Over the last several years, both in the writings of popular Christian authors and in the classrooms of religious colleges, a particular slogan has begun to appear more and more. Maybe you have heard the saying, it goes something like this, “All Truth is God’s Truth”.
When I first heard this principle, it was rather liberating. At times, believers (especially new/young believers) can feel as if studying or pursuing anything that doesn’t have the label “Christian” on it or doesn’t directly connect with or point to Christ, is somehow secondary to those things that do. I used to think and say to myself, “Learning more about mathematics is good, but knowing the gospels is better!” To me, it seemed like there was truth with a capital “T”, and then all other truths. I’m not sure if others can relate, but I felt like all lower case “t” truth was a waste of my time. So hearing that all truth is God’s truth, opened my eyes to the fact that big “T” truth is everywhere (not just in the bible). God’s power and presence and glory are found in everything from the bible, to calculus equations, to the study of the solar system. Jesus said, “I am THE TRUTH”, so I have come to believe that when you encounter truth, you encounter Jesus (period).
But, as I have recently come to believe, that isn’t entirely true. Listen to the words of John Piper on this particular issue -
Sometimes the slogan “All truth is God’s truth” is used to justify dealing in any sphere of knowledge as an act of worship or stewardship. The impression is given that just knowing God’s truth and recognizing it as such is a good thing, even a worthy end. But the problem with this is that the devil does it.
“If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1Corinthians 8:2-3). Which I take to mean that until we know in such a way that we love God more because of it, we do not yet know as we ought to know.
Alongside “All truth is God’s truth,” we need to say, “All truth exists to display more of God and awaken more love for God.” This means that knowing truth and knowing it as God’s truth is not a virtue until it awakens desire and delight in us for the God of truth. And that desire and delight are not complete until they give rise to words or actions that display the worth of God. That is, we exist to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and merely knowing a truth to be God’s truth does not glorify him any more than the devil does.
Wow – causes you to rethink the solgan a little bit. Is all truth God’s truth? Well, all truth does in fact point to God and find its basis and meaning in God, whether that is 2+2 or an understanding of how to build a computer, but the Scriptures make it clear that truth is designed for and grounded in the glory of God and its primary purpose is to cause us to grow in our love for Him. So if we simply allow truth just to be truth and not allow it to draw us or compel us to have a greater love for God, then it is not God’s truth. So, marvel in the precision of the universe, delight in how God has made everything, seek to discover more and more about God through his creation, or the laws of physics, or whatever. But don’t just stop there. Allow that truth to result in an even greater love for the God who is behind and in it all.
All truth is God’s truth (well, sort of).