Seeking Truth in a Maelstrom of Uncertainty

One of the challenges facing people today is the sifting through the information presented to us in the media in order to try and grasp what is really going on in the world. There are also many “hot button” issues being discussed. Conversations about these issues are challenging because they rarely center around facts and data, and the issues themselves are highly complex. Moreover, when facts are presented, what is actually presented is merely an interpretation of facts, rather than pure objective data. One thing is certain; there is far more uncertainty than clear objective truth presented in the media. Nevertheless, massive assumptions are constantly being asserted and usually with a strong sense of authority. Many are claiming they know the truth and the confident how people should be responding to the issue in our culture, and yet they have little or no authority to make such claims, nor the ability to exercise their imagined authority. But any honest authority recognizes that the best way to respond to the present challenges is far from obvious.

This is annoying to Christians because we are rightly preoccupied by the desire to do what is right. With so much obvious uncertainty, how are we to know what is true, let alone know what the right thing is to do? In short, we need to think very clearly and very carefully and avoid being duped by our own tendency to follow our flesh. In other words, we must not assume we are as right as we like to think we are. Recognizing our propensity to be duped by our pride, we need to constantly be checking our math and evaluating if we really are in the right. Despite what post-modernists assert, there is such a thing as truth, and such a thing as ethics (right and wrong). And Christians have a responsibility to discern both truth and ethics.

Epistemology

Epistemology is the study of truth. It considers how we know what is true and what truth claims have more authority than others when contradictions arise. Philosophers have recognized for fundamental sources for truth:

• Empiricism- truth is objective and verified through sensory data. Truth is scientifically verified and substantiated with data.
• Innatism- truth is inherent in each individual. All people have a moral sense of right and wrong written on their conscience. Truth is verified through the conscience and the consensus of the majority.
• Intuition- truth is arrived at through rational mysticism. It is discovered after thinking deeply and realized in an “aha” moment when the pieces all fit together.
• Authority- the source of truth is some authority. Experts, the church, a legal code, national government, organization, or a religious text.

Christians would acknowledge that all of these sources of truth are valid. Empiricism is supported by Romans 1:18-20; Innatism is supported by Romans 2:12-16; Intuition is supported by John 10:1-5; and Authority is supported by Hebrews 13:17. However, the Bible also clearly asserts that it is the ultimate sources of truth because it is the very Word of God (John 17:17). 

Truth claims, facts and data all have to be weighed against the relative authority each of these sources have. Moreover, since truth claims and facts are subject to interpretation, the validity of the interpretation has to be analyzed and weighed as well. After establishing the relative authority of a truth claim, one needs to consider how an argument is developed in order to discern its validity.

The Trivium and Truth

The classical grid of the trivium is helpful in understanding how arguments develop. Any good argument is based upon facts or claims of truth (see above). These represent the grammar or skeleton of an argument. These facts are interpreted and explained through the use of logic or muscles of the argument. Logic explains the relevance and meaning of the facts. In order to make one’s argument persuasive rhetoric is then applied. Rhetoric provides beauty and persuasiveness to an argument in or to make it appealing. In order to think clearly and correctly, Christians need to discern what about an argument is appealing to them. Are they persuaded by the fundamental truths, the logic, or the rhetoric? All three are valid, but like the 4 sources of truth, they vary in the weight of their authority.

The Most Persuasive Authority

Despite what I wrote above, I do not believe most people are primarily persuaded by facts, nor good logic, nor rhetoric. If people were honest with themselves, we would acknowledge that we tend to believe arguments because they feel right. This is why newspapers, talk show hosts, and politicians have largely dispensed with facts or logic in their arguments. They recognize that people don’t want the truth as much as they want to be affirmed and validated.

Just ask yourself, why do you believe that you should or should not wear a mask and social distance? Do you trust that source because of the facts they present or because they appeal to your flesh? If so, what exactly are the facts that you find so persuasive? What biblical principles are driving the decision? It is lazy just to assume that your opinion is right. Beware: feeling strongly about a position is not a strong argument. If it was, toddlers should be running our universities. We need to be honest with ourselves and our opponents that we do not know as much as we like to think. It is not a sin to be ignorant unless we are deliberately ignorant. Nor is it a sin to trust experts and those in authority even though we recognize they are human and therefore possess the ingredients for both corruption and stupidity. 

To test my hypothesis that we are not as rational as we like to think we are, just consider how you would answer the following questions. They are purposefully presented on a spectrum of verifiable to less verifiable.

• Is there sin in the world? Is there racism in the world? Is everybody a racist? Is racism systemic? Will legislation help the problem? Do protests help the problem?
• Should America continue to be allied with Israel? Should America have gone to war with Iran? Should President Trump use the American military to free up the strait of Hormuz? Is the Iranian MOU good for Americans?

To which of these questions do you have a confident answer? Where does your confidence come from? What is the source of truth, that substantiates your confidence? How credible is it?

Which of these questions give you pause?  Which questions prompt you to shrug your shoulders? Where would you go to seek answers to those questions?

Most individuals assume they are right and that they know what is right in regard the polarizing issues of our day. But who really is right? And how do we know? Post-modernism might be comfortable asserting that what each individual believes is true to them. But Christians see the emptiness underlying such lunacy. How do we know what is right in the midst of so much uncertainty? Following our hearts is not the right answer, just ask Samson and the rest of the judges.

We need to be honest with ourselves and one another. Things are not as certain as we like to think and uncertainty stinks. Uncertainty especially stinks to Christians. Christians want to know that they are doing the right thing. They have a Spirit-wrought obsession to know and practice the truth.

The comforting thing for Christians is that we do not have to know all the answers to know what is true and what is right. If we simply fear God and keep his commandments, we are going to be in good shape (Ecc 12:13-14). God has told us all we really need to know in order to honor him. If we prioritize doing that, everything else will fall into place.

I believe that the crises in our country and our world provide a rich opportunity for the church to be a light to the world. This is because we have all the truth, we need to make the most of life (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 2:3-8). It is remarkable that so many current political debates are characterized by so much uncertainty. This, combined with the confusion, anger, and fear that is a fallout of the uncertainty, emphasize the immense gift Christians have in the absolute certainty of Scripture.

  ⁷    The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

       the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

⁸    the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

       the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

⁹    the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

       the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

¹⁰    More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

       sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹    Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward. (Ps 19:7-11)