Consider the pursuit of truth

Published 9:22 am Friday, January 13, 2012

By the Rev. Matt Hundley, Albert Lea Vineyard Church

In John 18: 3-38, the story of Jesus being questioned by Pilate is recounted. It reads, “Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked Him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘Or did others talk to you about me?’ ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘It was your people and chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’ Jesus said. ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of the truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked.”

Many people are asking this question today, “What is truth?” Others are asking if there is any such thing as truth. Certainly we all have our opinions, but can we know anything for sure? It would be impossible for me to try to make a reasoned plea to you in the short form of this newspaper column.

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Yet, if I may be so bold, I would like to challenge you to seriously consider whether the pursuit of truth isn’t an important issue in our world today. You see, the reality is that each of us has a limited amount of time in this life. I’m not here to be a doomsday prophet, and no, I don’t believe the world will end in 2012, despite what the Mayan calendar may say.

The one thing I am sure of is that my own life will end. When? I’m not sure, although the doctor tells me that if I don’t get my cholesterol under control it may be sooner rather than later. Still, I know that my days, however many I have left, are numbered.

That being said, doesn’t it make sense to at least consider whether there is more to life than simply living and dying? Jesus said, “It is appointed until man, once to die, and then the judgment.”

If we all took an accounting of our lives, in recovery circles, they call it a fearless moral inventory, we would have to admit that there is much we regret. Depending on your church background, you might even cop to being a sinner. Wouldn’t it be in each of our own best interests to take a second, many even a third, look at what Jesus had to say?

After all, he is the lone voice out there on the religious landscape talking openly about things like sin and its consequences. He is the only one dealing with it directly and offering hope to those who have failed, publicly or privately.

Why not take a closer look at what Jesus had to say in the gospels, and then draw your own conclusions, rather than taking the word of someone else, even me.