Throughout history, differing views of absolute truth have often resulted in wars, genocides, economic oppression, and relational devastation. We’ve all seen countless marriages, families, companies, and countries devastated by someone freely expressing their viewpoint of what truth really is.
Consequently, rather than leaning toward absolute truth, many have chosen to lean away from it. They think truth is dangerous. Truth is relative. To each their own…
However, could it be more dangerous to abdicate absolute truth than to seek it?
Think about it this way: Truth influences our expression of power, and power influences the world. Our exercise of power, especially in leadership and relationships, is rooted in what we believe to be true. If we say truth is not absolute but relative, we must also say that power—the expression of truth—is also relative. If power is relative, then we find ourselves in a very dangerous situation and lose our moral ground to disagree with the abuse of power. Because if truth is relative, so is the expression of that truth—power.
For example, modern terrorism is an abuse of power based on what terrorists believe is the absolute truth. But if we claim that truth is relative, and "to each their own," then who are we to disagree with how terrorists display their power based on what they believe is truth? If we disagree with their use of power, we are claiming our truth is more absolute than theirs. If that’s the case, truth is not relative—is it?
Therefore, seeking the absolute truth is of absolute importance because how we display power, treat other people, and influence the world is deeply rooted in what we believe is truth.
In John 14:6, Jesus claimed to be the absolute truth. If Jesus is who he claims to be, how did he influence the world and display power?
Jesus displayed power as a tool to serve and love not as a weapon to oppress and control.
To give some examples, He did this by:
- Healing the blind, crippled, and lame
- Forgiving those who were considered unforgivable
- Loving the unlovable
- Bringing equal value to women and children in a culture that largely devalued them
- Bringing equal value to the poor, marginalized, and oppressed
- Laying down His sinless life so that a sinful world can live free from sin
- Building a church that would love, serve, forgive, heal, restore, and give up their lives for others
Power is a gift and a tool. We all display power every day by how we treat, interact with, and influence the world around us. And how we manifest power comes directly from what we believe is absolute truth.
If we truly believe that Jesus is the absolute truth and the all-powerful God and Creator of the universe, as he claims to be—and he used his power to love, serve, heal, and forgive—then those who claim to follow Jesus should do the same and use their power to influence the world the way Jesus modeled it.
So the big question is this: What is the absolute truth from which you’re drawing your power, and how is that impacting the people around you? Are you using it as a tool to serve and love or a weapon to oppress and control?
