Speaking the Truth in Love: Part 2

Speaking the Truth in Love: Part 2
Brad Reiches
Mar 30 2006 09:31AM

Thursday, March 30, 2006

GodThougths Wired!

"Speaking the Truth in Love"

PART 2

Does belief in ultimate truth, imply “intolerance?”  I would suggest no.  For example, it has been scientifically demonstrated that human beings cannot live without breathing in oxygen.  Frankly, I believe it.  Does that make me intolerant?  Is it rational to deem people intolerant because they affirm certain truths?  Of course not!  Human beings need oxygen to live.  It is a fact, an absolute truth.  Accepting such a reality doesn’t make one tolerant or intolerant.  It simple makes them…CORRECT!

An objective look at “relativism” (the belief that there is no absolute truth) reveals, “The relativist stands on the pinnacle of an absolute truth and wants to relativize everything else.”[1] 

Indeed, an unbiased glance shows the world to be absolutely full of absolute truths.  However, for relativism to be true, it would require a world full of contradictions.  I say, “That’s a candy bar.”  You say, “No, that’s a goat.”  If we’re both right, then the candy bar is the goat at the same time, but, of course, that’s impossible (yet, today’s tolerance suggests, “That’s ok, as long as it’s true for you”).  So, for truth to be relative the impossible…must not be.

Again, the Christian says, “There is a God,” and the atheist proclaims, “There is no God.”  Relativism and today’s “tolerance” suggests that both are true.  Indeed, it is as Geisler suggests,

If truth is relative, then no one is ever wrong –

even when they are.[3]

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[1] Geisler Norman, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Baker, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998), p.745.

[2] Kreeft Peter, Handbook of Christian Apologetics, (Intervarsity, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1988), p.372.

[3] Geisler Norman, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Baker, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998), p.745.