Absolute Truth VS. Relative Truth
Have you ever heard anyone declare, “Well I’m just following my truth.”? Everyone’s version of the truth is skewed. To an alcoholic their truth might be, “I’m not drunk”. They’ve become so numb to the sensation of drunkenness that it feels normal to them. A person with an eating disorder may state, “Well I’m really fat,” when they’re truly skin and bones to the rest of us. I could come up with a dozen more examples regarding a person’s truth, but I want to focus on another aspect of truth. There’s only the absolute truth, and everyone else’s truth is relative when placed up against absolute truth.
What is truth? We must first establish that before we delve further into what absolute and relative truth are. Dictionary.com defines truth: “the true or actual state of a matter; conformity with fact or reality; a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.” When you look closely at this definition it can also be pointed out that truth is factual and indisputable. It is not dependent on what you think or feel about it.
What is the difference between absolute truth and relative truth? Absolute truth is true regardless of how a person thinks or feels about it. An example of absolute truth is everything in the Universe is held together by gravity. Whether you like it or not, gravity is there and has been there since the foundations of time. A Biblical example of absolute truth is Jesus is Lord and there is no other authority in heaven or earth that is above Him. The scripture in Philippians 2:9-11 reveals this exact truth.
“Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:9-11
Feelings or opinions won’t matter on this day because the absolute truth of Christ’s deity will be revealed and felt by all on that day.
Relative truth is the belief truth changes based on the individual’s understanding of it. With relative truth, there are no absolutes and what may be true for you is simply not true for me.
People like to say, “You have your truth, and I have mine.” This statement is contradictory because if truth is factual and indisputable then truth can’t be different for everyone. Relative truth is merely a placeholder for absolute truth.
People like to create their own version of the truth because it allows them to be the god and creator of their own reality. The fact of the matter is feelings don’t trump facts and relative truth will never overpower absolute truth. Three facts about real truth are as follows: Truth is constant, objective, and will ultimately prevail.
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus is the absolute truth and any other path to heaven will ultimately lead to the lie people have been coddled to believe. Only the truth of Jesus Christ will set you free and unchain you from the lies of relative truth.