Does Absolute Truth Exist?
It’s not uncommon for people to object to the “truth” of Biblical Christianity by saying something like, “Well, it’s true for you, but not true for everybody.”
What is being attacked here is the notion of “Absolute Truth.”
And that would be a powerful objection to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. If absolute truth did not exist, then neither could God. This is because God makes many absolute statements.
If one were to successfully topple the notion of absolute truth, then they would simultaneously disprove God’s existence too.
Theists need not worry, though. Absolute truth is one of the easiest concepts to prove true. In fact, it is impossible to successfully argue that absolute truth does not exist.
Does that sound arrogant or rushed? That’s not our intention.
We must point out that in order to argue against absolute truth, one must make use of absolute truth in the process, thereby undercutting one’s own position.
This is a classic self-defeating argument.
It’s similar to one saying, “there is no such thing as words,” but using “words” in order to make the argument.
The very act of using words destroys that argument that “there is no such thing as words.”
It’s the same thing with “absolute truth.”
The very statement, “absolute truth does not exist” is an absolute truth statement. (Please re-read that if it makes your head spin a little.)
When someone says, “there is no absolute truth,” they are making use of an absolute truth. They are saying, “I know absolutely that it is true that there is no absolute truth.” Do you see the contradiction?
More simply, if someone says, “There is no absolute truth,” we could counter with, “Do you know that to be true absolutely?”
Honestly, I’m convinced that deep down, all people know that absolute truth exists. Because we live that way. Sometimes people claim to not believe it, but they don’t live that way. I’ll illustrate.
I most often have people deny absolute truth on College Campuses. When a student tells me confidently that there is no absolute truth and we can’t know anything for certain, I ask them if they know “there is no absolute truth” for certain?
I also point out that their lifestyle and actions betray their claim. I say something like, “If I punched you in the stomach and stole your iPhone, what would you say?”
And, every time, they say that my actions were “wrong.”
I ask, “Could I successfully make the case that it’s wrong for them, but right for me?”
No, we all know it’s wrong to punch someone in the stomach and steal their iPhone. It’s wrong absolutely. And when the student agrees with me, they’re demonstrating that their own argument against absolute truth is invalid.
God is a god of absolutes. He states absolutely:
For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me (Isaiah 46:9)
This is what the Lord says-Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God” (Isaiah 44:6)
Jesus stated absolutely:
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6)
Regarding Jesus, the Word of God states emphatically:
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
I’ll say it again, If one were to successfully topple the notion of absolute truth, then they would simultaneously disprove God’s existence too.
However, it is impossible to argue against absolute truth, because one needs to use “absolute truth” in order to argue against it.
Instead of making self-defeating arguments, it would be so much better to enter a relationship with the one who created absolute truth. His name is Jesus, and we all need him. And that is very very good news.
Please find out about this good news by clicking here.
