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The PJs begin Season 5 with a HUGE topic: Truth & Deception. Truth may be the most important term to define, what's your definition?
"What the Flock?" is a podcast where we discuss the source of damage done by the church. Unfortunately, people have been hurt so bad by the church that they don't want to go to church anymore. We're here to help you protect yourself from the abuse that has, and is currently happening. Perhaps, you may even learn how to go back to church and help others.
We’ve seen people say, "Truth is reality". Actually, reality applies to things that exist. However, there are things that are real, that exist, and that aren't truth: the devil, lies, errors, unrighteousness, etc. Things can be real and not be true. Likewise, things can be true and not exist in reality: dreams, parables, etc. So truth must be something more than reality.
We’ve seen another definition people use is "truth is facts". The Bible never mentions "facts". It mentions "truth". So either we aren’t supposed to be factual OR truth is something greater that includes facts…
…because Truth is certainly factual. However, the devil spoke facts to Jesus when he quoted the Bible, but Jesus says there is no truth in him at all. Again, truth must be something more than simply "facts".
Truth has to be different in a way that goes beyond the actual words or concepts stated because we know the Bible is truth, yet it wasn't truth when the devil quoted it.
The devil was deceptive… WHAT he said can be right, but his intent and method of communication is wrong.
Truth must depend on the intent of the user of the facts. Truth must depend on the HOW/WHY.
What was the devil's intent? It was to take Jesus off His goal. It was to make Jesus unprofitable; that's always the goal of the devil! His goal is the opposite of God’s: profitability.
The devil quoted facts to Jesus. Facts are "good". However, the devil wanted to use facts in order to destroy. He wanted to use a "good" object for an "evil" purpose. Evil takes "good" attributes and uses them for the wrong purpose: to destroy.
The devil uses facts to steal, kill, and destroy in the Long Term.
Jesus is the Truth because He uses facts to create in the Long Term.
God's Word is Truth because when God speaks it, it results in creation.
The proof that you are following the Spirit of Truth is whether something of value is created in the Long Term.
SO, How can we define truth in a non-contradictory manner?
The ULTIMATE ANSWER for Truth: Truth is a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
A fact is a Right WHAT.
The Right HOW/WHY is the cause of Profitability...of something being created.
So another way of saying Truth is a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY is...
Truth is "facts (Right WHAT) that create in the Long Term (Right HOW/WHY)".
When someone quotes a Right WHAT, it is only truth if it includes a Right HOW/WHY. Said another way...
When someone quotes a fact, it is only truth if the fact (Right WHAT) creates something of value in the Long Term (because of the Right HOW/WHY). For example, the Bible is fact (Right WHAT). However, the Bible is only truth when it is used to create (has the Right HOW/WHY). This is WHY it is important to understand what the Bible means, not just WHAT it says.
People who quote the Bible (WHAT) with an incorrect (Wrong HOW/WHY) meaning (intent) and assert it as truth just because it is from the Bible are behaving in the same manner as the devil! WHAT they are stating may be correct/right/factual, however, WHY and HOW they are stating it is Wrong. The proof is that it doesn’t create in the Long Term.
In fact, there is a common term that describes a Right WHAT with a Wrong (or no) HOW/WHY...DECEPTION!
Think about it, someone stating a Wrong WHAT is NOT going to DECEIVE you. Deception occurs when someone accepts a Right WHAT with a Wrong (or no) HOW/WHY! The enemy states a Right WHAT...with a Wrong (or no) HOW/WHY.
However, if you think Truth is facts, then you will call “deception”...a half-truth, which IS deception! There’s no such thing as a half-truth or a half-fact or a half-reality.
Truth comes from God: all truth is God’s truth.