Eternal Truth

TimeWatch Editorial
March 11, 2016

One of the problems we face today is that our expansion of “knowledge” has brought us to the place where we are often convinced that there are no absolutes. Of course this is fed by the idea that “knowledge has increased” while men have run “to and fro.” The idea then that information is constantly evolving provides a resting place for those who no longer accept the truths that have already been established. The teenager today who walks blissfully down the street, staring at the screen of a cell-phone, chuckles at the old lady across the way who is futilely searching for a pay phone. The old lady finally finds one (I cannot imagine where she would find one today) and proceeds to communicate with someone on the other end of that line. The teenager passes on with one more interesting story to “text” to her friend, or maybe to “post” on Facebook.

One thing is crystal clear however, the ability to use the advanced technology has not, in most cases, increased the quality of the communication. The conversations are as pointless or perhaps more so than if they were standing side by side. In fact, those who have spent the time to do the research have discovered that the advancing technology has left our youth with less mental agility, not more.

So you ask, has “knowledge not increased?” of course it has! But what kind of knowledge is it? And how is it being used? And what is it accomplishing? Even those who have discovered these new and exciting elements of technology, whose “aps” have made the world a “better place”, are reduced to manufacturing these devices for profit, to be used as invaders of the private lives of those who are seduced into believing that their lives are now better. We run “to and fro” constantly, slaves to higher air fares with smaller seating, paying for the smallest bag, as if the airline is now doing us a favor by taking the bag with us, (as if one could or would travel without luggage.) Yet our children are less prepared for first year college than we used to be before the invasion of social media. Professionals are less proficient than they used to be, hundreds of thousands of patients die because of mistakes made in hospitals and elsewhere. We are constantly warned that even though the “medication” will solve our problem, we should be careful less it creates another even more devastating problem.

But the single most disturbing factor is that while we do not seem to recognize that we are doing the same things our ancestors used to do, only faster, (wash clothes, travel, communicate) we are convinced that truth is no longer the same truth it used to be. The relativism of truth today is not based upon advanced wisdom, but rather upon weakness. We no longer seem to have the character to stand upon principle. We wallow in the mire of surrender to every seductive element, both within and without, until, in order to validate our obvious weaknesses, we claim that “what is true for you is not necessarily true for me.” We continuously defend our inappropriate behaviors and place the word “political” in front of the word “correctness” as if kindness and good manners is suddenly inappropriate. We excuse our ill-mannered rants as straight-speech, believing that to destroy someone else emotionally will make us feel better. But the “truth” is, that every single word used to destroy someone, destroys us first. It lives within the heart and becomes a nesting place for a sort of ugliness that is impossible to eradicate, until a kinder, gentler attitude takes its place.

Truth, therefore, is the same truth it has always been. Regardless of the year or location truth remains unchangeable. As Solomon puts it:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3: 1-4

Cameron A. Bowen