some thoughts

Came across this while reading last night, and thought it was helpful (in light of recent posts and discussions):

The assertion often heard in our day, that Christianity is not a doctrine but a life, may have a rather pious sound, and for that very reason seems to appeal to some, but is after all a dangerous falsehood. It has been pointed out repeatedly…that Christianity is a way of life based on a message. The gospel is the self-revelation of God in Christ, which comes to us in the form of truth. That truth is revealed, not only in the Person and work of Christ, but also in the interpretation of these found in the Bible. And it is only by a proper understanding and a believing acceptance of the message of the gospel, that men are brought to the necessary self-surrender to Christ in faith, and are made partakers of the new life in the Spirit. The reception of that life is not dependent on some purely mystical infusion of grace, nor on the proper ethical conduct of man, but is condition by knowledge. [John 17:3; 1 Tim. 2:4; Eph. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:3; John 17:17,20; Eph. 4:13] …They who minimize the significance of the truth, and therefore ignore and neglect it, will finally come to the discovery that they have very little Christianity left.

Louis Berkhof, Introduction to Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1979 repr.), p. 28-29.

“What is truth?” is the question of the ages. The search isn’t over, but only now can it begin. We have the truth. (Not a truth; the truth). There is a huge difference between not knowing this truth fully, and not knowing where to look for truth at all. “Where is truth?” It’s here. And he’s here. He came to give us “the words” that God sent him to give us (John 17:8, ESV).

What is the content of these words? Reality. That which simply is. The “true state of things.” God and man, heaven and hell…ultimate reality is revealed to us. Not all of it (Deut. 29:29, ESV), but enough for us to know what is. Our message is not merely about our experiences, but about what is true. Truth is knowable because God designed us and knows how to communicate himself to us despite our fallenness. We have the truth about life and death, joy and suffering; the truth about freedom and bondage, work and play; the truth about friendship and enmity, families and nations; the truth about history and the future–and their purpose; the truth about salvation and condemnation, peace and despair–we have the truth. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We know what is.

Others may wander in the dark grasping for something–anything–tangible to cling to, something firm by which to orient their thought and life. Others may fill their lives with false starts in this religion or that, picking and choosing their “truths” as they see fit, but they’re condemned to despair, darkness, and uncertainty. This may sound pitiable, but the truth is that they do know, somewhere deep inside, that God is there, watching and waiting. He is plain to them (Rom 1), but they choose despair and darkness rather than submission to their Creator (John 1).

This is why we must preach truth, and not merely experiences of the truth. Truth is knowable because God is the source of of truth, he governs the transmission of its communication to us, and he knows the capabilities of our minds to receive it. What is required of us at that point? Truth gives us purpose: “This is what is, therefore I must respond in such an such a way.” Without knowledge of the true state of reality, we have no basis for a therefore; we are exiled to futility and idleness. The knowledge of Ultimate Reality brings light, and forms a responsive purpose for being. Preaching Christ means preaching truth: “I am the truth.” (John 14:7)

What wonder that we should have this treasure! Has it ever dumbfounded you that you have the truth about what is? That questions about reality and purpose and destiny and history are all being answered by God himself? It’s truly astounding, because all of these things exist in order to show us God–that’s why he desined something other than him, and other than us. The purpose of whatever isn’t God or human, is to communicate God to us! This God whom we know and love, who can contain him? Who can contain the knowledge of him, or the love for him? Why has he so graced us? Because grace is, as you know, the only difference between us and those “who suppress the truth in their ungodliness.” (Rom 1, ESV).

I’d written something last night that was much more clear than this, but it somehow didn’t make the trip into WordPressville. I don’t know exactly how to express this thought…this will have to do.