I don't think it's a stretch to say that it can be difficult for someone to state that there is is one truth. In fact, I know that I myself have problems stating things in absolutes, and commonly throw in words like 'sometimes' or 'maybe', just so people don't interpret me as cocky. And it can definitely be hard for someone to say that there is an 'absolute truth that can be found and known' without being labeled as intolerant. Especially when it comes to religion. It's not generally accepted to say that Jesus us the only way to life everlasting.
But, just cause it's not accepted doesn't mean I'm going to stop from doing it.
I believe that Jesus is truth.
Some may call me judgemental, or intolerant. Some of my close friends may even question way I have the right no say that. And I definitely know some people would look down on me for trying to shove it down peoples throats.
But herein lies my argument with those arguments: I don't think you have to be judgemental or rude or intolerant or force anything on anyone to believe in the absolute truth. The big part of the problem is that there are many Christians, myself sometimes included, who give Christians a bad rap. Call themselves Christians and then don't act Christ-like at all.
Judgemental Christians give me a headache, for sure. But just because some Christians have shoved truth down others throats doesn't mean that Christianity is wrong. The truth in a faith should not be measured by the goodness of it's followers, for ALL humans are at some times hypocritical and at all times imperfect, but instead a faith should be measure by the Person behind the faith.
I believe there is truth. Absolute truth that can be found and claimed. Truth that can be the foundation for life and peace. I believe that Jesus was real, that He was who He claimed to be, that He died for our sins and that through believing in Him, and not through any religion, we can have eternal life. It is that truth that guides my life.
Now, I know this could cause some people to raise their eyebrows. Some of my friends would not be pleased I just claimed to know the truth about getting to Heaven. Not only that, but I didn't include any other religions, practiced by good people. What about not shoving your truth down people throats, some may ask. What about personal freedom to believe what you want? Isn't it rude to share your truth as if it were absolute, the only real truth?
Now, see here, I do believe quite strongly in not shoving beliefs down anyones throat. I don't think rudeness is okay in any situation, and condescending tones are not welcome either. I do not believe that ANYTHING is going to be furthered through rude and judgemental behaviour. As for personal beliefs, I do think people should believe what they want, and be allowed to find truth for themselves.
I am not trying to force anyone to accept my truth, only sharing how I have found truth and how it has changed my life, how it has become my life.
On a bit of a side note... What type of person would I be if I felt so passionately about something so important but I didn't share it? If I believe I have found something that is amazing and worth living for, then I definitely will want to share it.
I have found that having Jesus in my life brought me a deep joy and a sense of hope. And I want to share what I've found. And, really, I think that's natural.
Like, what if, I was sitting in chem class, and we were working through a list of exothermic reaction calculations. Time and time again, each student tries to answer the particularly hard questions, but cannot seem to come up with the correct number. There are just too many areas to go wrong... Writing out the equation, balancing it, entering into the calculator... Eventually, people just stick with getting close to the same answer... Then suddenly, I find out why I've been struggling so much, and I am able to get the correct answers.
What if I kept the truth to solving the questions a secret? I could tell myself that they are enjoying the process of finding the answer... I would hate to take away their source of enjoyment, I might reason. They're fine with the fact that they're only almost getting the answer, so why take that away from them? And I'm just sitting there, content with knowing I'm going to get 100% on my homework... What kind of person would I be if I didn't at least try to share? I should long for people to realize what I have, to experience the truth.
Granted, some of them might now. They might be perfectly happy trying again and again, erasing their mistakes and starting over. That would be their choice, and I'd respect that.
What I mean to say is...
Simply sharing what I believe and what has transformed my life, and opening up a discussion, is not being intolerant, no matter what some people may try to tell me.
I like that about my faith. The peace and hope I have in my life because of Jesus is simply too amazing to keep to myself. The freedom from guilt and shame, the joy even in struggles and the hope that comes from knowing this world is not the end is so beautiful and life-altering that I don't want to keep from sharing it.
Does that make me intolerant? I don't think so. In fact, I would hope that other people who believe so strongly in their faith would also want to share. I have friends who are agnostic, Jewish, and many who share similar beliefs to those I have. A just because I believe that Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the way to salvation and everlasting life doesn't mean I don't find value and worth in people who don't believe that.
It's just that I have decided to believe Jesus when He says that it is through Him alone that we are saved. It is not my choice to be exclusive. But it is my choice to believe what God says. And I personally do not believe in the idea of a personal truth. It just doesn't seem logical that there can be many truths, simply because of our definition of truth.
Truth is truth.
Is is not relative. There is no truth for you, and truth for me. Truth is absolute.
In our world, yellow mixed with blue makes green. That's the truth, no way around it. If you believe that yellow and blue make red, you would be mistaken, no matter how firmly you believe that. You don't have to like that yellow and blue make green, but they do. You don't even have to believe it, but your not believing doesn't make it not true.
Like it or not, it does work that way
Either Jesus is real, and He died on the cross and rose again as the only way to get to Heaven, for everyone in the world, or He did not. And that is what I believe.
To be honest, I don't see how personal truth has any place here. In fact, I will even go so far as to say there is no such thing. In my opinion, personal truth is an oxymoron. I do not believe there are many ways to Heaven. Some people may think there are, but simply thinking that does not make it truth. And you don't have to believe that. Truth does not hinge on anything, it is pure... Truth. You don't have to believe that Jesus offers the only path to live after we die, but simply because some may choose not to believe doesn't mean it's not true, just as my believing doesn't make it true. The choice to not believe in something has no power in and of itself: disbelief in something can't make it true.
You might believe, deep in your heart, that Jesus' death on the cross is not the only means of salvation beyond this earth. But the fact of the matter is, Jesus Himself claims to be the only way, and I believe Him. Either He is or He isn't. Either He can save everyone, or He can save no one. I firmly believe there is no room to believe that He is for me, but not for you.
So, I will try to be bold yet kind as I share, understanding and open yet rooted and unshakable as to what I believe the truth is. For me to keep the truth I have to myself would be selfish. While not shoving it down anyones throat, I want to open a dialogue about what I believe. And I hope to find some good conversations.
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