Knowing "Truth"

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Willie T

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The Lebanese Catholic, Kahlil Gibran, in his renowned poem, The Prophet, wrote: “Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”

So many people seem to claim to have "found the truth"... meaning that they are possessors and proclaimers of all truth in their understandings of Scriptural passages... and they are more than willing to "graciously" pass that wealth of knowledge along to the rest of us floundering mortals.

What a shame not to understand that knowing the one who is "The Truth", is a far cry from suddenly "Knowing all truth" in your overflowing rush of wisdom.
 

Taken

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The Lebanese Catholic, Kahlil Gibran, in his renowned poem, The Prophet, wrote: “Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”

So many people seem to claim to have "found the truth"... meaning that they are possessors and proclaimers of all truth in their understandings of Scriptural passages... and they are more than willing to "graciously" pass that wealth of knowledge along to the rest of us floundering mortals.

What a shame not to understand that knowing the one who is "The Truth", is a far cry from suddenly "Knowing all truth" in your overflowing rush of wisdom.

It's complicated.

A truth....whatever an individual believes.
The Truth...what God proclaims.

The understanding of A truth...according to the individuals understanding.

The understanding of The Truth...according to Gods Understanding.

Any individual can proclaim "their" truth and "their" understanding.

Many can proclaim "Gods" Truth...

Few can access "Gods" Understanding of His Truth.

Fewer yet, actually "exercise" their abilty to "access" "Gods Understanding" of His Truth.

Men WITHOUT the ability to "access" Gods Understanding of HIS Truth...
AND
Men WITH the ability to "access" Gods Understanding of HIS Truth...

Overwhelmingly float in the SAME BOAT...
Both TRYING to "mindfully", (through LOGIC, SENSIBILITY, PHILOSOPHY, OTHER MENS IDEAS)...
figure out
Gods Understanding of His Own Truth.

It's a FAIL...every time.

Glory to God,
Taken
 

Waiting on him

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The Lebanese Catholic, Kahlil Gibran, in his renowned poem, The Prophet, wrote: “Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”

So many people seem to claim to have "found the truth"... meaning that they are possessors and proclaimers of all truth in their understandings of Scriptural passages... and they are more than willing to "graciously" pass that wealth of knowledge along to the rest of us floundering mortals.

What a shame not to understand that knowing the one who is "The Truth", is a far cry from suddenly "Knowing all truth" in your overflowing rush of wisdom.
Everyday new truths are revealed! I guess a good indication of people who have his truth; would be they have freedom
 
D

Dave L

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I think it is possible to say you know the truth if you reject everything until proven true. This takes broad non denominational study and a willingness to kill your darling doctrines when proven false. Besides, Jesus says he is the way, the truth (not "a" truth) and the light.
 

Willie T

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It's complicated.
A truth....whatever an individual believes.
The Truth...what God proclaims.
The understanding of A truth...according to the individuals understanding.
The understanding of The Truth...according to Gods Understanding.
Any individual can proclaim "their" truth and "their" understanding.
Many can proclaim "Gods" Truth...
Few can access "Gods" Understanding of His Truth.
Fewer yet, actually "exercise" their abilty to "access" "Gods Understanding" of His Truth.
Men WITHOUT the ability to "access" Gods Understanding of HIS Truth...
AND
Men WITH the ability to "access" Gods Understanding of HIS Truth...
Overwhelmingly float in the SAME BOAT...
Both TRYING to "mindfully", (through LOGIC, SENSIBILITY, PHILOSOPHY, OTHER MENS IDEAS)...
figure out
Gods Understanding of His Own Truth.
It's a FAIL...every time.
Glory to God,
Taken
So, standing before us we have five different people (all Believers and all Bible students). They each hold a different view. And worse yet, they all espouse their view as though they, and they alone, have received this of the Lord.

Are we to believe one of them over the others? Or, perhaps NONE of them, but rather the man who humbly says "I believe this is what I have heard."?

To tell you the truth, I tend to discount anyone who stands and declares he is speaking something directly from God. Why? Because, standing right next to him (or making the very next post, to bring it home and keep it real) is yet another person claiming, "No!, it is ME who has been given the truth."

And in all this blustering, you hardly ever hear someone say. "I may have it wrong, but THIS is what I understand God to be saying."
 
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Waiting on him

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So, standing before us we have five different people (all Believers and all Bible students). They each hold a different view. And worse yet, they all espouse their view as though they, and they alone, have received this of the Lord.

Are we to believe one of them over the others? Or, perhaps NONE of them, but rather the man who humbly says "I believe this is what I have heard."?

To tell you the truth, I tend to discount anyone who stands and declares he is speaking something directly from God. Why? Because, standing right next to him (or making the very next post, to bring it home and keep it real) is yet another person claiming, "No!, it is THEM who has been given the truth."

And in all this blustering, you hardly ever hear someone say. "I may have it wrong, but THIS is what I understand God to be saying."
I don’t believe pride and truth can coexist. Well said Willie
 

Taken

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So, standing before us we have five different people (all Believers and all Bible students). They each hold a different view. And worse yet, they all espouse their view as though they, and they alone, have received this of the Lord.

Are we to believe one of them over the others? Or, perhaps NONE of them, but rather the man who humbly says "I believe this is what I have heard."?

To tell you the truth, I tend to discount anyone who stands and declares he is speaking something directly from God. Why? Because, standing right next to him (or making the very next post, to bring it home and keep it real) is yet another person claiming, "No!, it is THEM who has been given the truth."

And in all this blustering, you hardly ever hear someone say. "I may have it wrong, but THIS is what I understand God to be saying."

Again...it's complicated.

I can tell you HOW it works for me.

'I" KNOW, what "I" read, re-read, study, have a talk with "the Lord" about, and what and when "I" receive from 'Him", for what "I" have asked "Him" about.

It's a TWO WAY communication...EXPRESSLY BETWEEN, "TWO"...The Lord and myself.

It is always my initiation in Asking.
It is always AFTER, reading, reading, studying, comparing to other scriptures, etc.

What "I" receive from the "Lord"...I TRUST.

I can talk ABOUT, what I believe.
I can talk ABOUT, Understanding I have received.

I can NOT MAKE ANOTHER "UNDERSTAND" as "I" do....
It is NOT "MY" "word', or "MY" "understanding" to GIVE TO ANOTHER.

That is the POINT.
It is GODS WORD...
And
GODS UNDERSTANDING...

And ONLY HE can give HIS UNDERSTANDING of HIS OWN WORD...

(Just as I certainly would not ask BOL to give me your understanding of your words...nor can I give another the Understanding of Gods Words).

For the most part...no problem for ANYONE to QUOTE Scripture. We have the advantage of INK and PAPER to see the written words.

However "IF" you observe, the number of people WHO...."present their understanding of Scripture"...

You get a variety of PAT responses...
As Examples...

1) in Hebrew/ Greek this word means, this, this, this, and in English it means, this, this, this, and this book says to choose this meaning.

2) it makes SENSE...blah blah

3) Logically...blah blah

4) Philosophies of men

5) Commentaries of men

6) if it ain't this...then it has to be that

7) this Pastor said...blah blah

8) it doesn't make Sense...blah blah

9) Quotes from umpteen randomly chosen men...blah blah

10) I think...ah ha, the individual busy brain

11) the Pope said...lol

Those are ROUTINE infusions commonplace when discussing Scripture....
******NONE mention a forthright and earnest discussion having been engaged by the individual .... with the Lord Himself. ****

I have said on numerous occasions....
Understanding ACCORDING to GOD...
Comes FROM GOD...to the Individual
Who Seeks it....and that is MY preference.

The most response I get to THAT ^...
Is ... don't know what you mean...
Or.... perhaps like you indicate...."pfft"
Ie "scoffing" at such a notion.

To tell you the truth, I tend to discount anyone who stands and declares he is speaking something directly from God.

That does not trip my trigger to rejection...but rather DOES do one of two things...

1) My first reaction is to recollect "IF" I have myself heard, skimmed OR read, reread, studied, had a conversation with God ON THAT TOPIC....or NOT.

If so, then I ponder on recalling what He gave to me on THAT TOPIC....and stick with that, period.

2) My second reaction is "IF" I have NOT read, reread, studied the POINT / Scripture in question....THEN I DO...and follow the same steps of THEN asking God Himself about it.

Dependant upon what the OTHER HAS SAID, and what the Lord has given me....

Sometimes I will be IN AGREEMENT with the other....

And Sometimes I will REJECT what the Other has claimed, and will REJECT the source they claimed.

Again for the most part...it is the aforementioned "LIST", which most here claim as "their source" for determining "their" understanding. And very FEW that I am in agreement with.

Glory to God,
Taken
 
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Willie T

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Again...it's complicated.
I can tell you HOW it works for me.
'I" KNOW, what "I" read, re-read, study, have a talk with "the Lord" about, and what and when "I" receive from 'Him", for what "I" have asked "Him" about.
It's a TWO WAY communication...EXPRESSLY BETWEEN, "TWO"...The Lord and myself.
It is always my initiation in Asking.
It is always AFTER, reading, reading, studying, comparing to other scriptures, etc.
What "I" receive from the "Lord"...I TRUST.
I can talk ABOUT, what I believe.
I can talk ABOUT, Understanding I have received.
I can NOT MAKE ANOTHER "UNDERSTAND" as "I" do....
It is NOT "MY" "word', or "MY" "understanding" to GIVE TO ANOTHER.
That is the POINT.
It is GODS WORD...
And
GODS UNDERSTANDING...
And ONLY HE can give HIS UNDERSTANDING of HIS OWN WORD...
(Just as I certainly would not ask BOL to give me your understanding of your words...nor can I give another the Understanding of Gods Words).
For the most part...no problem for ANYONE to QUOTE Scripture. We have the advantage of INK and PAPER to see the written words.
However "IF" you observe, the number of people WHO...."present their understanding of Scripture"...
You get a variety of PAT responses...
As Examples...
1) in Hebrew/ Greek this word means, this, this, this, and in English it means, this, this, this, and this book says to choose this meaning.
2) it makes SENSE...blah blah
3) Logically...blah blah
4) Philosophies of men
5) Commentaries of men
6) if it ain't this...then it has to be that
7) this Pastor said...blah blah
8) it doesn't make Sense...blah blah
9) Quotes from umpteen randomly chosen men...blah blah
10) I think...ah ha, the individual busy brain
11) the Pope said...lol
Those are ROUTINE infusions commonplace when discussing Scripture....
******NONE mention a forthright and earnest discussion having been engaged by the individual .... with the Lord Himself. ****
I have said on numerous occasions....
Understanding ACCORDING to GOD...
Comes FROM GOD...to the Individual
Who Seeks it....and that is MY preference.
The most response I get to THAT ^...
Is ... don't know what you mean...
Or.... perhaps like you indicate...."pfft"
Ie "scoffing" at such a notion.
That does not trip my trigger to rejection...but rather DOES do one of two things...
1) My first reaction is to recollect "IF" I have myself heard, skimmed OR read, reread, studied, had a conversation with God ON THAT TOPIC....or NOT.
If so, then I ponder on recalling what He gave to me on THAT TOPIC....and stick with that, period.
2) My second reaction is "IF" I have NOT read, reread, studied the POINT / Scripture in question....THEN I DO...and follow the same steps of THEN asking God Himself about it.
Dependant upon what the OTHER HAS SAID, and what the Lord has given me....
Sometimes I will be IN AGREEMENT with the other....
And Sometimes I will REJECT what the Other has claimed, and will REJECT the source they claimed.
Again for the most part...it is the aforementioned "LIST", which most here claim as "their source" for determining "their" understanding. And very FEW that I am in agreement with.
Glory to God,
Taken
Yet, we hardly ever hear anything expressed that way. Usually it is: "This is what is written... This is what that means... And that is all there is to it!. Anything other than what I have just shown you is the REAL meaning, is WRONG!!!!"
 

Enoch111

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The Prophet, wrote: “Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”
Except that Jesus is THE Truth. And His written Word is also THE Truth (called "the Word of Truth").
 
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Taken

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Yet, we hardly ever hear anything expressed that way. Usually it is: "This is what is written... This is what that means... And that is all there is to it!. Anything other than what I have just shown you is the REAL meaning, is WRONG!!!!"

I can only say...
"I" know how much TIME "I" spend reading and "STUDYING", and HOW I study....

And have NO clue "IF" others READ, or STUDY, or their method of STUDY.

I do have a clue to their "SOURCE", since they are forthright in announcing their source.

My source is not a mystery to me...:)

1 Chr 22:
Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding...

God Bless,
Taken
 

bbyrd009

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So then a discussion on the nature of Tares might be in order
The Lebanese Catholic, Kahlil Gibran, in his renowned poem, The Prophet, wrote: “Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”
A great way to restate He Who says he knows, does not imo :)
 

mjrhealth

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A lot of people have found the truth, His name is Jesus, the problem is not many have "come into" the truth, to much religion, too much study, too much learning to much knowledge, too much of ones own wisdom, ones own understanding. All of God is like one big puzzle to which many have pieces, but to find the pieces one must ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, but so few will ask and so few will find.
 

marksman

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Everyday new truths are revealed! I guess a good indication of people who have his truth; would be they have freedom

Shouldn't that be every day old truths are being revealed? I say that because the scriptures say that there is nothing new under the sun.

That being the case, then all God can do is show us what already is. Whether it is old or new depends on us, not the truth being revealed.

God wants us to know as much of the truth as possible because it is the truth that sets us free.

Knowing Jesus the risen Lord will set us free from the power of sin as it enables us to repent and be baptised into the new life that he gives.
 

Marymog

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So, standing before us we have five different people (all Believers and all Bible students). They each hold a different view. And worse yet, they all espouse their view as though they, and they alone, have received this of the Lord.

Are we to believe one of them over the others? Or, perhaps NONE of them, but rather the man who humbly says "I believe this is what I have heard."?

To tell you the truth, I tend to discount anyone who stands and declares he is speaking something directly from God. Why? Because, standing right next to him (or making the very next post, to bring it home and keep it real) is yet another person claiming, "No!, it is ME who has been given the truth."

And in all this blustering, you hardly ever hear someone say. "I may have it wrong, but THIS is what I understand God to be saying."
Hi Willie,

Do you discount Acts 15:28? I certainly don't and they claimed to speak something directly from God.

Mary
 

Marymog

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The Lebanese Catholic, Kahlil Gibran, in his renowned poem, The Prophet, wrote: “Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”

So many people seem to claim to have "found the truth"... meaning that they are possessors and proclaimers of all truth in their understandings of Scriptural passages... and they are more than willing to "graciously" pass that wealth of knowledge along to the rest of us floundering mortals.

What a shame not to understand that knowing the one who is "The Truth", is a far cry from suddenly "Knowing all truth" in your overflowing rush of wisdom.
Hi,

Let's get some facts straight. Gibran was excommunicated in 1908 and he wrote The Prophet in 1923 so he was not a Catholic when he wrote the book nor upon his death. So it is not fair to call him "Catholic". If your going to do that then the next time you write something about Martin Luther you should call him a Catholic also.

None the less I get the gist of what you are saying. Scripture says that the church is the pillar and foundation of truth. Doesn't that suggest that the truth can be known THRU the church? What is your interpretation of that passage (1 Timothy 3:15)?


Mary
 

Willie T

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Hi,

Let's get some facts straight. Gibran was excommunicated in 1908 and he wrote The Prophet in 1923 so he was not a Catholic when he wrote the book nor upon his death. So it is not fair to call him "Catholic". If your going to do that then the next time you write something about Martin Luther you should call him a Catholic also.

None the less I get the gist of what you are saying. Scripture says that the church is the pillar and foundation of truth. Doesn't that suggest that the truth can be known THRU the church? What is your interpretation of that passage (1 Timothy 3:15)?


Mary
Few people have any problem with that verse. The problem is that the Catholic organization is not the church.
You probably don't know this but the other organization I spent 12 years in, the Church of Christ, ALSO declares vehemently that THEY are the one and only true church that Christ founded.... and they are no more so than the Catholics.
 

Willie T

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Hi,

Let's get some facts straight. Gibran was excommunicated in 1908 and he wrote The Prophet in 1923 so he was not a Catholic when he wrote the book nor upon his death. So it is not fair to call him "Catholic". If your going to do that then the next time you write something about Martin Luther you should call him a Catholic also.

None the less I get the gist of what you are saying. Scripture says that the church is the pillar and foundation of truth. Doesn't that suggest that the truth can be known THRU the church? What is your interpretation of that passage (1 Timothy 3:15)?


Mary
Please stop trying to be deceptive. By 1931, the Ottoman Empire had broken, and Lebanon was part of greater Syria. Gibran had been taken back into communion with the Maronites (Catholics) who did not want to leave the best-known Lebanese poet out in the cold.
 
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Marymog

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Few people have any problem with that verse. The problem is that the Catholic organization is not the church.
You probably don't know this but the other organization I spent 12 years in, the Church of Christ, ALSO declares vehemently that THEY are the one and only true church that Christ founded.... and they are no more so than the Catholics.
Fair enough.

Since you know that the CC and The Church of Christ are not the one and only true church that Christ founded then which church is?

Mary
 

Marymog

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Please stop trying to be deceptive. By 1931, the Ottoman Empire had broken, and Lebanon was part of greater Syria. Gibran had been taken back into communion with the Maronites (Catholics) who did not want to leave the best-known Lebanese poet out in the cold.
Dear Willie,

I really don't want to do this with you (publically embarrass you) but since you in public view suggested that I was being deceptive I must in public view defend myself.

When you PARTIALLY QUOTE something that makes YOU look deceptive kiddo. Here is MORE to your PARTIAL quote:

Gibran was never a very orthodox Catholic. He was attracted to the person and sayings of Jesus but not to the organization (Maronites's). He also knew Buddhist literature and appreciated it for the same reason: useful advice on how to live. (Khalil Gibran: Spirits Rebellious)

Please provide your evidence that he was a practicing Catholic!!

Do you know why the Maronites took Gibran back?? I do....and the reason isn't because he asked to come back in good standing. You got some more research to do so your future statements on this matter will be less deceptive ;)

Patient and historical Mary