Tuesday, June 4, 2013

A Life Without Road Signs: The Absurdity of Relativism



Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, (John 13:3 NASB)

            In the aftermath of the tragic tornado in Moore, Oklahoma on May 20th, 2013 a reporter made an interesting observation.  He alluded to the fact that after taking care of the injured and finding the ones that were killed, the first order of business was to erect street signs.  He commented that without street signs no one knows where you are or where you need to go. We live in a world that is increasingly asking us to live without road signs.

Jesus Christ, Our Road Sign
            In the scriptural reference above Jesus knew who He was, where he came from and where he was going.  Jesus did not need reference points to navigate life, other than the will of His Father.  Jesus is revealed in the scriptures as the way to truth and our only reference point to successfully navigate life.  Unfortunately, many are now telling us that there is no such thing as absolute truth.  The rise of relativism has indoctrinated this generation with belief that there are no absolute truths i.e., that truth is always relative to some frame of reference such as culture or other things too numerous to mention.  The belief that there are reasonable, rational and unchanging guidelines instituted by God has been hijacked and taken hostage by relativistic thought.

The Absurdity of Relativism
            You have probably heard of the university professor who was lecturing on relativism.  He started out with the statement, “there is not such thing as absolute truth.”  An inquisitive young student sitting the back row, with a twinkle in his eyes, asked, “are you absolutely sure?”  Challenge relativists and watch how absolutely sure they become in there being no absolutes.
            I once heard Ravi Zacharias tell a story that is an apt description of relativism.   A person who worked in a factory would walk past a clock shop and stop and adjust his watch every day.  One day the clock shop owner asked him why he did this.  The man said that he was in charge of blowing the four o’clock whistle at the factory.  He was ashamed to admit that his watch did not keep very good time.  The shopkeeper replied that he hated to let him know, but his clock in the clock shop did not work very well either.  He adjusted his clock every day according to the four o’clock whistle at the factory.
            Making ourselves or someone else our reference point is like a fox chasing its own tail.  It is an exercise in futility.  We can take one of two paths.  We can live without any road signs, which will lead to frustration, disillusionment, and ultimately anarchy.  Or we can embrace the guidelines set forth by the Creator of the universe, which will foster peace and living in harmony with others and ourselves.  You tell me which path is the intelligent and rational choice?
           
Ken Barnes, the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places”  YWAM Publishing



             http://gleanings757.blogspot.com



           
           


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