(This is a follow-up from my April 29th post: Knowing Truth)
As a first step in knowing truth, we must be willing to change our mind and go where the facts lead. Apart from that openness we will never know the truth. Whether we’re assessing the character of a politician, testing the veracity of the Gospels, or trying to figure out what really happened on 9-11, we MUST follow the evidence wherever it leads.
In both classical education and historic Christianity there are three universally recognized paths to discovering the truth: Reason, Experimentation, and Revelation. These three ought to validate each other like three stars in perfect alignment. If one of them fails to align with the other two, we will lack confidence, and need to continue investigating. We’ll look at them one at a time in no particular order:
1. Reason: “Come let us reason together…” – Isaiah 1:1
If a person were hiking through the woods of South Dakota and he came upon the above scene, his reason would tell him immediately that this was the work of a designer and not the product of erosion. Mount Rushmore is far too detailed and complex to have just “happened” on its own. Reason is never an enemy of the Christian, but rather our friend and ally. Therefore we must learn to handle it well, “…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.” 1 Peter 3:15.
2. Experience and experimentation: “Test all things, hold onto what is true.” – 1 Thessalonians.5:21
We learn by experience. Infants enter the world as little scientists, testing this and that to discover information about the world. We learn that touching a hot burner is painful every single time. I remember biting into a horseradish when I was five and experiencing a pain so profound I thought I would die. It was a learning experience that has informed me for a lifetime. To Thomas Jesus said “…reach here with your hand, and put it into my side.” (John 20:27) That’s an invitation to discover truth by experience.
3. Revelation: “… this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 16:17
But there are some things which cannot be known by direct experience or reason alone. These things must be revealed to us by God himself. Apart from the scriptures there is no way, for instance, we could know that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1-2 The good news is that revelation has been given to us in the sixty-six books of the Bible. And when acted upon, it will be confirmed by both reason and experience.
In a culture that questions the very existence of Truth itself, we disciples of Jesus must learn to recognize, value, and defend it at every opportunity.
Dispatches from the Shadowlands 
Excellent and clear writing once again, Don. It seems that reason has gone out the back door for so many in our culture who are hoodwinked by compromised media peddling lies. Somehow, many Christians automatically accept false narratives because they blindly believe these media sources since they have been around so long and did have, at one time, a more honest, unbiased approach. Only an awakening of revelation will uncover the lack of reason which leads to unreasonable conclusions.
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Thank you, Barb! “Only an awakening of revelation will uncover the lack of reason which leads us to unreasonable conclusions ” BOOM! That’s it, isn’t it!? Our lack of revelation. We’ve been taught a version of Christ: perhaps a “Savior,” and maybe for those who press it, our “Lord”. But seldom are we presented with “Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” If we only had eyes to see the mind-bending fullness of God in flesh. Your comments are always so insightful.
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That’s exactly right. We need to all be praying Ephesians 1:17 daily, asking for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. We need the revelation of God not only to understand His Word, but also to apply it in the midst of the confusing and chaotic times in which we live.
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