The truth will make you free

There is a common idea that the truth will set you free. This idea is taken from the Bible specifically the book of John chapter 8 verse 32. This idea is interesting, why does the truth set us free? What about truth is freeing?

I have joined in many conversations about truth and even posted a couple of times on that topic, the general result of these conversations is that truth is very elusive. So what is the truth and how does it set us free? To begin the conversation I expect that truth is a firm or confirmable position, condition or fact.

During these discussions about truth I noticed that it was not uncommon for people to reject the idea that truth could exist. Instead of truth the accepted idea was perspective. For example gravity, it has been recorded as existing but since we are unable to observe it for all time past, present and future we are unable to fully confirm gravity as a truth but from our perspective it is reliable.

Without an idea of truth is there then freedom? Or perhaps we should look at freedom first. If we could establish the idea of a truth it would then be a bedrock concept that we could build from. This bedrock would be a safe place to begin creating something solid and permanent. But is that freedom? According to Merriam- Webster freedom is defined as “the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action”. Truth provides a place where I am free from another’s perspective dictating my understanding and there by my choices.

Is that why we are so afraid of truth? Because it makes us sole responsible for the results of our actions? The truth makes us responsible for choosing wisely since we are no longer able to blame another for the results. The truth sets us free but it also gives us all the credit or blame.

This leads us to the final question, what is true? What is this bedrock that permits us to make reliable decisions? The original context of this idea as I mentioned was the book of John where Jesus was talking. He said that truth was His word. Jesus’ point was that only by making choices based on what He said could you make correct decisions. He was of course referring to the need of people to believe that He was the son of God and that He had come to save the world. Contextually He was referring to the future event where by accepting His sacrifice on the cross could they be saved from eternal condemnation.

If indeed what Jesus said was true then we have the freedom to accept or reject His offer of salvation. If we do not believe this statement as truth we are enslaved by someone’s perspective of that event; perhaps even our own. Though if it is true that Jesus never said these words then that too sets us free to ignore the entire conversation.

Truth is vital as truth actually directs freedom. Find truth it matters much more than you might know.

Blessings