Is Truth Relative?

If truth is relative, then the Bible is incoherent.  And if we were to buy into the popular notion that truth is personal—it’s situation-specific, socially constructed, culturally contingent, really nothing more than a clever grasping at power—then the claims, warnings, and exhortations of Scripture would become nonsense.

Take the Apostle Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20.  He reminds these church leaders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (vv 20-21).  He gives it to them straight—no “shrinking,” no softening hard facts or dodging tough topics.  He tells them the truth.

More important to Paul than his own life is speaking the definitive good news:  “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (v 24).  He can stand before God with a clear con­science:  “I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” (vv 26-27).  The whole truth, not half-truths—not just what pleases “itching ears.”

But with these reminders comes a sober charge:  “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,…  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (vv 28-31).

“Twisted things” would be spoken by false teachers—deadly talk:  beware! Elders and pastors are charged to refute all such error; church leadership involves knowing God’s Word and its key doc­trines, and loving God’s people by carefully teaching them the truth and refuting any distortions, revisions, or slanted versions of it.  But Paul’s entire, passionate plea to the Ephesian elders would be nothing more than word games if truth were just a matter of perspective!  Thank God for objective gospel facts we can trust!