We have had a three week study of the nature of “truth.”[1] Truth is the most sought after quest in the world. Truth lies in one of two places. Secular Humanists elevate humanity to the pinnacle of “truth” and believe that humanity can solve all its own problems. If that is true then why were there more wars in the 20th Century than the rest of history put together. If that is true then why are people being killed by the millions annually? Charles Sumner said, “Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace.”

Now, concerning the “Truth” of the founding of “These United States,” as we continue from last week. Those who take the time to study documents of the Revolutionary period will find a precise picture of what this country was founded upon:[2]

1. 93% of those involved in the founding of America were God-fearing men of the Christian faith.

2. They were deeply influenced by a Biblical view of man and government. With an understanding of the sinfulness of man they devised a government of limited authority, including checks and balances.

3. They understood the fear of God, moral leadership, and a righteous citizenry were necessary for their great experiment to succeed.

4. Therefore, they structured a political climate that was encouraging to Christianity and accomodating to religion, rather than hostile to it.

5. Protestant Christianity was the prevailing religious view for the first 150 yrs of our history.[3]

John Adams and John Hancock said on April 18, 1775, “We recognize no sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.” In the last will and testament of Patrick Henry he said, “This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family; the religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

In Noah Webster’s preface to his 1828 dictionary he write, “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government out to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.”

George Washington said in his Farewell Address, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” On the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is inscribed, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof,” Leviticus 25:10.

According to a University of Houston study, 34% of all the quotes of the Founding Fathers came from the Bible. Our second president, John Adams, said, “I had rather go to church. We have better sermons; better prayers; better speakers; softer, sweeter music; and genteeler company.”

Have you ever wondered what happened to those who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So what is truth? Truth is conformity to fact or reality. The opposite of conforming to reality is being out of touch with reality. The definition of being out of touch with reality is insanity. Therefore, to be in touch with reality is truth and to be out of touch with reality is insanity. Paul appeals to us in Colossians 2:2-3, 8 to seek truth.

Our Founding Fathers understood the only truth that could launch this greatest nation on the planet. July 4 we celebrate the sacrifices and truth claims of those men and women who went before us. Those men and women who gave up everything they had for us.

We have examined the subject “truth” and found that the “swift stream of culture’s lies” is dangerous territory. Why? Because culture’s half truths and diversions put humanity at the center of everything, rather than God being the foundation of all there ever was or ever will be. We have examined the pernicious lies perpetuated by many church bodies, politicians, preachers, Hollywood, and the problem is that we all have been taken captive, at some point, by those lies. Where do we find truth? John 18:37 tells us where we find the truth, “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Believe me when I say you will not find truth in the claims of postmodern culture. Postmodern truth is about subjective feelings and “truth” is in the eye of the beholder. Authority for “Post moderns” comes from themselves and is to be found in no other entity.

Bottom line is that ultimate truth is found only in the crucified and risen Jesus. That has been proven over and over throughout 2000 years of people trying to discredit the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus and the authority of the One Creator found in Father; Son; and Holy Spirit. They have not been able tear down the truth because “truth” is not a subjective, “touchy/feely” thing.

Sources: [1] “The Truth Project.” Dr. Del Tackett (Focus on the Family); “Being the Body.” Dr. Charles Colson; “Reason in the Balance.” Dr. Phillip E. Johnson; “A Christian Manifesto.” Dr. Francis Schaeffer; [2] Gregory Kouki. The Faith of our Founding Fathers.