Absolute Truth in a Relative World
What is relativity?
Albert Einstein is often credited (true or not) with saying this about relativity: “Sit on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like two hours; sit with a pretty girl for two hours, and it seems like a minute.” Objectively, relativity is ‘the absence of standards of absolute and universal application.’ (Oxford Languages) Essentially, relativity means that everyone is right and no one is right at the same time. For example, you probably have heard something like these statements, or even said them yourself: “There is no absolute truth” or “What’s right for you isn’t necessarily right for me.” While these seem like profound statements, closer examination reveals the absurdity and fatal flaws of these statements.
Let’s examine the first premise, that there is no absolute truth. Think about that for a second. Do you consider that statement to be true? Not only do you want it to be true, but is it actually true? The answer is no, it is not true. In order for this premise to be true, the statement itself is false; they are directly contradicting each other. Basically, for this statement to be correct- that there is no absolute truth- it requires an absolute truth. Which then means that there IS absolute truth, which makes the statement false.
Well, you might say, I can see that the first premise is contradicting itself, but what about the second premise, that right and wrong are subjective (or situational)? That has to be true, right? Unfortunately, the answer is no, yet again. Why, you may ask? Good question! Let’s look at the reasons why this statement is false. First, right and wrong must be based on something objective, something that is absolutely true; without the standard of truth as the solid ground to stand on, nothing is right or wrong. If we accept the premise that right and wrong are subjective, then things like rape and murder are perfectly fine, as are stealing, lying, cheating on your spouse, etc. But wait, you might say, those are things that we recognize in society as being bad!
Sure, but WHY are they wrong?
Without a standard of truth, it is simply an opinion that those things are wrong. I’m sure you see the issue here: without a standard of right and wrong that supersedes our limited perspective, even things that are considered really bad by most people can’t really be wrong. Second, if right and wrong are subjective, then no one can say that Stalin, Hitler, and slave owners were wrong. Rather, they just didn’t live in a society that was advanced enough to know that what they were doing was wrong. And, more importantly, the people who were killed and abused and experimented on by them were just unlucky enough to be born at the wrong time in history. Do you hear how absurd that sounds? I hope so!
But what does that mean for you? First and foremost, it means that there is a standard for truth that exists outside of our finite (limited) perspective by which our actions and motives are measured. It also means that this standard would have to be knowable and understandable, and most importantly, not contradictory. It must be true regardless of whether we’re on earth or the moon, whether it’s 2026 AD or 2026 BC, or whether we believe it to be true or not. That last one is hard, but hear me out. Let’s say I have a severe peanut allergy, where ingesting even a tiny bit of peanut butter will cause serious medical issues and probably death. You, as my friend, know this about me. What would you think if I told you that I believed, without a shadow of doubt, that I could eat your PB&J sandwich for lunch and be fine? You would probably look at me like I was crazy (rightfully so) and refuse to share your sandwich with me. Why? Because you recognize that my belief in something, no matter how strongly I believe (in this example, that I can consume peanut butter without issues), doesn’t make it true! Hence, truth is not dependent on my belief for it to be true.
Why is that so important? Well, simply put, your future is at stake. Genesis 1:1 says that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth; in the first two chapters of Genesis, we see how creation came to be. God is the author of creation; He made it from nothing, simply speaking creation into existence. In Exodus 20:1-17, God gives us the absolute standard, or Law, by which our actions and motives are measured: the 10 commandments. Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man that He should repent; has He said and will He not do, or has He spoken and will it not come to pass? In other words, God is Truth! Everything He says is true and can be trusted, even the things that have not happened yet. It also means that when God tells us about who we are, we should pay attention, because it is true! So, what does God tell us about ourselves? First, we have all broken the Law of God; Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 1 John 1:8 says that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Second, Romans 6:23a says that the wages of sin is death. Sin is a serious matter to God, and that’s bad news for us! Surely, you’ll say, I can be good enough to make up for the times that I sin and break the Law of God; Isaiah 64:6 tells us otherwise, ‘For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment…’ Basically, you and I cannot do anything to ‘make up’ for breaking God’s Law.
So what can you do to repair your relationship with God? Nothing! That’s where the good news comes in! Jesus did what we could not do; He came to earth and lived a perfect life. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, was buried and then rose again on the third day. Why is that good news? Because Jesus made the way for us to have fellowship and relationship with God, through His sacrifice on the cross! Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13 say that ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Call out to God; repent of your sin and put your faith and trust totally in the work of Jesus. Romans 10:11 says that whoever believes in [Jesus] will not be put to shame. God is true in all He says and does; He will never stop being true. Do not wait; put your trust in Him today. Nothing and no one else can save you. That is the TRUTH!
