struggles. I will work to unpack those questions here each week. 

You can guess that part of my motivation is leading up to the election. I will not endorse a candidate. I refuse to give one-sided polls or only talk about issues that benefit one platform. Is it possible to have this conversation without bias? I absolutely believe so. Is the Bible unbiased? You bet! Truth does not have to have a bent, even though we are prone to think so in today’s world. Truth is truth no matter the context or conversation. 

The election in November is not the only motivation for this conversation. I would say the much larger motivation is the pursuit of truth and stability in a culture that is adrift. Can anyone or anything be trusted? Again, I believe so. Can we approach a topic with open minds? That remains to be seen. Because truth is truth, I don’t shy away from sources other than the Bible. When they don’t agree, I’ll always defer to the Word. But many times, we find truth in the oddest places. 

I’ll hear truth/wisdom spoken in gas stations, on shop floors, in doctor’s offices and around break room tables. The goal is to be able to sort through the bits and pieces of lies and twisted truth to come up with the real thing. To do this, we must have a solid, biblical worldview. There is only one way for us to discern truth from lies and that is to know the truth to begin with. If you aren’t familiar with the Word of God and if you don’t know the voice of His Spirit, you will not be able to recognize truth when it appears. You’ll make your judgments based on feelings or the impressions of others. You’ll be led around by the most popular or loudest speaker in the room. Unfortunately, this is the way the majority of people make their decisions, even their big decisions. They listen to the popular voices and decide which way they’ll go. 

Pilate was the ruler of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time. When he questioned Jesus about being a king, Jesus responded, “For this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth, listens to my voice.” Pilate’s confused mind could not comprehend an answer like this. His response to Jesus was “What is truth?” (John 18.37-38) 

Can you recognize truth when it appears? Or are you like Pilate and willing to believe anything that sounds, feels, looks or tastes good? Pilate’s way will land you flat on your back wishing for a better solution. His answers are empty and hollow. Jesus, on the other hand, is shaped by truth. Every step He makes, every conversation He enters, is based on truth. He is so utterly familiar with the truth that it is unmistakable to Him. In an instant He knows if a person is genuine or not. He can see right through a one-sided argument that bends the truth to achieve an alternate end. Cheap motivations are not something He spends hours trying to sort out. He knows the desires of our hearts. He knows when we speak truth and when we lie. If we want to learn to recognize truth in every area, we must learn to recognize the presence of Jesus in every area. Otherwise, we are lost in the sauce. 

I look forward to the coming weeks of conversations. If you know me, you know I’m serious about this. Please don’t hesitate to email me with questions or thoughts. I will do my best to sort through them and produce articles that are meaningful and helpful as we approach November and beyond.