So much in my present reality has had to do with the very nature and fabric of truth. As even of whether it exists. And whether anyone is "entitled" to claim their own perception of truth as being more valid than another's. And if so, by what means--according to which distinctions? What makes truth true? And if there is absolute truth, why or how does that even matter? And should it matter? Why?
And how do you know truth? How do you discern one truth as being distinctly different than any other purported truth? And, again--why even do so?
Is there such a thing as being right? And what entitles any given stance that force of insistence as being preeminent and prevalent? For claiming to be right wholly entails distinguishing opposing interpretations or views or beliefs or acts as wrong.
Truth divides according to that very principle--that which is in opposition cannot also be true.
The finer points of distinction are what have comprised the more devastating and difficult of interactions: As with a pilot whose trajectory is off course by a quarter-degree only, still he will not arrive at the intended destination upon flying hours in such direction.
Some larger matters of deviation from truth are easier to discern, for so rapidly and obviously leading to shipwreck of faith (to a deviation from and overturn of recognition of God and His Word, thus defying the Gospel). For instance, twice within the past few months, I've encountered folks who are knee deep and content to claim as "true" some deviant beliefs which (when followed to marginally further logical conclusions) entail discounting the entire New Testament.
Both these conversations have entailed variations on "Hebrew-roots"/"Sacred name" ideologies--these are not really disconnected from one another, as ideologies go. They constitute just one fraction of the numerous demonic doctrines which are prevalent in the world and which manifest and spread just per fixation on certain verses of Scripture to the exclusion of the whole of God's Word: Without need for "external" influence, apart from a driving fixation which is not imparted by God's Holy Spirit.
I had very nearly been consumed by the Hebrew Roots deviance at almost the outset of coming to know Jesus, so am fairly familiar--had gone in some directions even almost to the Sacred Name sect. All arising from a misguided impulse to want to please Him more completely and distinguish myself to Him, by having laws to obey which would "allow" these things. It's very tempting to the flesh--wanting to be more accepted to God by my own works?, rather than wholly resting with and humbling content to know that we're "accepted and acceptable in the Beloved?" Such things are especially tempting when there's also a notion of attaining a sort of higher knowledge of His ways than "most people," too--such that there's a luring pretense of potential for continually deeper, richer, more hidden stores of knowledge which will further and further esteem self above others, though with God, the further one goes in pursuing such matters. Elijah was a man of like passions as we are. Doesn't exalt us, to reflect on this. Doesn't debase him. But that makes it clear none of us is able to be any higher than another, by strivings according to our intellect and abilities. What was treasured of God was the humble, the ones who sought Him and believed Him. Not those who sought to build themselves up in the eyes of others and Himself, as though we could be profitable servants to the One who sustains our very life.
I don't remember precisely how the Lord delivered me from Hebrew Roots notions, except I know it had to do with the Gospel. Because that always constitutes the dividing point between delusion and reality, between error and correction. Jesus paid my debt. He reigns. I love Him dearly, though I once hated Him. I owe Him my all. And I long to give Him my all. But...this means becoming ever more surrendered to the reality of the righteousness of God's wrath against my sin and the incomprehensible mercy extended to me through the cross...even more humbled by the reality of who I am and who God is, and the reality that I could never approach Him nor would ever dare do so...except that He has made a way for me to be forgiven by the atonement come through Christ's self-sacrifice. And I can rest ever more completely assured of knowing He is true to His Word and will deliver even me, as I am led to walk in the light of reality more wholeheartedly--when I reflect upon the reality of Jesus's resurrection, and the truths regarding Himself and His will in His Word. To know that He reigns, still, yields peace. And we can know, too, that He will assuredly also accomplish all other things which He has said, as well as what He has already accomplished.
But again--of those false doctrines noted: one regarding a particular twist on "Sacred Name"-things, the other of "Hebrew Roots"--the thing which both recent proponents of these false doctrines failed to realize is that the natural end of their purportedly Christian beliefs requires that the New Testament Scriptures ultimately all be excluded as false. Which is problematic, period: Dismantling God's Word is...what Satan has done from the beginning, as it were. And one cannot claim demonic inspiration for parts of the New Testament without likewise condemning the while, which is ultimately claiming the same of God.
So, to further specify--to make an argument that the Greek word for Jesus's name is not a transliteration of His Hebrew name (which is the case)...but instead is a reference to pagan idols--saying that the texts were corrupted and "Jesus" is actually a demonic being/pagan idol who is thus not actually God (not as He's presented in the Greek texts, at least)--further, claiming that only calling Him by His "true name" is correct or otherwise you're worshipping a false God--entails that all the Greek texts simply must be corrupt, since they all transliterate His Hebrew name in the same way as is then (later) transliterated to our English "Jesus:" Claiming the very name and nature of God has been misrepresented that significantly in extant texts entails implying perversion of the entire text, per association. "Problem" is--our (thousands of) surviving manuscripts are primarily Greek (from what I know--which is somewhat marginal, yes...but not entirely ignorant: those manuscripts which aren't in Greek still primarily accord with the Greek...which would by inference indicate they must also be corrupt).
All of which means that if you are going to attest that beliefs and maintain logical consistency, you ultimately will have to discount as demonized the entirety of what we have of the New Testament if it accords with the Greek manuscripts. And as it stands, Greek was the lingua franca of the age when Christ walked the earth--thus the most reasonable, as the most commonly accessible language, for relaying missives to the world. So, that means you have to set aside the New Testament, realistically.
Which is unavoidably problematic for anyone who wants to authentically claim to follow Christ. In sum, discounting God's preserved Word on the basis of saying it's a demonic matter that Jesus is called Jesus and not Yeshua, or Yehoshua, or however the person's bent happens to be blatantly denies His Word from the apostles and of the Gospels, too, which ultimately derails faith and opposes the Gospel of Christ.
Likewise, the "Hebrew Roots" movement opposes the Gospel of Christ. In order to truly embrace the idea that the only way to truly serve and know God is to return to "our Hebrew roots, and learn Torah and obey the law," you have to initially do away with many of the apostles epistles. Particularly Paul. Especially due to his letter to the Galatians: Because he flat out says we aren't saved nor sanctified by the law, period, and could not be. That entire epistle discounts the notion of needing to submit to the Torah as a follower of Christ--actually says that to do so means Christ is of no avail to us.
Hebrew Roots ideology and offshoots thus confound the Gospel of Christ entirely, confusing the purpose and accessibility of the law--in ways I'm not going to specifically delineate at the moment (read the epistle to the Galatians). But the point is, if someone believes they must be keeping the law in order to honor Christ, they have to deal with the letter to the Galatians. What seems to happen is that Paul is demonized. Literally--again. But...if you do away with Paul by saying he deviated from Jesus's teachings and opposed Him, you have to do away with Peter, too. Because Peter mentions Paul and upholds him. And...it just continues to snowball.
I've now been confronted by someone believing Hebrew Roots ideologies who has gone a step further than just discounting Paul's epistles: in order to maintain logical consistency at all...you really have to reinterpret Paul's experience on the road to Damascus. Thus, I was told it was not Jesus who appeared to Paul. Believing otherwise--believing what Acts records as occurring (that Jesus did appear to Paul)--would only validate what Paul wrote in his epistles. So, in order to maintain logical consistency while discounting and discarding Paul's epistles as demonic...Jesus has to be reinterpreted as well. I was told it was the "angel of light"--Satan--who appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. That is blood-chilling.
The person who spoke this latter point has not yet come to deal with the reality that Luke wrote Acts. And that this same Luke wrote a Gospel. Such that, if logical consistency continues to be pursued...then if Luke has lied by representing Satan as Jesus in the Acts of the Apostles...what, of his Gospel?
And past that point, what of the points in the other Gospels which accord with Luke's--primarily the synoptics? But the Gospel of John does share similarity with the synoptics--not a stretch to say it would have to be ousted at some point too. Thus John's epistles and Revelation go, too.
One bit of deviation ultimately ousts the New Testament.
If you're going to be logically consistent, at least.
Although...in order to wholeheartedly go along with either of those errors, or any other...there's inherently been a compromise against sound reasoning, already.
Which leaves the Gospel in the dust, as insufficient...
...by entering into philosophizing, rationalizing, seeking to find esteem according to a return to heritage (genealogies being esteemed highly and contended for)--rather than marveling at the truth of who God is, what He's doing, what He has done, and humbly regarding ourselves as recipients of His mercies--grace unto us being to His glory.
Similar process of deviation from reliance upon Christ, when it comes to any teaching which does not retain focus on God's grace--teaching which, instead, tells us to start focusing elsewhere for power, for deliverance, for esteem, or to please God or heal ourselves or one another or society. Many deviations from the truth just don't manifest as drastically, as quickly, in deviating from God's Word and opposing Him, blatantly.
What is it that was written: "Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mankind, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
And, "Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith."
"For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Abraham believed God. Noah did, too. So did Moses. They believed Him. They took Him at His Word. Placed their trust in Him. And Jesus said the thing we must do is believe in the One whom God the Father sent.
That's what we must do. Believe in Him. Believe Him.
We must know Him, ourselves. We need to come to Jesus, to enter right relationship with Him as our Savior, God, Master, King. Our Great Shepherd and dearest Friend.
We must abide in Him, also. Not out on a limb of our own conceiving. But in Jesus, the true Vine. Anything else we attempt will be nothing good...we have fallen from that, apart from Him.
And God is the ultimate reality, the only one who is good. He existed before time came into being. He created all things which exist, and He sustains all which is. He is all-powerful over His Creation, as the Creator and Sustainer of it all. He is not disconnected. His is not a course of ambivalence or apathy.
Yet those who have defied Him and turned from His goodness enter that which is the natural consequence, as though stepping from one room into the adjoining--if not in the one room, then in the other--entering His wrath. A long-suffering active displeasure which will enact justice at an appointed time, each to each.
In the meantime there are already active, natural consequences besides. As constituted by natural outworkings of any deviation from what is correct orderliness and function, the results are unto increasing fragmentation within the fabric of our existence--the weft and warp of the whole of our physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual reality becomes disordered, increasingly. Unto ever increasing disjointedness, fragmentation within ourselves and around us on all sides. As each deviant weave further corrupts the extant corruption. Though in His mercy, He long-sufferingly preserves us, despite our defilings.
He is not ultimately avoidable, though. And if we would have any dealings with really knowing truth, then we will have to deal with Him in the here and now. But this whole world has constructed such beguiling and compelling distortions of truth, besides--as we, ourselves, had ever turned from Him we did indeed turn toward such delusions as are common parlance, oft come de rigeur, yet many quick to become passé in favor of any next most alluring distension of reality possessing just enough conceivability and relevance to remain palatable for even a brief amount of time:
We build castles in the sky. While He sits in the heavens and laughs, the earth His footstool--all per se. Yet reality.
Of which, since knowing Him and dealing in truth...one of the utmost painful encounters is with someone...anyone...beloved--loving them and finding they do not care to know truth. Do not want truth. Actively choosing other things. This, despite even being willing and able to discuss so many things--anything, even. But yet, lacking desire for truth. I would die a thousand times to know the Lord would in His mercy light that spark which would draw such ones into fellowship of right dealings with Him--to submit to truth, to the reality of dire need for repentance in humble contrition before our God and King...seeking forgiveness...just to know that even not knowing them here and now as brethren and sisters in Christ, I would in eternity...
...but I'm nothing but another sinner, I have nothing to offer the Lord so to bargain with Him for the life of anyone. Not even for my own. I am a recipient of great mercy, only: A gift--His grace.
And I do not deserve to know Him. I do not deserve His forgiveness.
But Jesus has been merciful to me. And continues being merciful. Even in that all the more it breaks my heart to encounter ones beloved, finding hearts numb and cold and insensate and apathetic to the reality of our condition.
What is it, then--seeing and cherishing in those around me traits and characteristics which are admirable and which are delightful and which warm my heart to see, of compassion and kindness and charitability and contentment?...and to cherish and love people?...even while knowing that apart from their turning to Christ, all these mercies and blessings and kindnesses will profit them nothing?
The situation is dire. My heart breaks. And there is a hand extended in mercy, pleading to be permitted to rescue. Yet I cannot join their hand to Christ's. Though I may plead, I cannot change a heart of stone. He reaches out and they refuse. And I grieve. And I don't know His grief on this, but I know He shed His own blood to be able to extend His pierced hand in mercy...so His love is far beyond anything I could ever own..
So, then--what is truth, and why does it matter?
God is true, though all men be liars. And He has presented us with His own Son--who walked amongst us and was rejected...who died to atone for our sins, satisfying the wrath against us. So that we may be forgiven and receive mercy. This...is of eternal consequence.
Anything that would undermine or detract from or truly distract from Christ and keeping course unto Him...is thus of eternal consequence. Not small matters. Gangrenous: Killing part, then the whole.
In scope of this, concern over being right or wrong seems paltry: We are all wrong. God, alone, is wholly right. He, alone, is truly just. We will come to terms with this fact, whether here or hereafter: We have the choice to believe in Jesus Christ for our salvation, our redemption, our deliverance, for eternal life...here and now, coming to Him for forgiveness. Or we have the choice to remain under God's wrath and endure due penalty as consequence of our transgressions against God...eternal, in full, ourselves.
He has given us the choice. He has done everything necessary to our salvation and sanctification.
We have to deal with Him, directly. Not by proxy. Not as a cultural tradition.
We have to reason with God, ourselves. Through Christ. Ask Him. And search His Word, to know of Him. We'll come to terms with Him one way or another, we just get to choose something of the circumstances of that meeting.
Personally, I prefer dealing with the pain of humbling myself here and now, rather than it no longer being an option but instead a direct consequence of stepping into the full, crushing Presence of a no-longer-avoidable reality.
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