Beautiful Absolute of Truth

The Beautiful Absolute of Truth
By Annette Bridges

What is truth? This is not a new question. Perhaps the question's most memorable voice was Pontius Pilot when he posed it to a silent Jesus.

Probably most everyone would agree that much of early Christian literature was first collected and reported through oral traditions among early Christians. With few written documents. And written records found show that there were as many differing viewpoints among early Christians as there are today.

Consequently, most historians recognize some embellishments probably occurred over time. As well as information left out. And some authors' accounts destroyed. In fact, some historians have suggested that we have lost 85 percent of Christian literature from the first two centuries. And that percentage only refers to the literature that we know about. So our knowledge from the roots of Christianity may always only be in part.

Do any of these facts impact our love and faith in the Bible and its validity? They don't for me. That's because I don't believe the spiritual meaning of the Word is contingent on human details. For me, the spiritual sense can be felt in heart, regardless of details included or not.

It does disturb me to think that anyone believed they needed to determine what I can know and understand as truth. For example, when I think of the various ancient religious writings that have been surfacing in recent years, what bothers me is that someone long ago decided I couldn't read these writings and decide for myself what I wanted to believe. Or that someone thought they needed to shape or interpret truth for me and the rest of humanity for all time.