‘…and what is truth?’

February 12, 2023

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Matthew 5:21-24, 33-37

I think the two readings for today tie together in some interesting ways. Our gospel reading from Matthew finds Jesus admonishing us to, ‘Let your ‘Yes be Yes’ and your ‘No, No’, while our reading from Deuteronomy implores us to, ‘Choose life’. And it seems, at least to me, that both of these requests rest on the principle of having shared beliefs, on having a common agreed to set of understandings regarding facts and the world around us, in order to be able to actually say ‘yes’, or to know what it is we are selecting when we ‘choose life’.

And that is where I feel these scriptures come smack up against  our moment in time, challenging us to find our way forward to what is really Truth.

In recent years what is true and what signifies a fact have come under fairly heavy pressure, and not just in small things, but in some pretty important ways as well, regarding how we live our lives, and what it is that determines who it is that we are in agreement with. Regardless of what one’s individual beliefs are, one cannot argue that our nation is quite divided in terms of what is fully accepted as fact, and conversely, what is rejected as fabrication by those with differing political views.

And it used to be that there was such a thing as ‘commonly accepted facts’…a collection of understandings that pretty much everyone agreed were true. Which is not to say they were always actually true, but to say that everyone seemed to agree that ‘thus and so’ were true, while something else was false. Childhood games, or even scholastic tests seeking ‘True’ or ‘False’ answers generally didn’t raise much question in terms of which was which.

And again, it is important to keep in mind that these socially accepted ‘truths’ were not always actually true, even though pretty much everyone agreed they were at the time. A case in point is that mainline Christian belief and teachings justifying slavery in the early nineteenth century, were based on socially accepted interpretations of the scriptures. Interpretations which promoted a false understanding and deeply held belief that African Americans were genetically inferior to those identifying as ‘white’. So while this was grossly untrue, wrong, and deeply injurious to our African American brothers and sisters, these church ‘teachings’ were accepted as ‘facts’ at the time.

So in a sense it is possible that yesterday’s ‘yes’ might in fact be today’s ‘no’! And that is just one example, however glaring, that there have been times throughout our shared history when what was accepted as truth, was in fact not the truth at all. Which casts a fairly interesting light on our present day predicament which finds two quite opposing camps both claiming to have the actual truth and possession of facts on their side alone.

And so, I would assert for our purposes today, that Truth itself is caught in a binary trap of sorts…in that things are either fully and irrevocably true or not, either black or white, without any possibility of shades of meaning or understanding, or even the possibility of there actually being two equally valid sides to a particular story.  And unfortunately, both camps within our society feel quite strongly about their sole ‘ownership’ of the truth’, dismissing opposing views as conspiracy, ignorance, or worse.

So, as I said at the beginning, being able to let your own ‘yes’ be ‘yes’, or your ‘no’ be ‘no’, or to know what it is you are choosing when seeking to ‘choose life’, may not be as easy as it sounds. I would propose however, that there is in fact a ‘test’ by which we can draw closer to what is actually true and right…something that can guide us in what we should choose to do, and a way in which our beliefs, decisions, and actions can at least be centered in goodness and kindness.

And that ‘test’, is simply to ask if a particular belief governing our decisions or actions is grounded in the words, actions, and teachings of Jesus as they are found in the gospels. In essence, it is a test by which we can determine if some belief or guiding principle of our lives is at least in line with what our Lord taught. To see if it seems to be guided by the same motivations which prompted Jesus to do what he did and to say what he said.

And that ‘test’ I would argue, is simply whether some belief or some action is actually loving…whether it is in line with Jesus’ commandment to ‘love one another, as I have loved you’…the instruction which he said was in fact, ‘the greatest of all commandments’. I would argue that this is one test we can rely on in seeking to determine whether or not something is true or not, whether a belief or action is righteous and in line with God’s will, or not. It is the one thing that has never changed sides in terms of being true at one moment in history and not so in another. In other words, throughout the past two thousand years, being guided by, and living into this commandment to love one another, and to live in full imitation of the example set for us by our Lord…has never led anyone outside of God’s good will. It is in fact, the one test of what is true and right that has stood the test of time.

But to actually follow that instruction, it is important that we understand just what Jesus meant when we gave it. On the one hand it sounds easy to say…but is it really? I mean, there is such wide and vocal disagreement on even the most basic of questions, how can one person affect any sort of positive change? And in that very question I think we can find our answer.

The raucous, high decibel exchange of what passes for ‘conversation’ today, makes it impossible to compete in such a way that your own voice or views can be heard. It seems as if any attempts to contribute constructive input into that mass of noisy disagreement are met with opposition right out of the gate.

One of the most ancient of Christian disciplines, or ways of living one’s life, across the whole of the religious spectrum is known as the Discipline of Solitude, or Simplicity. In this way of being, Christians are asked to become comfortable with being alone with themselves. To be able to stand in the very middle of all the blaring noise and confusion and find a way to cultivate silence. Which surely does not sound in any way, like a possible solution to making any real difference within the ‘madding crowd’ our society has come to represent of late.

But I would contend that it is only in learning how to become quiet within ourselves, in learning how to shut out the noise and clamor at least for the moment, that we can actually begin to hear the voice of the Spirit of our God. Only when we are quiet enough to hear the whisper of our Lord, will we then be able to recall the words of grace spoken by Jesus…those words calling us to love, to justice, and to walk humbly with our God…words calling us to serve the least of these among us…words which we are supposed to allow to dwell deep within us. And words which will not fail to lead us into true, loving, and righteous decisions, and understandings. Even in the midst of such great disharmony and lack of true clarity!

This ability, to sit quietly and to listen carefully to all that is going on around you…to take no side blindly, but rather to listen for the Spirit’s verdict as to what is truly loving, and truly respectful of the image of God that is present within each one of our brothers and sisters, will allow us to offer words that truly are redeeming…words and actions that build up rather than tear down. Will allow us to live as a visible witness of the love so profoundly offered to us on that cross on Calvary so long ago.

As people of faith, as people who profess to love our Lord, we cannot sit back and hope the absolute vulgarity of the noise all around just dies down of its own accord. For we simply cannot profess to follow Jesus, if no one can actually see Jesus in our words, and in our every action.

So, as individuals, and whenever we are gathered together, we must commit to growing quiet, in order to hear the voice of God…

…and then, to walk confidently as those who know who it is in whom they believe…

…and who truthfully reflect the image in which they were created as well.

Come let us listen…for the truth that is grounded in love…

…amen