Have you heard it yet? If you haven’t, you probably will, before long.

“Heard what?” you ask. It is a statement heard from more and more sources, though perhaps expressed in slightly different ways. It expresses one of the primary tenets of the “post-modern” view of reality. What I refer to is the claim that “Truth does not exist”, or, “if Truth does exist, it is really not knowable by man”. (In these statements, I have used “Truth” with the capital “T”, as did Francis Shaeffer when he referred to “true truth” or “Truth” as that which is objectively true as opposed to the more subjective idea, so prevalent today, of that which “is true for you” .)

I have heard this claim in recent months from four different people all of whom have college or graduate degrees and three of whom would claim to believe in some way in the existence of God. Bertrand Russell voiced this idea poetically when he once said that “Truth is a shining goddess, ever distant, ever veiled, but ever worthy of our pursuit”. So how should we answer these claims? To the statement that “Truth does not exist” one should ask the obvious question: “Oh, is that true?”. Do you get the point? Statements such as “Truth does not exist” or “if Truth does exist, man cannot know it” are really self- contradictory and, therefore, absurd; they are contrary to reason. Why? Because the person making the statement is actually making a “truth claim” - an implied claim that he just said something “absolutely true”.

In all conversations or discussions, the participants are, or should be, consciously saying what they believe to be “true”. If not, then they would be consciously making false statements, and the entire process would, therefore, be without meaning and absurd - not worth the time invested. If there is no Truth, all communication is meaningless! Furthermore, if it is absurd to claim that “there is no Truth”, there is at least one “truth claim” that MUST be “true”, and that is the opposite claim: “Truth must exist”. And at least to some extent, Truth must be knowable, because the person claiming that “Truth must exist” knew at least that much Truth to be able to make the assertion!

However, if our post-modern friend qualifies his original statements by saying that “most” Truth is not knowable by man he is on much firmer ground. We all “know”, if only intuitively, that Man is a very limited creature when we consider his meager powers of observation and understanding, even when aided by some of the amazing instruments provided by modern technical achievement. And this limitation is particularly evident when applied to Mans’ ability to know things that are non-material - things spiritual or eternal.

However, this limitation applies to Man using only his own limited capacities of observation and reason. What is overlooked is the fact that Man can receive knowledge of Truth if it is revealed to him by another Person (God) Who does not have Man’s limitations. Bertrand Russells’ statement, or similar claims, neglect the fact that God knows all truth, He is true and He can and does reveal truth to those who come to Him for understanding. Jesus asked His Father in His prayer in John 17 to “sanctify them (His disciples) in Thy truth; Thy word is truth” (vs. 17). He also told some followers in John 8:32: “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.

Of course, there is the condition that seekers be serious about receiving truth from God and be willing to act on it. This is reflected in John 7:17: “If any man wills to do His (God’s) will, he shall know of the teaching if it be from God” (or not). If a person is not honest about knowing and serving God and acting on truth received from God, that person is just “playing games”; and God will not play games with us.

It has been said “God is a ‘gentleman’”. He does not force truth upon people but waits until they are really open and desirous. “You shall search for me, and you shall find Me (if and) when you search for me with all of your heart” (Jer. 29:13). “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

If those conditions are not met, people will remain blind to Truth, even when it is evident all around them, in the creation and in the lives of others who have been changed by the working out of Truth in their personal lives. So, the Bible teaches that we can find Truth in and through God’s word if we are willing to “grapple” with it (the Bible) with a teachable heart and an honest prayer for God’s enlightenment. Without God’s (sought for) intervention, man remains blind to Truth even when it is right in front of him - or on his book shelf - and then Russells’ conclusion, sadly, will be his experience.

And even the Christian, if he does not continually stay engaged with the scriptures, will go nowhere; he will simply be “spinning his wheels”. I proved that in my own life for over 20 years until, one day, I asked God to have His way in my life. After I became “willing to do His will”, He introduced me to a Bible study and used it as a means to lead me to His Truth and fulfill His design for my life. So, are you ready to answer the claim, when you hear it, that truth is nonexistent or unknowable? Have you, yourself, received Truth revealed to you from God’s word, and have you received the One who is Truth - the Lord Jesus Christ? If you are not sure, have you ever truly “willed to do His will”? Are you ready and willing to diligently seek Him for the Truth in and through His word? He is the rewarder of all who diligently seek Him! His reward is the Truth!

In His Service,

Paul L. Tecklenberg, M.D.

(Dr. Tecklenberg, Steve’s father, was a founding Board member of ENM.
Now retired, he lives with his wife, Hilda, in western North Carolina.)