The Bible is absolutely clear that God has revealed Himself to every human in at least two ways: His creation and our consciences. Romans 1:20 says, "Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Paul goes on to say that we also have the witness of our conscience telling us there is a sovereign Lawgiver: Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them (Romans 2:14-15).
The point is, the only way humans can deny the existence and love of God is by an active choice of the will.
Is "ALL TRUTH GOD’S TRUTH"?
An unfortunate twisting of this biblical concept of "general revelation"-that is, God revealed outside of Scripture-is the over-used and abused phrase, “All truth is God's truth." There is, perhaps, no more dangerous threat to the dike of accurate biblical doctrine that holds back the floods of heresy than this psychological plea to accept all "truth" as God's.
Larry Crabb has written, "Truth is truth, whether scientific truth or theological truth, whether found in the psychologist's laboratory or in the Bible student’s library." Psychologists, however, rarely address one determines what is true, and that question is essential because "scientific" research, findings, and theories are in a constant state of flux. Even more appalling is Dr. Crabb's next sentence: "To speak of biblical truth as somehow more authoritative than scientific truth is really absurd. Truth has authority over error, not over another truth."
I couldn’t disagree more. Biblical truth must have primacy over other "truth," for man's "truth" one day is found to be false the next.
The consequences of such foolish thinking are enormous. Pastor Tom Watson points out, "Using the ‘all truth' philosophy, anything can be proclaimed as truth. For example when Focus on the Family introduced a tape by New Ager Norman Cousins, the announcer made these statements:
We are fully aware that Norman Cousins does not come from an evangelical Christian perspective, but all truth is God's truth. If it's true, it came from God, and the next twenty minutes we feel are true and valuable and will make a contribution in your life. Cousins’ teaching was one of holistic health that one can control pain, bleeding, and infection through a mental process. James said, `This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic' (James 3:15 NASB)."
A dear pastor friend of mine recently commented on the phrase "all truth is God’s truth" by saying, "I agree. And all grass seed is grass seed. You can buy it in a clean container at the garden shop or you can go to the stable and separate it from horse manure."
From a proper source you will get consistent quality in grass seed, while from the stable you will get some grass and some weeds. When you're picking seed out of manure, you never quite know what you're getting. And in the same way, when you’re picking through the world's systems to find "truth" you never quite know what you're getting.
The question is, why would Christian paw through the filth of "hollow and deceptive philosophy" (Colossians 2:8) to find a few seeds of truth when God has already revealed in His Word everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)?
DATA Is NOT THE SAME AS TRUTH
The concept “all truth is God's truth" is seductively appealing until one realizes that data is not the same as truth. To arrive at truth, a person must interpret the data in accordance with reliable principles of rational analysis. In the physical realm, we must rely upon scientific method (which we discussed earlier), and in the spiritual arena, we must follow consistent biblical hermeneutics (a fancy word for "system of interpretation").
Let me illustrate. A psychologist and a biblical counselor may observe the same person who is exhibiting classical symptoms of depression-exhaustion, loss of appetite, sense of hopelessness, apathy, social withdrawal, insomnia, and so on. Both counselors can ask questions to collect more data. In the end, however, they will probably arrive at different conclusions about the root problems and the treatment required because they will analyze the data according to their system of interpretation.
You might well argue, "But the truth is, the person is depressed." Granted. But is that the level of truth people are speaking of when they cry out, "All truth is God’s truth"? I don't believe so. I think they are pleading the case that foundational life-altering truths are just as available from the world as from the Word. And that is where I disagree.
Think carefully about what Larry Crabb said: "To speak of biblical truth as somehow more authoritative than scientific truth is really absurd. Truth has authority over error, not over another truth." His statement is representative of the thinking of those who wish to integrate psychological theories with biblical principles to form a "truth" superior to the Scriptures alone.
We would do well to ask the same question Pilate asked Jesus: "What is truth?" (John 18:38). He was responding to Jesus' ministry statement, "For this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37). He had defined truth earlier in the book of John when He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
To suggest that all "truth" is equally authoritative borders on heresy, dear friend, and I urge all Christians to exercise extreme caution when listening to or reading books by "experts" who argue that "all truth is God’s truth.”
ENOUGH TRUTH FOR JUDGMENT, BUT NOT FOR SALVATION
The sad limitation of "general revelation" is that it removes all excuses about not knowing God, but it cannot provide enough information to be saved or sanctified.
We are accountable for what we know about God, and the physical world tells us about His infinity, His power, and His goodness (Romans 1:20). The vastness of the universe reveals God's infinity and eternal nature; it is so immense that we must measure distances in light years. From the macroscopic view of the cosmos to the microscopic complexity of molecules and atoms, God's limitless nature is so obvious that to deny His existence is the result of willful and active choice.
Like His infinity, God's awesome power is also clearly revealed by nature through the destructive force of nuclear reactions, the deafening roar of Niagara Falls, and the explosive energy of surging volcanoes. From the mighty winds of hurricanes, to the brilliant flashes of lightning, to rolling ocean tides, God's measureless power is plain to see.
Yet even from the signs of nature, God's gracious character is shown with crystal clarity. Jesus said that God "causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). God’s material provision for all people is a testimony to His love-even for those who despise Him. He "provides food for the raven" (Job 38:41) and even notices when a sparrow dies (Matthew 10:29). All of His care and providence show His love and gentleness to an undeserving world.
That is why God says that we are "without excuse" (Romans 1:20), and if we are without excuse, we will be held accountable for our lives, whether or not we choose to submit to His authority. Paul writes, "each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12), and Peter adds this warning: "They will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead" (1 Peter 4:5).
SPECIAL REVELATION IS REQUIRED
God has given us enough information in the pages of nature to reveal His existence, but for salvation, we need "special revelation"-that which God Himself has revealed to us in the Scriptures. Without this special information, we are hopelessly lost. As Jeremiah writes, "Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD" (Jeremiah 8:7). The result of this spiritual ignorance is that "they go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me" (Jeremiah 9:3).
Have you ever wondered why people are so incurably evil? Why is there so much anger, violence, pain, and sorrow? Why do people persecute one another in the name of religion? Jesus explained it quite simply: "They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me" (John 16:3). Jeremiah is not as gentle in his assessment: "My people are fools; they do not know [God]. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good" (4:22).
To remedy this problem, God has given us the written Word. Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed [or inspired] and is useful for teaching [doctrine], rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible is God's "special revelation." It tells us about the origin of the universe, how man came to exist, our purpose on earth, why we suffer, the process of inner healing, and how we can live forever. It explains the past, present, and future of all humanity. None of these things can be understood by "general revelation” alone, so it became necessary for God to communicate these truths to humans through the prophecies that are recorded in Scripture.
THE REQUIRED RESPONSE OF FAITH
Many people who are intellectually honest enough to admit the existence of God are still uncomfortable with the fact that God requires each human to make a choice of faith. It is not enough to know that God is, for He also demands a personal response. Moses referred to this obligation when he said to his people, "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
The majority of humans foolishly choose death over submission to God, and what’s amazing is that God allows us to go the direction we choose. Joshua said, "If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15).
In His mercy, God often gives us a prolonged period of time to make this most important decision of our existence. But there eventually comes a moment when we must decide what we are going to do about God. Elijah brought to a moment of decision when he said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD Is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him" (1 Kings 18:21).
Perhaps that same choice is now confronting you. Having considered the concept of God’s existence and the insurmountable evidence pointing toward Him, you must decide for yourself whether you will acknowledge Him as your own God. A liberating fact is that He will never force you to love Him, for He wants your decision to come freely from your heart.
There will come a day, however, when the freedom to choose will be over. Then everyone will acknowledge God as the King of the universe whether they wish to or not. It will be too late for the rebel to be saved, but he will be forced to his knees before Almighty God. "`As surely as I live,' says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God"' (Romans 14:11).
But today, God’s mercy still reigns, and He invites you and all others to "turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22)
WHAT SUBMISSION TO GOD INVOLVES
People have been asking this question from the beginning of time: What does God require? The prophet Micah anticipated that question when he wrote, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
Please note what the passage does not mention: painful ritual, mysterious chanting, monastic robes, official membership in a church, or any of the other trappings of man's religion. In every age and in every location, what God has always required is a loving walk with Him.
In keeping with that metaphor, may I point out the obvious? God has designed our walk to be bipedal, which, being interpreted, means we have two feet. And just as our physical walk requires the balanced cooperation between both feet, so our walk with God is a delicate balance of two foundational elements: Our last chapter will deal with these essential parts of Christian living, but for now, it is enough to understand that both must come from the very core of our being - the heart.
In the New International Version, the word "heart" appears some 541 times, giving us some indication of how important the concept is. The King James Version uses the word 762 times. The reason this concept is so foundational is that the heart controls the rest of our existence. As Proverbs says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
For faith to be genuine, it must stem from an authentic conviction of the heart: "It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:10).
Jesus explained genuine heartfelt submission to God this way: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself' (Luke 10:27). Love is the essence of a true walk with God, and it involves every portion of a person’s being. The result of an all-encompassing love for God is that we will also love our fellow man.
But even more than that, we will delight in fulfilling God's will in and through our lives. Jesus was the perfect example of willing submission throughout His time on earth, but especially in the when He said to His Father, "If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39).
Many mistakenly believe that submission to God will produce a life of boredom, misery, and loss, but nothing could be further from the truth. That's why Jesus said "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). Dear friend, turning our lives over to Jesus is the path to peace and joy, but you will never know that until you love Him enough to trust Him ... and trust Him enough to obey Him.
Extracted from Ed Buckley’s How Big Is Your God?
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