Spirit and Truth

Jesus told the woman at the well, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Christian worship is not confined to location, style or the intercession of saints. Christians must worship God in spirit and in truth.

Pilate asked Jesus a question that still echoes in the voices of the world. “What is truth?” Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate knew the truth. The council had delivered Jesus to be crucified in order to protect their position in society. They wanted Pilate to do their dirty work and he knew it. Pilate asked the question to try to minimize his guilt. This is the same reason people still ask it.

When faced with a truth that is contrary to their desires, people try to deflect guilt by clouding the truth. It's a strategy as old as mankind. A the root of this defense mechanism is the belief that there are many shades of truth. This belief is not entirely incorrect---it is entirely dishonest. That there are shades of truth is evident in our justice system. Witnesses promise to tell three shades of truth---the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Attorneys then work these three shades to tell the story in their favor. That's why they seek “yes or no” answers and limit testimony to questions and answers.

Shades of truth are the camouflage of deceit. When God says “truth,” it comes in one shade. What is truth? Truth, the only truth, is a person. Before Pilate's question Jesus told His disciples, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus Christ is The Truth—God's Truth.

If you believe in God, “what would Jesus do” is more than a catch phrase or a marketing gimmick. God is to be worshipped in the Person and Spirit of Jesus Christ. All else is falsehood and error. That, is the truth.