Consequences of Rejecting Absolute Truth in Modern Culture
The rejection of absolute truth in modern culture has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only individual worldviews but also societal values. According to Charles Hodge, when people reject the truth, they often become mired in unrighteousness and immorality, as seen in Romans 1:21, 26, where those who "did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" [3]. This rejection can lead to a slippery slope where individuals become increasingly hardened in their stupidity, as Calvin notes that "the vast majority instead of confining themselves within due bounds by listening with docility to the Word, exult in their own vanity" [6].
One of the consequences of rejecting absolute truth is the proliferation of false teachings and the slandering of the "way of truth" by a watching world, as noted in 2 Peter 2:2 [2]. Adam Clarke comments on 2 Timothy 4:4, stating that those who reject the truth are "abandoned by the just judgment of God to credit the most degrading nonsense" [1]. This can result in a culture where moral relativism thrives, and the notion of objective truth is lost.
The rejection of absolute truth also has implications for how people perceive and interact with religious doctrine. According to Hodge, when tradition is elevated to a level equal with or above Scripture, it subverts the authority of the Scriptures, leading to a situation where the interpretation determines the meaning rather than the text itself [5]. This can result in a fragmentation of beliefs, where individual interpretations become the basis for truth rather than an objective standard.
In a culture that rejects absolute truth, the consequences can be seen in the way people respond to objections against religious doctrines. Hodge argues that it is not rational to reject a well-authenticated truth simply because it is difficult to answer objections against it [4]. However, the rejection of absolute truth can lead to a situation where objections and difficulties are used as a basis for rejecting truth altogether.
The consequences of rejecting absolute truth are far-reaching, affecting not only individual beliefs but also societal values. As Hodge notes, the subjection of the human intelligence to God is absolute, but it is a subjection to infinite wisdom and goodness [7]. In contrast, the rejection of absolute truth can lead to a culture that values individual perspectives over objective truth, resulting in a fragmented and relativistic society.
Sources
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth - The truth strips them of their vices, sacrifices their idols, darts its lightnings against their easily besetting sins, and absolutely requires a conformity to a crucified Christ; therefore they turn their ears away from it. And shall be turned unto fables - Believe any kind of stuff and nonsense; for, as one has justly observed, "Those who reject the truth are abandoned by the just judgment of God to credit the most degrading nonsense." This is remarkably the case with most deists; their creed often exhibits wh”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 2:2: 2:2 One of the saddest effects of false teaching is that the way of truth will be slandered by a watching world. By their immoral and greedy conduct, false teachers bring shame on Christ.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 42: that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, . . . . God gave them up unto vile affections.” ( Rom. i. 21, 26 .) And again in ver. 28 , “As they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil thing”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 50: know not. These are familiar and universally admitted facts as well in philosophy as in religion. A thing may be, and often certainly is true, against which objections may be urged which no man is able to answer. There are two important practical principles which follow from the facts just mentioned. First, that it is not a sufficient or a rational ground for rejecting any well authenticated truth that we are not able to free it from objections or difficulties. And, secondly, any objection against a religious doctrine is to be regarded as”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 37: hundreds of folios in which these traditions are recorded? Surely a guide to the interpretation of the latter must be far more needed than one for the Scriptures. Tradition destroys the Authority of the Scriptures. 6. Making tradition a part of the rule of faith subverts the authority of the Scriptures. This follows as a natural and unavoidable consequence. If there be two standards of doctrine of equal authority, the one the explanatory, and infallible interpreter of the other, it is of necessity the interpretation which determines the f”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 22: quam dispositiones ejus et voluntates adiremus, instrumentum adjecit literature,” &c. Hence it is not strange that those who are born in darkness become more and more hardened in their stupidity; because the vast majority instead of confining themselves within due bounds by listening with docility to the Word, exult in their own vanity. If true religion is to beam upon us, our principle must be, that it is necessary to begin with heavenly teaching, and that it is impossible for any man to obtain even the minutest portion of right a”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 20: from heaven, who should call upon us to receive as a revelation from God anything absurd, or wicked, or inconsistent with the intellectual or moral nature with which He has endowed us. The subjection of the human intelligence to God is indeed absolute; but it is a subjection to infinite wisdom and goodness. As it is impossible that God should contradict himself, so it is impossible that He should, by an external revelation, declare that to be true which by the laws of our nature He has rendered it impossible we should believe. 2. This pre”