THOUGHTS TO LIVE BY

Copyright Rosemary Bardsley 2004

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Perhaps you have heard the terms 'modernism' and 'postmodernism' and wondered what they meant. One point of distinction between them is that modernism asked the question 'what is truth?' expecting that somewhere truth could be found, even if it turned out to be different from the traditional concept of truth. Postmodernism, on the other hand, lives in the darkness of the assumption that because there is no such thing as 'truth' you don't even look for it.

To the despair and irresponsibility of this meaninglessness the Bible records the bold words of Jesus Christ: 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life' (John 8:12) and 'I am ... the truth ... ' (John 14:6). Jesus Christ also said: 'If you hold to my teaching ... you will know and the truth will set you free' (John 8:31,32).

These are exclusive words, but they are also liberating - setting those who believe them free from the dark vacuum of postmodernism, and filling the whole of life with purpose and significance.