YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH The Truth really

YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH The Truth really is out there Scientific Materialism

DEFINE TERMS • God – We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe; that He only is God, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose. The God who is holy love and light is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1) • Idol – ANY idea(s) or thing(s) in creation that we or others deem preeminent (most excellent) • Cognitive Dissonance – Mental stress of harboring concepts that contradict one another(2) • Worldview – An account about the meaning of life (even if you conclude that life has NO meaning) along with a recommendation for how to live based on that account of things(3)

“WHAT IS TRUTH? ” • the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth. • conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement. • a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths. • the state or character of being true. • actuality or actual existence. • an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude. • honesty; integrity; truthfulness. • (often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life. • agreement with a standard or original. • accuracy, as of position or adjustment. • Archaic. THEY fidelity or constancy. NOTE: ALL POINT TO… TRUTH IS A “ ”

LAUNCH: SCIENTIFIC MATERIALISM • Ian: What were they thinking? Exodus 24 32 and Romans Chapter 1 – The Bible’s claim is simple: humans WILL do this, BUT… GOSPEL is – – REAL The Bible also makes an audacious claim about humans: Imago Dei 2 Timothy 4: 3 -4 “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ”(NRSV) There is NO such thing as an atheist What are YOU thinking? • Scientific Materialism – Physics explains chemistry biology human mind – Matter in motion is ultimate reality Determinism…

WOW THAT BOX IS VERY SMALL • Idol (god): Matter/Laws of Nature • Religion: Science • Ultimate Truth: Everything is reduced to matter and its interactions • Central tenet: There is a scientific explanation for everything. All events in all of history, past and future, are determined by the laws of science WOW I HAVE A HUGE CASE OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE • Human will (choice) – does not, cannot fit into this box • Human consciousness – does not, cannot fit into this box • Human value – does not, cannot fit into this box • Sadly the Central tenet – does not, cannot fit into this box

YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH The Truth really is out there Postmodernism

DEFINE TERMS • God – We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe; that He only is God, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose. The God who is holy love and light is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1) • Idol – ANY idea(s) or thing(s) in creation that we or others deem preeminent (most excellent) • Cognitive Dissonance – Mental stress of harboring concepts that contradict one another(2) • Worldview – An account about the meaning of life (even if you conclude that life has NO meaning) along with a recommendation for how to live based on that account of things (3) • Performative Contradiction: – Is a position that is contradicted by the very act of being asserted

“WHAT IS TRUTH? ” • the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth. • conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement. • a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths. • the state or character of being true. • actuality or actual existence. • an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude. • honesty; integrity; truthfulness. • (often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life. • agreement with a standard or original. • accuracy, as of position or adjustment. • Archaic. THEY fidelity or constancy. NOTE: ALL POINT TO… TRUTH IS A “ ”

LAUNCH: POSTMODERNISM – 2 Timothy 4: 3 -4 “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ”(NRSV) – There is NO such thing as an atheist – Do not be afraid to LOVINGLY press in with your friends and family • Postmodernism – Intersubjective agreement among people within a particular community – There is no absolute truth: what is “true” is relative to the community in which we participate (Neitzsche)

WOW THAT BOX IS VERY SMALL • Idol (god): Me… My accepted ideas • Religion: Group think/Political correctness • Ultimate Truth: There is NO ultimate truth • Central tenet: Every community has its own accepted truths, based on its experience and perspective, which cannot be judged by those outside the community WOW I HAVE A HUGE CASE OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND EVERY STATEMENT ENDS UP BEING A PERFORMATIVE CONTRADICTION • Human will (choice) – does not, cannot fit into this box • Human consciousness – does not, cannot fit into this box • Human value – does not, cannot fit into this box • Sadly the Central tenet – does not, cannot fit into this box

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH The Truth really is out there “I AM the TRUTH”

DEFINE TERMS • God – We believe in one eternally existent, infinite God, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe; that He only is God, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose. The God who is holy love and light is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1) • Idol – ANY idea(s) or thing(s) in creation that we or others deem preeminent (most excellent) • Cognitive Dissonance – Mental stress of harboring concepts that contradict one another(2) • Worldview – An account about the meaning of life (even if you conclude that life has NO meaning) along with a recommendation for how to live based on that account of things (3) • Performative Contradiction: – Is a position that is contradicted by the very act of being asserted • Reductionism: - reducing a thought or phenomenon from a higher or more complex level of reality to a lower, simpler, less complex level

“WHAT IS TRUTH? ” • the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth. • conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement. • a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths. • the state or character of being true. • actuality or actual existence. • an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude. • honesty; integrity; truthfulness. • (often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life. • agreement with a standard or original. • accuracy, as of position or adjustment. • Archaic. THEY fidelity or constancy. NOTE: ALL POINT TO… TRUTH IS A “ ”

TRUTH: • “I am the way and the truth and the life. ” – There is NO such thing as an atheist – Do not be afraid to LOVINGLY press in with your friends and family… BUT HOW PASTOR? • This is how… - 1) ALL views of reality that do not start and end with the Triune God of the Bible are a form of idolatry: Identify the IDOL - 2) Once the idol is determined the thought process can be REDUCED to an “ultimate truth. ” The parts of reality (everyday life) that do not fit into the “box” are dismissed as illusion, ignored, or in some way explained away. - 3) Shed light on the Cognitive Dissonance and/or the Performative Contradiction - 4) Make a POSITIVE case for Jesus, “the truth”

SCIENTIFIC MATERIALISM • Idol (god): Matter/Laws of Nature • Everything is reduced to matter and its interactions: All events in all of history, past and future, are determined by the laws of science • Human value… or a simple reality like relational love • Matter and its interactions are not an end unto themselves, rather they are the “good” and “very good” creation of a loving relational Creator God POSTMODERNISM • Idol (god): Me… My accepted ideas • There is NO ultimate truth: Communal eb and flow dictate what is true • Human choice… You ultimately choose your actions • Human beings are not simply puppets of the prevailing social forces in action, rather they are invited into a transcendent community. Not one built on human ideas or concepts, but one founded on the ENTERNAL reality of an eternal and transcendent God

1 PETER 3: 14 – 16 • “Do not fear what they fear, * and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. * Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. ” DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE TRUTH: “GOSPEL” (HEBREWS 12: 1 – 2) • God is Triune: • Room to breathe… Isa 55 (Suffering example) • Real: Forgiveness, Victory, Family, New Life

GOD-SIZE BOX THE HUMAN HEART • Human will (choice) will we open the door God has gifted us • Human consciousness we are moral beings • Human value the “very good” creation of God in His likeness and image YOU WERE MADE BY GOD FOR GOD YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH!