Stupidity Masquerading as Wisdom

Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. (Colossians 2:8 NLT)

A Facebook friend of mine posted this:

Open-minded people don't care to be right, they care to understand. There's never a right or wrong answer. Everything is about understanding.

My response to his post:
"I will accept your view that 1 + 1 = 3 as long as you do not force me to give up my view that 1 + 1 = 6. With this, mathematics will never progress and there will be no modern technology but at least we have understanding at a primitive level."

I find it fascinating how people do not treat truth with priority. They are quick to embrace anything that sound philosophical and wise. They accept statements without thinking. This also answer the question why science and all the benefits of modern civilisation come from Europe and from not the other ancient civilizations such as China and India. Christian based European civilization learnt from the Bible to emphasize on truth and reaped the benefits of truth.

"Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth" - Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Greatness Without Truth Is Limited

In this YouTube video "What Does Democracy Mean To The Chinese? [Street Interview]" by Asian Boss, the Chinese people interviewed genuinely felt that they were free. They accepted the limits imposed by their government and think that the great firewall as something good for them as it kept out bad influences.

Can a society achieve greatness and golden age without pursuing truth? Can we progress when we have no desire to know if the world is round or flat?

Yes. We have examples of the Chinese, Indian, Greek and Roman civilizations achieving great heights. But they were limited by the lack of interest in truth. And in their success were the seeds of failure.

For this reason, science is discovered by Christian-based Europe which has this desire to search for truth for the sake of truth, and not by the rest of the world, which is only interested in peace.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32 KJV)

Benefits of Believing in Jesus

Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB)

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. (Titus 2:11-15 HCSB)

Rest
Because Christ is our hope, we can rest. We do not need to struggle.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

Satisfaction
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14 KJV)

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 ESV)

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:11 KJV)

Performance beyond your ability
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NET)

Jesus the Truth and Word of God is our Salvation Righteousness Faith and Peace

Truth
Who is the Truth?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Word
Who is the Word?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 KJV)

Salvation
Who is our Salvation?
"... for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 KJV)

Righteousness
Who is our Righteousness?
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who in God is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and santification, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)

Faith
Who is our Faith?
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

Peace
Who is our Peace?
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14 KJV)

Truth Versus Peace

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 KJV)

Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.
Matthew Henry

Many people talked about world peace. Many religions talked about world peace. Many condemned the wars that happened because some religions insisted that theirs is the only true way. Such religions are condemned for their bigotry. But which is more important, truth or peace?

Galileo fought with the Roman Catholic Church on whether the earth revolves around the sun or the sun revolves around the earth. Galileo mathematically proved Copernicus's idea that the earth revolves around the sun. But the Roman Catholic Church had endorsed Aristotle's belief that everything revolved around earth. The church threatened him with torture and force him to recant. If for the sake of peace, everyone decide to agree with the Roman Catholic Church and Aristotle, what will happen to science? Thank God that the Roman Catholic Church is not all powerful as it was in the Middle Ages. Another earlier war had cut down its influence.

The Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648) began as a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire, but it developed into a more general conflict involving most of the European powers. It was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history. The war ended with the Peace of Westphalia, which forced the Holy Roman Empire to recognize its German princes as absolute sovereigns in their own dominions, guaranteed the freedom of worship for the Protestants, and thus weakened the Roman Catholic Church.

We cannot have peace without truth. Peace without truth will lead to stagnation.

Truth Versus Religious Harmony

"Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth" Matthew Henry (1662-1714). The Singapore government values religious harmony. But would the Singapore government sacrifice truth for peace?

The Prince of Peace

There shall be no world peace, until the Prince of Peace comes. The coming Prince is predicted in (Isaiah 9:5-7). At His first coming, this Prince, who is Jesus promised personal peace (John 14:27). He will bring world peace at His second coming (Revelations 19:11-17) and will rule the world in peace (Micah 4:1-3).

Peace cannot come without truth. Since Jesus is Truth (John 14:6), peace will come when He comes.

In the meantime, let "the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV)"

World Peace

Many people like to pray for world peace. But as long as there are humans on earth, there would be no peace. Therefore world peace can be achieved only when all humans died out.

But, wait. Animals also fight. When there are no humans, peace still cannot rule. So world peace can only be achieved when all animals also die out. But when animals die, plants die. Anyway when no living things exist on earth, there will be peace.

But, wait. The earth crust produce earthquake and volcanoes, disturbing peace in the lifeless earth. The only way to have world peace is that the earth no longer exist.

So for those who pray for world peace, the answer to your prayer comes when the earth cease to exist. So please, do not pray for the peace of the whole universe. Just keep it at world peace.

Truth and Peace

"Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth" Matthew Henry (1662-1714). In today's world where there is daily war, many people are praying for "World Peace". But peace without truth is a false peace which will collapse sooner or later. It is better to take a longer route to eastablish truth, and peace would follow.