Just tell me the truth!

In our present secular society, there is an on-going debate about real news, fake-news and the value of people’s opinions on many topics. There are many people who are crying out for the truth to be told in all situations. So, we must ask the age-old question from the times of Plato, what is truth?

It is all part of the familiar science and religion debate.

I suppose it can be reasonable to think that truth must be factually demonstrable and proven. But consider this simple picture, a roundabout. 

We all know which way to drive round a roundabout. In the UK one turns left to go around. A worm looking up at the roundabout would say, correctly, that the traffic is going anti-clockwise. However, a bird looking down on the same traffic would say, also correctly, it is going clockwise. They are both telling the truth and are factually correct. Then again, if you are not in the UK but in a country where they drive on the right, exactly the opposite is correct. So, the truth depends not only on your viewpoint, but also on your culture.

Another example is measuring a straight line drawn on paper. You would have thought that the line has a very precise length. Then one must consider the danger of parallax error. Looking at a rule, which has a finite thickness from slightly different angle will mean that the viewers all read different lengths. 

One can only state that the middle one in the accompanying image is the most accurate, not that they are actually right. Then again, particularly if your rule is metal it will expand and contract with temperature changes at a much greater rate than the line on the paper. So, how long is the line? What is the true factual length? The truth depends on your viewpoint again and on the conditions and the environment in which you currently find yourself.

Some ascertain that only science will reveal the truth about the universe and that faith is conjured up from spurious fables. As far as religion is concerned, Jesus is not alone in claiming to be “The Truth”; adherents to many faiths claim to have found enlightenment and truth.

Science is based on theories proved by observable, objective and replicable evidence published in papers. Faith relies on evidence based on immersive, subjective, personal experience and millennia of testimonies. But both have a good track record of intelligent, academic, discriminating followers.

I feel we must be very careful if we are casually dismissive of statements from science, any religion or any person’s viewpoints. We must surely not dismiss anyone’s opinion of the truth about life, its origins and meaning, whether based on scientific theory or religious faith. While no one wants to be misled by fake-news or deliberate falsehoods, and we should be discerning of the obvious scam or satirical publication, a tolerant and inclusive view of scientific facts and personal religious experience must surely be the path to human wholeness. It is neither one nor the other which holds all the answers to our present predicament.

Einstein said, "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”. In my view, only the two together can lead us to an understanding of the real truth about life.

The Big "C"

I’ve heard it said a remarkable number of times even in the last few days that you don’t have to go to church to be Christian; that to be “spiritual” is not to be “religious” or aligned with a religion. People tell me they believe in God and explain that they have some notion of a higher power, but they don’t feel the need to worship. I’m told by them that they pray, especially when times get tough and maybe sometimes to thank God, but not often. There is a general belief in an afterlife (I always ask this in funeral meetings to know where I stand), though the pressing materialism of this temporal world gets in the way of thinking too much about it. While I know what is being said in all these cases, I cannot agree with it anymore. Faith is personal, yes, but faith in a gracious, unconditionally loving God requires a big response, not a mediocre take-it-or-leave it attitude. It demands a commitment. Now I’ve said it, the big “C”, commitment, so lacking in the disposable, easy-come easy-go world today.

The question is what is that commitment? Initially coming to faith or growing further in faith is an individual choice, but it is not a path one can walk alone. Rarely do people realise their faith without the guidance of another person or other people empowered by the Holy Spirit. Nurturing and fostering the sparks of faith is much easier if one enjoys regular fellowship, prayer and Bible reading with other believers – not necessarily more mature Christians, as we all know “out of the mouths of babes…” Isolated the tiny embers can so easily grow cold, unless they are drawn together and fanned into life. This is the big “C”, commitment to each other, a promise to love and support each other in faith.

Moreover, we all have our God-given skills, gifts and talents, but none of us is really an expert of all, nor can we or should we do all. We need each other like a body has many parts, which work to make up the whole organism. Christians together form the complete Body of Christ here on earth now. We are his eyes, hands and his feet, every cell of his body. Of course, this image is not original. St Paul wrote eloquently in 1 Corinthians 12 about it. Being part of a body requires us all to pull our weight; we need each other and God needs all of us.

For us today I feel we need especially to share in the Body of Christ in Communion for two good reasons. Firstly, as a Eucharist or Thanksgiving in response to all he gives us, not the least his gracious love shown in Jesus’ sacrifice remembered in the service, but also in sheer awe at this wonderful creation (ah, yes, I crave silence in worship). Secondly, because by receiving the consecrated bread we sacramentally become the Body of Christ full of his Holy Spirit, empowered to live and work to his glory, genuinely inspired. All this requires the big “C”, commitment to worship – regular, weekly worship focussing on Holy Communion with other Christians as part of the church, the Body of Christ. Corporate religion is the only way by definition; it is Christ incarnate in the world.

Accepting that mainstream religious organisations have not always got it right (and for that we must repent), without them our spiritual platitudes about belief in God and saying our occasional prayers are hollow. You cannot be a Christian and not go to church as often as you can.