And the lonely voice of youth cries, ‘What is truth?'” ~ Johnny Cash
Because of its airplay, my awareness of the question “what is truth?” at age 15 owed more to Johnny Cash’s 1970 song of that title than to Pilate’s question in John 18.38. But knowing that both men, 1900 years apart, asked the same question, and that they are but two of many who have, underscores the importance of determining “what is truth?”—especially as we contemplate the task of equipping believers in a culture where relativism has become the default understanding.
Our challenge is to respond in a way that is accurate as well as honest about the issue’s complexities and nuances. We also aim to be clear, heeding the advice of C. S. Lewis who urged would-be faith defenders to understand their subject so well that they could translate the specialized terminology of theological treatises into the vernacular. This is a necessary step for communicating in “the language of our audience” even as we understand that “uneducated people are not irrational people.” That is, even as we aim to be clear, we must “not attempt to water Christianity down.” [1]
Our first order of business is to define what we mean by truth. Cash’s lyrics and, contextually, Pilate’s question show the importance of this step; both were asking about statements or actions that claimed to conform to an external standard—a claim others disputed. But what is that standard? Can we meet it? How can we tell if we have?
Until relatively recently in the West, truth has been defined in terms of “realism” or that which “reflects or corresponds to the reality it refers to.” That’s descriptive, “commonsensical,” and helpful.[2] But can we state it more simply? I believe we can and thus propose this simple statement as a beginning place to talk about truth: Truth is what is; it is what conforms to reality.[3]
As an example of this concept, imagine you’re visiting me and I tell you it’s raining outside my house. If you go outside and find water droplets falling from the sky, you’ll conclude I spoke the truth. But if you see a sunny sky, with no falling water, you’ll say I spoke falsely. Your conclusion depends on the reality you experience.
Thinking of truth in terms of reality leads us to consider its characteristics. First, statements that contradict each other cannot both be true, though both can be false. At the same time and in the same place, the reality of whether it is raining at my house cannot be both that it is and is not raining.
Second, it is generally important to know truth.[4] Decisions about attire or carrying an umbrella are affected by what you believe about the reality of my statement about rain. Alternately, if a doctor says you have a malignancy, you’ll want to know if his diagnosis corresponds to reality; you might even seek a second opinion. Furthermore, knowing the truth affects subsequent actions. If you do have a malignancy, you’ll want to begin treatment and make the necessary arrangements to facilitate it. The reality is important to you.
Third, truth does not change because we deny it, refuse to think about it, or wish it was different. It’s possible for the truth of the statement, “it is raining” to be different tomorrow than it is today; weather conditions typically change over time. But, assuming everyone involved defines “rain” the same way (does mist qualify?), if it is raining in a certain place at a specific time, then everyone who is at that place at that time will experience the same reality. To deny it’s raining, or wish it was sunny instead, does not change the truth.
Nor does ignorance of reality change it. Some have suffered the effects and progressive debilitation of cancer for weeks before learning of their malignancy. But ignorance of the truth did not change the reality of their illness.