Truth and ...(2)

...Confusion

In a conversation about truth, confusion or conflict can arise. This is a result of presuppositions getting in the way of objective understanding. Check out this audio clip of John MacArthur discussing some comments made by Brain McLaren, the leader of the Emerging Church movement:

http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/macarthur-on-emergent/

MacArthur wrote a book in response to McLaren's views. The book is called The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception. Did you catch the title? Other books responding to McLaren are called, Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications (Don Carson), and Truth and the New Kind of Christian: The Emerging Effects of Postmodernism in the Church (R. Scott Smith).

McLaren's views skew the truth as he encourages leaving the objective truth of the Bible behind in favor of living a life of love for the sake of people. The lifestyle encouraged by the Emerging Church is fine; it is a good thing to "serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13). But, with MacArthur and countless others, I would argue that this must not be done at the expense of the truth. And it can be confusing. Conflict arises between people equally trying to promote righteousness. A conversation is possible, but hard due to the fact that presuppositions get in the way.

But it begins with the Bible. Do-gooders often reject the Bible, because they don't like a lot of what it says. But when that rejection takes place, the foundation drops out. The same is true as illustrated by yesterday's age of the earth question. How do we know? Look first at the Bible. Trust it. It is true. Unfortunately, it doesn't end there in our society today. You may have seen the bumper sticker that says, "God said it; I believe it; that settles it." Well, the whole "I believe it" part is insignificant. The truth of God is enough, whether we believe it or not. Thus, the truth is important. But how do we come to agree on what God's Word means? Conversation, confusion, conflict, truth... More to come.