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My guest today is the president of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers Myers. Dr. Myers has become one of America’s most respected youth development and apologetics authorities.

In his new book, Truth Changes Everything, Dr. Myers challenges the idea that all hope to find Truth is lost in our culture. The book is filled with fascinating stories about Jesus’ followers who lived for truth and transformed the world in times of crisis.

Don’t miss this challenging conversation and read the column below – Will you stand for Truth (Capital “T”)?

What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Column}

“What might a person write if they knew it might be the last thing they could say this side of eternity?”

That was the question in Dr. Jeff Myers’ mind during a recent battle with an aggressive type of cancer. While going through the harsh treatment and its devastating effects, Myers battled the natural hopelessness and despair that only those who have gone through such valleys can fully understand.

During that time, Myers could do little except read and write. To keep his heart grounded and nurture his faith, he studied the stories of brave heroes in the Old Testament who persevered through trials and delayed promises, as well as the stories of men and women of the Christian faith who rose to change the world during some of history’s darkest moments.

The result of his findings during that pivotal point in Myers’ life is his new book, “Truth Changes Everything – How People of Faith Can Transform the World in Times of Crisis.”

Myers is president of Summit Ministries, a renowned authority in apologetics, and a prolific author of 14 books, some of which were used as Bible curriculum at my children’s high school.

An eye-opening research

While writing his new book, Myers came across research by Dr. George Barna about millennials that shed light on the spiritual/religious makeup of this generation of growing influence, their social-economic priorities and mental health, among other topics.

Myers writes, “Seventy-five percent of young adults say they are unsure of their purpose in life. Nearly half are counted as having one or more types of mental illness (such as anxiety or depression). Fully half of young adults say that there is ‘no absolute value associated with human life.”

What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism – Don't miss this great book by Dr. Jeff Myers @drjeffmyers @summitmn @ajc @MatthewFaraci #truthchangeseverything #truth
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Myers proposes that these issues are the tip of the iceberg, the real foundation being the loss of absolute Truth (capital “T”).

A different poll from Summit Ministries/McLaughlin and Associates supports the claim. According to this poll, 55% of young American voters between 18-29 believe that there is no absolute truth; rather, “it is up to each individual to define their own truth.”

The results also expose that many American voters embrace moral relativism – 40% of the polled individuals believe “each person determines their own version of truth.”

Quid est veritas?

In the 18th chapter of the Gospel of John, we find Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judah. He had been arrested and taken to Caiaphas, Israel’s High Priest, who, seeking the approval of Rome to crucify Jesus, deferred the questioning to Rome’s high official.

Pilate questioned Jesus, who said: “(…) the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the Truth. Everyone on the side of Truth listens to me.”

Pilate quickly ended his conversation with Jesus with the infamous words “Qui est Veritas?” – What is truth?

Jesus did not reply, perhaps because, according to Scriptures, Pilate “went out again” before giving Him a chance to.

But Jesus answered Pilate’s question numerous times throughout His time on earth. As He did in Gethsemane when he asked the Father to protect His disciples: “Sanctify them by the Truth; Your word is Truth.”

“The” Truth

As we dig into the original New Testament Greek text, we can translate Jesus’ prayer as follows: Lord, consecrate (set apart) my followers by the knowledge of Your Word – because Your Word (Your principles, teachings, guidance) is the Truth.

Lord, consecrate (set apart) my followers by the knowledge of Your Word – because Your Word (Your principles, teachings, guidance) is the Truth. @drjeffmyers @summitmn @ajc @MatthewFaraci truthchangeseverything #truth
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This (absolute) truth has guided believers throughout the centuries to change society during times of great darkness and despair. This truth has speared believers to live out their faith by following Christ’s example of righteousness and unconditional love.

It’s not a popular belief, and I certainly respect differing points of view. Still, as I think about the mental and emotional state of our young adults and teenagers as presented by numerous recent research data and polls, it seems like if we ever needed this Truth to guide us; we need it now.

For more about Myers and his new book, visit www.summit.org/. Listen to Patricia’s interview with Myers in God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook on YouTube and via Podcast.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Once upon another time in Ecuador, classmates had a phobia of the little eight-legged reminders that evil has corrupted this world. In the safety of my own room, I gave the beasts a wide berth. But among my peers a bigger fear reigned: admitting weakness. So I feigned courage as the designated squasher when all the guys had gone off and every girl was arguing over who would check the rooms for creepy, crawling terrors.

On the other hand, those who already know me well enough to disbelieve my fake bravery are more accustomed to the sound of screaming and stomping in the shower when anything else moves in there. I’m not afraid of these people or what they think of me so I’m rather free to exhibit my fear of arachnids with full gusto.

My fear of spiders seems directly proportional to my fear of people’s thoughts of me.

But I’ve been learning fear is always proportional. How we measure our fears matters.

As a freelance writer, I work from home. Previously, my office was a little room with a sharply pitched roof and a solitary window. It was tacked on top of what was once a garage and the insulation was so lacking that at times it was warmer to walk in the snow or cooler to go sit out in the shade. Still, it was (mostly) charming.

Too often though, as I worked, I discovered spiders an inch from my nose. They bungee jumped from the ceiling and it seemed I was their target.

Because I work from home, I was usually alone when their escapades occured. Since my arachnophobia corresponds to my fear of other’s thoughts, that was a dilemma.

I had no one to call for immediate rescue.

I also had no one to prove myself to by faking bravery.

To decide between paralysis and action, I needed something new to measure my fear against.

The pickings were slim.

If I weighed my fear of spiders against my fear of missing deadlines, the competition was close. If I weighed my fear of valiantly relocating or crushing spiders against my fear of allowing them to run free, the answer was clear: they’d learned to parachute onto my head! There was no telling what more they might do!

The real secret to actionable courage, it seems, is finding a bigger fear.

“Fear of the Lord,” Proverbs 9:10 says, “is the beginning of wisdom.”

God backs up this claim.

When God called the Israelites to courage in the face of fearsome enemies, he offered no encouragement that they were strong enough or brave enough. Instead, God directed them to someone more fearsome than their enemies: himself. God’s response to our fears is the same.

He stands beside our fears and invites us to compare the proportions.

My tactic for courage in the face of eight-legged risks and two-legged threats has changed. I’m starting to measure them against the God I revere. Not surprisingly, God always proves mightier.

Fearing God makes other fears seem foolish.
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That proportionate perspective, to me, makes sizing up life’s spiders much less intimidating!

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“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” — Winston Churchill

Aneurin Bevan, also known as Nye Bevan, was a Welsh Labor Party politician who acted as minister of health in Great Britain’s post-war government between 1945 and 1951.

During his time as a politician, he became known as a harsh critic of those whom, he believed, “opposed the working man.” Among others, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a primary target of his verbal attacks. The ideological differences between the two gentlemen created animosity that became widely known in the political arena, as well as to the public in general.

Late former Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker told the story of the day Winston Churchill, sitting in the House of Commons, received the message that his enemy, Nye Bevan, had just died. After receiving the news, Churchill bowed his head: “A great man, a brilliant man, a tragic loss,” he muttered under his breath.

Some minutes later, a member of parliament came to Churchill to inform him that the press was waiting to get his “heartfelt opinion on Nye Bevan.”

Churchill thought for a moment, then looked up, circumspectly, and said, “Are you sure he’s dead?”

The Prime Minister, known for his severe demeanor and strong opinions, dreaded to be forced to act as a politician, instead of speaking his heart.

This story about Churchill somewhat reminded me of something that I personally struggle with.

I too find myself in a quandary when someone I love continually makes the wrong decisions. And the struggle becomes even harder, when the person in question does not take criticism in a positive way.

In such circumstances, we must decide: Do we ignore their bad choices, and even nod our heads in approval, or do we fearlessly speak up, confronting them with the truth?

Is love ignoring someone's bad choices, or does it mean we speak up,confronting them with the truth?
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It seems to be a no-brainer, doesn’t it? If we see someone we love heading for trouble, we warn them. That’s the right and loving thing to do.

But we all know this is easier said than done, mostly because defensive people usually justify their wrongdoing, sometimes even quoting the Bible and saying that “God told them” to do so and so.

I’m always amazed at the things God gets blamed for.
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Why even bother, right? Why should we tell the truth, no matter what?

I found my answer this morning, while reading a bible passage in the book of Second Kings.

Israel had been divided into the Northern and the Southern kingdom, and the two kings decided to join forces and fight against one of their enemies together.

As it had become the custom, they summoned 400 so-called prophets to inquire about their decision. All 400 false prophets encouraged the kings to gather their armies and take over the enemy’s territory. But then, Micaiah, a true prophet, boldly dared to deliver a completely different message: If they went into battle, they would certainly die.

Even though he knew the kings would not heed his counsel, he risked his life by going against the kings’ wishes, and chose to honor God’s word.

He chose to tell the truth, at all cost.

Telling the truth is not always a matter of life and death, as it was for the prophet. And sometimes — I get it — holding our tongue can be a wise, political move, as it was for Mr. Churchill in the death of his political adversary.

But when it comes to my family and friends, I am asking God to help me to be bold, and love them enough to confront them, rather than condoning their wrongful actions. I don’t ever want someone I love to one day look me in the eye, and say: Why did you not say something?

This article was published on Patricia’s weekend column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) on Saturday March 18, 2017.

The post LOVE Sometimes means confronting with TRUTH {Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.