The Truth About w/ Pastor Del

The Truth About: Truth - Introduction/Overview

• Pastor Del • Episode 1

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Prepare to confront the silent crisis eroding our social fabric: the devaluation of truth. As your guide, Apostle / Pastor Del Phillips will take you on a profound exploration of why truth matters more than ever in the tapestry of human interactions. We'll examine the consequences of a society that sidesteps honesty, akin to ignoring traffic lights at a busy intersection. This episode promises an awakening to the pivotal role that truth plays in fostering trust and guiding our daily decisions and how its absence can unravel the very threads that hold our communities together.

w/ Pastor Del

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As societies and cultures become more elite and educated, they tend to avoid assigning an absolute value to that truth. The most valuable commodity in the 21st century will be truth. There is an obstacle, a hindrance that we face. I call it the great lie.

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This is Apost Pastor Del Phillips. Is truth absolute? If truth is absolute, this means if something is true, then the moment it becomes true it's true for all times. Studies show that you may be lied to anywhere from 10 to 200 times. If at some point you got lied to, it's because you agreed to get lied to. Somebody that says there's no such thing as absolute truth is making a statement. They Welcome to the Truth About Podcast.

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I am Pastor and Apostle Dale Phillips. I'm excited that you're joining us here today for our inaugural podcast for this series. Integral podcast for this series. The Truth About podcast is going to be a series of conversations where we will select a special subject matter, dig into the truth about that particular subject, providing research and data and information that is available to us to analyze the truth, to make sure that the truth is being well presented and highlighting things perhaps that many of us may be unaware of. There will be times where we'll have guests that will join us on our podcast, providing additional points of view and perspective as we collectively take a look at the truth. So we're excited to be able to get this started and for this inaugural podcast, it just makes sense for our subject matter to be truth itself. We're going to take this first series and dedicate our attention on just analyzing and reviewing the status of truth in the world that we live in right now.

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Let me give you a little testimonial on this in February of 2016. So this is almost 10 years ago, well before all the things that have began to reshape and reformat the world and society and environment that we live in right now. In 2016, I really was feeling this tremendous burden and a word from the Lord concerning truth, and this is specifically what I have kept in my notes that God shared with me the most valuable commodity in the 21st century will be truth. This is what he put in my heart and spirit almost 10 years ago. The most valuable commodity in the 21st century will be true. I had no idea that, a few years from there, we were going to see the entire world disrupted with a global pandemic, that we would see things reset, reformatted concerning how we do what we do, let alone start to see the waning away. Start to see the waning away, the dissolution, if you will, and destruction of truth as we have known it. So, with that in mind, I've been anxious to get this podcast started to focus on this subject matter in particular. I know that there are many voices out there that are also providing perspectives on this. I am intentional about providing a biblical, a godly voice and perspective on this subject matter.

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I'm not claiming to be the expert in all things or in everything, but I am going to put and set my heart and attention specifically on making sure that truth is being presented wherever it may lead us, with that being said, in this series we're going to focus on just an analysis of the status of truth in the world that we live in right now. So I'm going to just give an overview, a background, some various different things that are generally related to this subject matter overall, and our next podcast, we'll take a more pointed look at specific issues concerning the truth and the status of the truth that we're reviewing, but right now, this is going to be a real generalization, intentionally to look at some things behind the scenes, in the background. How did we get here? You know some things that are fundamental in that and to begin this conversation, we're going to turn our attention to the New Testament, to a passage of scripture found in the 18th chapter of the book of St John John, chapter 18, verse 38, gives us an opportunity to hear a word from someone that we don't normally pay much attention to. We don't give a lot of highlight, reference or our recognition on this particular conversation, but it is the best place for us to start this conversation today to deal with the overview, the background, of what is happening with the truth.

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In verse 38 in John's Gospel, chapter 18, there is a man named Pontius Pilate who has been given custody to a man that claims to be the Messiah. This Roman governor asked a very pointed question what is truth? What is truth? The curiosity of Pilate, the governor of Judea, sparked a profound question that still eludes a definitive answer today. The question suggests an empirical truth exists, yet as societies and cultures become more elite and educated, they tend to avoid assigning an absolute value to that truth. Absolute truth requires self-examination, asking and answering the hard questions about moral behavior. If a fixed, absolute response or mannerism is considered right, then all remaining options and reactions must be deemed and categorized as wrong. Applying absolute truth to contemporary culture is challenging because, by default, current culture views right and wrong as circumstantial options. This is the way of man right now, allowing for a built-in alternative to abandon.

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The necessity of a fixed course is embedded with a hunger to plot a course of its own, to be able to control turn-by-turn decisions. I know, right there, I can sense that many of us have been that individual in the car behind the driver's wheel and, whether you listen to Siri or whoever your navigational voice might be, you know that you're headed to a somewhat familiar destination. But you needed the directions. And as you are listening to those turn-by turn directions. In your mind, you made a decision yeah, but I'm not going to go that way, because I'm pretty sure I know where I'm. I just need you to get me to this point, and then I got it from here. We have this instinct, embedded desire to plot our own, turn by turn, decisions. We want control. I want to illuminate perhaps where that hunger and that desire comes from.

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Just before the Greek Golden Age, there was a shift from the study of the world and environment created by an unseen force for humans and understanding their place in creation, their place in creation. This was a time when what is noted as the sophist began to turn their attention away from the creator and the world that the creator created, and understanding where man's place was in the world created by this unseen force. Turning away from that premise, which had been established by older cultures from Africa and the Asian region for thousands of years before the Greeks came on the scene Now, these Sophists decided to turn their attention away from the world and its environment to study the human, to put the focus on man and his attributes, his consciousness and emotions. From the Sophist's perspective, a man was more important than his environment. His existence superseded the world created by an unseen force. The world around man would be defined and then aligned, with man as the center of attention, all things evolving around him. In this way, the Greeks abandoned the path initiated by older and more knowledgeable cultures and more knowledgeable cultures. These earlier cultures recognized humanity's place as dependent on a higher life giver that was responsible for the world in which all people lived. But the pre-Socratic thinkers in 600 BCE introduced the concept of steering their focus and attention away from the work of God to put all attention and focus on the mannerisms and productivity of man, to the Greeks during what we identify as the golden age, the age of enlightenment among within their culture. This was before the time of some of the better known philosophers that would come later following, you know, plato and Aristotle and other voices such as rhetoric.

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Rhetoric is a tool used to win arguments through the art of persuasion. It's an artistic methodology to engage in debate and discussion. Here's what's important. The reason I bring this up is because the aim and goal of rhetoric is not to discern or discover truth, but simply to win the argument. It's not about facts and truthful revelation. It's about sensation and the ability to win, to be persuasive, listen to be influential, listen to be influential. This allowed rhetoric speakers to become celebrated in that 600 BC era and they were sought after as itinerant teachers throughout Greek society.

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One example that I'm simply going to highlight just for the sake of conversation a gentleman by the name of Protagoras. He is a descendant of the pre-Socratic thinkers and was known for parenting the idea that man is the measure of all things. I want to make sure you get that Protagoras introduced this idea. That would become an ideal that man is the measure of all things, meaning that everything is centered and aligned to the actions and activity of man. In confirmation, his rhetoric is referenced by the great Greek philosopher, plato, who also added or clarifies that, from Protagoras' point of view, there is no objective truth. It's another way to say that there is no absolute right or absolute wrong, because the world evolves around man and man is the measure of all things. So whatever man measures is correct measure of all things. So whatever man measures is correct.

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The takeaway from his teaching implies that, individually, every person creates their personal history, experiences and expectations so that over time it will determine their judgments, their opinions and beliefs, and their beliefs would become their truth, making truth circumstantial, making truth being a response to the moment, tell me that this mindset is not what we see present in the world where we live today. Watch this, even when we go back and review this conversation that Pontius Pilate had with the Messiah. This Roman governor was born 500 years after Protagoras and in his response to the Messiah, 500, some odd years after this pre-Socratic introduction of everything evolves around man, that man is the measure of all things. This question that Pontius Pilate raises what is truth? It was influenced by the culture that had groomed him. See, for Pontius Pilate, there was truth. No absolute truth. Truth was provisional. That's what he's saying. What is truth? It's applicable to every man's personal, private journey and experience. What is truth? If you are the supposed son of God, tell me what is truth. Because, from his point of view, because of the culture that had informed and groomed him, truth was provisional and not absolute.

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The history of the Greek and the Roman mindset stands behind the current day model that continues to advocate for truth to be self-determined and self-governed. This mindset is the great threat and enemy to absolute truth. If a specific truth is absolute, this means the moment that it becomes true. It will remain true for all times. True, it will remain true for all times. If it is true, it cannot become untrue. If it is absolute, it will always be absolutely true.

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The Bible sustains the premise of absolute truth In the Gospel of John. This is a passage that many of us are familiar with. The Messiah declares himself as absolute truth. Final year of ministry on earth, his disciples learned that he is the way, the truth and the life. His statement, semantically definitive, used the T-H-E, the, to amplify each declaration that he made as a definitive article. He said I am the way, the truth, the life. This was a definitive declaration. He is not one way of many. He is the way. He is not a truth among an assortment of truth. He is the absolute truth. He is not life on Mondays and something different on Friday. He is the life eternally. An absolute truth is absolutely true. Watch this all the time. Here's something else for us to consider Time. Here's something else for us to consider.

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An absolute truth also will have an impact on your next step, on the next moment in your journey. When an absolute truth is presented to you, it's going to have an impact immediately. I want you to think about this. I just want to insert this as an example. If you're walking down the street or driving down the road and you see a sign that says do not enter danger, do not enter Danger, do not enter. That is an immediate requirement for you to respond to. It's not a suggestion, it is an adamant, definitive statement Do not enter Danger, do not enter. What happens? It's going to impact the very next decision you make. That's the impact of truth. That is absolute. An absolute truth is not circumstantial. That sign doesn't say hey, you know, maybe you shouldn't enter this way because it might be dangerous. No, it says do not enter because someone has already determined the outcome. They know exactly what will happen. Danger awaits you on the other side. Do not enter.

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Absolute truth requires an immediate response. When Jesus says to his disciples I am the way, the truth, the life, the expectation is that an immediate response, change of direction, is going to take place. When he tells you he's the way, that means whatever path you have been walking on is not the way, because he's just presented the way. Whatever truth you have been subject to must not be the truth, because he is the truth. And so now you need to surrender to the truth. And so now you need to surrender to the truth. Whatever you thought was going to bring you life, and you're wrestling with the outcome, it's because he is the life. Life, absolute truth Requires An immediate response. It will change how we live. Since we're there because we need to actually look at the response of these disciples.

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Unfortunately, they were also impacted by the culture of the day. This is the reason I really feel this is applicable. Just like Pontius Pilate had his thinking infected by the aftermath and remains of Greek culture, who were pushing away from true standards that have been established by cultures for thousands of years before them, now they have gone a different way to focus not on the creator, but to focus on things created. That belief that man is the center of the world impacted Roman culture, and now we're listening to the response of the disciples who say to Jesus, after he makes this definitive statement I am the way, the truth and the life. They say to him how can we know the way? What Aren't you paying attention? I just told you. I am Not a way, I am the way. Their response was how can we know? How can we have knowledge? How can we experience? How can we affirm the way. See, even their thinking has been impacted by their culture.

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Believers in the world we live in right now, we're not careful. Our ideology, our mindset, our thinking can be impacted and even diluted by the culture that we live in. For these men? They argued how can we know the way? We don't know where you're going. We don't know how to get to where, to what you are pointing at. We don't know how to get to where, to what you are pointing at. We don't know the way. Sometimes, because of our weaknesses, because of our failures, because of our missteps, we think it's impossible for us to change. We think it's not possible for us to remove ourselves from the path that we may have been born into in the natural world.

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As these disciples push back when Jesus is saying I am the way. They're saying, but I've made too many mistakes, I don't know how to get to where you are. And all the son of God is saying is I'm not asking you to make a way, I've already made a way. I'm not judging your past failures, your past missteps. I'm telling you I am the way, watch this. But until we change direction, direction will never change. Direction will never change. See, once we are introduced to an absolute truth. We have to respond to it.

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The disciples needed to respond to the relationship invitation that the Messiah was presenting to them. Come with me. Just leave behind all the missteps, all the failures, all the mess ups. Just leave that behind and come with me. I am the way, the truth, the life. Nothing will change until a person changes direction. Following God's path will lead us to God's truth, the absolute truth and the absolute path will lead us to God's truth. The absolute truth and the absolute truth will lead us to life. That's where we want to be.

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The Messiah did not come to give us a new set of rules and regulations. In John, chapter 10, verse 10, he says I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly, without limitations, that you would have the full. Having a relationship with he who is the way leads to truth. Truth that provides us with access to eternal life. But there is interference. But there is interference. There is an obstacle, a hindrance that we face. I call it the great lie.

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Historically presented over the past and re-offered presently today, the great lie suggests that there is an alternate path that leads to life. That's a lie. Alternate path that is less restrictive, an alternate path that allows you to be self-adaptive to your own options. Such a path exists, but it doesn't lead to life. You can choose your own way, but your way does not lead to life. The Messiah described the alternate paths as broad ways, and many there would be that are found in the broad ways. Wide path that makes it easy and accessible. But what's important to remember is not how well paved the path is, not how well attended the path is meaning that there are many people who have gathered to walk that path, and it's not even about what appears to be the immediate rewards that come with that path. What's important is the destination, where the path will lead, where the path will lead.

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His commentary, the Messiah speaking on or against that great lie that there's an alternative path, he says that straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life. This is the only path that leads to life, his way, because he is the way. So he says straight is that gate, narrow is that way. And then the statistical commentary that he adds. That is so disturbing. He says, and few people Few there be that will find it In that passage of scripture in the Gospel of Matthew, in chapter 7,.

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It is mind-boggling that when the way of life is presented, there are only a few that respond to it. Why? Because the path is restrictive. It's a straight gate Does not allow for you to bring all the other elements of life, all of the other accessories, with you. It requires us to narrow down and to make straight our way so that our focus watch this is not on how well the path is paved, how many attend the path, but the focus of the narrow path is the end destination. It doesn't matter that sometimes the path is rocky, it doesn't matter that sometimes I feel isolated on this path. What matters is where it leads. It leads to life. Leading to life is what's important about the truth. The truth always leads to life.

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As a matter of fact, the truth empowerstery, meaning that her sin could be penalized immediately by stoning her to death. And she was brought into the presence the Messiah and asked the Messiah to pass judgment on this woman who had sinned. And it's interesting, the truth is going to equalize everybody in the room Because, instead of the Messiah judging one woman, the Messiah says to all those who are prepared to destroy this one woman he that is without sin, let that person cast the first stone. Wait for it. So here is the challenge that the accusers now face If they want to stone her, they all have to be prepared to be stoned, because not one among them is without sin. This is what truth will do. Truth will equalize the room.

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Truth will show the truth, not just about one of us, but about all of us. And when they recognize that they are now exposed by the truth, they drop their stones and walk away. And Jesus says to the woman there's no one left to stone you. Just in the same way, no other left to stone you. Just in the same way, no other man will stone you. I'm not going to stone you. God is not going to stone you. God is not going to condemn you. Go and sin. Watch this no more. Be released from the lies that they have incarcerated you with. In her absence, he uses this to teach his disciples that the truth will make you free.

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When the truth is fully revealed, it will speak truth to every person in the room and the truth will release us from the lies that have incarcerated us. The truth will release us from the sin that has held us as prisoners, making us believe that there was no way out. You have to stay on this path. The truth comes and says you are now free for life. You are free to experience life. You are free to have life and to have it more abundantly.

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Truth unlocks the spiritually incarcerated that have been prevented and hindered from experiencing life. You see, sometimes in society, and even sometimes within our religious institutions, there are those who want to establish barriers to access life privileges that should be available to everyone. Society creates classes with boundaries that prevent undesirables from gaining access to privileged, distinct status. Religion often functions with less visible class markers, but achieves similar distinctions between between people considered less spiritual or valued based upon inbred status symbols within religion. But truth reveals the truth about us all. Truth will show the truth about those who believe they rightfully have status that they don't have rights to possess. Truth will make us free.

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Knowledge of the truth empowers and releases all people to walk in the purpose that God has intended. I have to underscore that knowledge of the truth. You can't be set free if you don't know the truth. Why is the truth so important in the world we live in right now? Because if you don't know the truth, then you cannot be free, released to fully embrace the life that God has intended for us to have. This really gets to the last observation I want to make on this overview concerning the status of truth.

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The truth is under fire, the truth is being attacked, and there's a reason for that. In the next podcast series we're going to put our focus on the attack against the truth, but as I close this one, I want to simply amplify the reason that truth is under attack. The world has a competing course that it wants to influence others to follow. The reason truth is being attacked is because the world has something to gain and they don't want to lose. The world wants to influence as many people as possible to follow its way. While the Messiah is saying I am the way, the world is offering and promoting that the world's way is a better alternative. It's competing against the way of God and truth is being attacked because truth is what leads to God's way.

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So the world has a competing course leading its followers in the opposite direction, away from God. Its path is the opposite of life. The world's course is opposed to life. The world's course has signage that suggests that it's going to lead you somewhere. You'll never arrive Because, in the end, all paths that the world has established lead to destruction and it doesn't matter where you enter or how long you've been traveling. That path is going to lead to destruction.

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The course of the world is structured to maintain its own order, to make sure you don't know the truth and to promote the way of the world or watch this the way of personal choice. Way of personal choice. Protagoras said that man is the center of all things, that you have the right to live by your own experience, to chart your own journey, to be in charge of your own turn by turn directions, because the world is made for you. You are the center of the world. That is a promotion that was made 600 years before the Messiah was born. And here we are, 2000,000 plus years later from his birth, and there are still people who have been imprisoned by that untruth, by that lie, misdirection.

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The mindset of world thinkers is in contradiction to the creator. The prophet Isaiah was directly told by God that God's thoughts and ways are not similar to those of man. God's ways are higher and separated ascores that God is not like man. His ways do not look familiar. He's not trying to make it comfortable, to make it pleasant and easy, so that we can follow his way and not be attracted by the way of the world we live in.

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God is simply saying my ways and my thoughts are not like you, in the same manner that Jesus said I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. God is saying my way is my thoughts. You're never going to get to the destination of life if you don't follow my ways. It's never going to look familiar. It's not going to be less restrictive. It's going to require you to make a decision because of the immediacy of absolute truth. Following the course of this world requires a buy-in to all the world, all that the world offers. It's not possible to taste what it offers without in some way being tainted by it. In the past, the world's offerings were less conspicuous and much more discreet. Were less conspicuous and much more discreet, but the offering that's being presented today. It includes all of the contaminated ingredients.

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All the side effects are written on the side of the label and the instructions that reveal the end results, and yet there is an audience eager and hungry to take it all in. Thank you for joining the Truth About podcast today. Tune in for the new Truth About topic on our next episode out.