While standing as a prisoner before Pontius Pilate, Jesus explained to the Roman procurator that he came to earth in order to testify to the truth, that everyone on the side of truth would listen to him. (John 18:38)
Pilate responded with:
“What is truth?”
If Jesus had answered that question, we have no record of it. But maybe he didn’t need to answer it. Truth is truth. So why do we have so much trouble with it?
Listen to any sound bite, talk show comment or politician, and you can easily see that the whole truth doesn’t always surface. Sir Winston Churchill said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.”
It’s funny how we put a spin on truth when we’re asked to convey it or testify to it. We embellish the truth when we’re speaking of someone else, and we shorten the truth if we are confronted with our own behavior. Gossip is truth with a soap opera makeover. It’s easy to do. But personal truth hits closer to home; it chips away at our vulnerability.
Some people are so skilled at not telling the truth, that eventually even they perceive their own lies to be true. People who give long answers can hinder you from getting to the truth, because you consider it rude to interrupt them in order to ask pointed questions. The poet Sir Walter Scott was on target when he wrote, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!”
We declare something to be true by either trusting the character of the truth-giver or by reviewing evidence in order to support or refute the claim. Truth is absolute. You can’t alter or change it, and it still be true. You either know, think you know or don’t know.
So how true should we be? ”Does this dress make me look fat?” How do you respond? ”No, honey, it looks great on you!” - or - “Don’t blame it on the dress — you ARE fat.” A popular candy bar commercial suggests stuffing your mouth and shrugging. Sometimes we ask things, expecting a certain answer, as well as setting ourselves up for disappointment if we don’t get the anticipated answer.
Since our whole Christian walk is to be bound in love, we should be sensitive to what questions we ask. And we should be careful and considerate when answering sensitive questions.
We must also be prepared to seek the truth, whether in doctrine, political statement or testimony. When we respond to questions, we need to cautiously avoid the danger of what might be lurking in our answers. Jesus said, “Simply let your YES be YES, and your NO be NO; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
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