Alright, so I'm going to get a little deep here, and it might be long. But, it's something I've been thinking about for a long time, years, even, and I've faced it often in the past few months.In John 18:35, Pilate asks Jesus "What is truth?" The word used for truth is Aletheia in Greek. Literally this means: objectively, obviously, of a certain and real truth, unconcealedness of things, the state of being evident. Pilate's question is relevant today. So many people, especially in my generation, wonder what is true. In fact, there are so many choices out there that some choose to believe that nothing is true because they can't find anything to be evident or up-front. Honestly, with all of the options and arguments available, I think we can argue ourselves to a certain death.
I sometimes get flustered when people ask me what I believe to be true in those "controversial" areas. There are the big ones: abortion, homosexuality, even sex outside-of-marriage. There are small ones, too: dinosaurs, creation/evolution, etc. It's not that I don't think that these are valid; in fact, I think God welcomes our questions. I think that it's not the asking that confuses me - it's the magnitude that's placed on the answers. Paul says not to get caught up in arguments because they make people fight, and that's not what Jesus wants for us (2 Timothy 2:23). I feel like this should be enough, but I know that for some, it's not, or they feel like their argument is valid. However, there is one thing that I do feel IS valid, and CAN help us in these times. Personally, these questions have not ever rocked my faith. Sure, they're interesting, some of them truly confusing, yet they don't seem to touch my relationship with God. It was always hard for me to explain this until I remembered a verse that I think I memorized in middle school. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul says,
"I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross."
This is truly how I feel. I know that there are questions and concerns and controversies. But I know one thing that is true and I know that I can focus on that to cover all of the other confusions. Jesus Christ is real, he changes lives, and he died on the cross to give us a relationship with him and freedom from sin. Now, people will analyze this and question this and probe this idea as well. However, no scientific answer helps - it takes faith. Maybe that's why it's the most effective truth. The love that God has for us can not be figured out. It just is. The other things, in the light of his love, fall by the wayside. Sure, ask questions, but it's easier to trust when you're surrounded by his loving embrace and assurance. This is simple, but wonderful, and it's the only truth I'm really worried about.