NEWS: THEME FOR THE YEAR
Theme for the Year
The Pursuit of Truth
It is little wonder that early generations of Christians were often regarded as a sect by many of their contemporaries. Imagine those congregations in Roman-Asian cities such as Ephesus, surrounded by abundant non-Christian claims of certainty and truth. For centuries, devout pilgrims had traveled hundreds of miles to worship the Ephesian Artemis, completely convinced about the truth of her existence and power. Closer to the times of the New Testament, the people of Ephesus, and all people within several days’ journey, had begun to take an oath of allegiance to the reigning Caesar of Rome, with complete confidence in Rome’s might and security. For more than half a millennium in that part of the world, local homes, marketplaces, gymnasiums and theaters had hosted ubiquitous philosophers and sophists who offered their “truths” both to students and bystanders. What perspectives could have aided those early believers in the midst of such a cacophony of truth claims? Clearly, early Christian leaders provided a compass by reminding their fellow believers of the certainty of God’s truth, of God’s revelation in the Messiah, and that God’s church was “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
The Restoration Movement has clearly shared in the early church’s conviction about the importance of truth, the close connection between truth and salvation (1Timothy 2:4), and the importance of truth as a guide to the maturity of believers (Ephesians 4:14-15). While modern thinkers and Christian groups have often felt a kindred spirit with Pilate when he asked, “What is truth?” the convictions and passions of churches of Christ have not resonated with Pilate’s agnosticism, but rather with Jesus’ own claim: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Admittedly, the pursuit of truth must have an almost archaic sound to it in the ears of many contemporaries since this pursuit seems to be vanishing from the American landscape. The overweight bodies that are increasingly dotting the American landscape are in some ways matched by the lazy souls and minds of Americans — minds and souls nurtured on spiritual and intellectual junk food. Contemporary culture’s practice of lowering the bar of educational aspirations and its replacement of virtue, values and valor with entertainment has all but destroyed any perceived need or desire for the pursuit of anything, much less truth. Indeed, the pervasive Zeitgeist of entitlement has left many believing that their needs and wants will be delivered to them. Even if truth were to knock on the door, many Americans would not exert the effort to even answer it. Although Scripture uses imagery of pursuit, running and physical training as common metaphors for the life and maturity of the believer, spiritual convictions based upon such imagery have little place in the life of the contemporary American church. The American “pursuit of happiness” has obviously left its mark.
Even though contemporaries might grant the idea of a truth or personal truth, they are usually resistant to the notion of God’s absolute truth. This relativistic outlook is not a new threat to the people of God. The refrain from the book of Judges that the people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25) is but one of many such examples. The pre-Socratic philosopher Protagoras is credited with the assertion that “man is the measure of all things,” usually interpreted to mean that subjective values and experiences of humans form the basic criteria for determining “truth.” Ironically, the pagan culture contemporary with Protagoras seems to have been more astute about the dangers of this relativistic outlook than are many Americans, including American Christians. Once again, the ethos of the surrounding culture has at times intruded into the community of God.
A commitment to the pursuit of truth, like all pursuits related to God, remains a lifelong commitment. The believer never arrives at a place in this life where the pursuit of truth should cease. Surely there are important transitions and stations in this pursuit, but the pursuer of God’s truth is never satisfied. As the 2008-09 academic year begins at Harding University Graduate School of Religion, the theme “The Pursuit of Truth” will help guide the direction of chapel talks, periods of devotion and worship, and the West Lectures. In all these activities, may our quest for truth be both diligent and bold, and may we all be encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s words: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Dr. Rick Oster
Professor of New Testament
