I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.This is obviously a very powerful line with lots of implications.
- If Jesus is the way then His ethic for life is the right one, the best one.
- If Jesus is the truth then His teaching is the chief authority on every subject, the right one and the best one.
- If Jesus is the life then He has the answers for the deepest issues of the soul, the right ones and the best ones.
This is true for most Americans, and, frighteningly, most Christians. But how can this be? If Jesus is THE way, truth and life how can there be arguably equal alternatives?
Rather than simply going to blows over this, I wonder if there is a different way, a way that is even more in line with Jesus' intention in John 14:6. Today I participated in a discussion where one of the people suggested that we substitute the word "truth" for the word "reality."
In this way, all that Jesus is, says and does is "reality." We are not arguing over philosophical ideas and prepositions, but the true nuts and bolts of our day to day lives.
For example: If I have a glass of coke, you can argue all day long that it is milk, but that won't make it so. It is still coke.
In the same way: If Jesus teaches, lives and commands us to "Love your enemies" or "be reconciled to your brother" or "settle matters quickly with your adversary" (Matthew 5:21-26) this way is the best, the only right reality for relationships no matter what we do or don't do.
I can argue against it, say it isn't for me and reap the consequences, but it doesn't change the reality.
I wonder if this doesn't call us to actually have to deal with the implications of Jesus' teaching and life more, making it impossible to excuse or deny. Everyone has to deal with reality one way or the other!
What do you think? Is this a helpful way to understand better what Jesus was saying? Would this be more effective in communicating to people far from God or confused about absolutes?
Dealing with reality. A sane person will normally chart their own course for life, with help when necessary. The more Godly it is - the better. With time, effort, gained wisdom, and using Jesus as a role model, there cannot be anything but accomplishment in this area.
ReplyDeleteThe above does not happen overnight, and one shouldn't be discouraged by set-backs. As long as a person's eyes are focused on God's - outline for life - there cannot be too much distraction, certainly not enough to deter an acceptable end result.
Easy does it - keep the faith, trust God, be appreciative.
ps - A lot of animation does not necessarily guarantee success, if you are dancing to the wrong drummer.
Found the comparison of the words "reality" and "truth" interesting. Caused me to remember a discussion in which something was said, do not remember the particulars,but just remember saying that I was too much of a realist to accept whatever was being said.This did not cause a problem, as we were all just throwing things out to be discussed.The thought in this blog,considering truth and reality as being synonymous just made so much sense when looking at John 14:6, or anything from the Bible. There was one thing, the part that says some people believe that truth can be ok one way for me, another for you, well there is a statement following which says," This is true for most Americans, and frighteningly, most Christians." Think I must have misunderstood that? Keep thinking about this and wondering if that is possible? The "most Christians" is the part that I was not sure about.Really interesting thoughts in this blog. Matthew5:21-26, so important for us and the church as a whole. Not always easy, though. HSM
ReplyDeleteI SHOULD have said . . . "most Americans and, frighteningly, most 'professed' Christians." George Barna, Chuck Colson and others make the case from their research that many people who consider themselves Christians from every age grouping are also moral relativists. They don't think criticaly enough about the implications of their faith and are comfortable with the notion that one person's truth is as good as anothers. This obviously CANNOT be true in light of John 14:6.
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