Absolute Truth vs Relativism

Christianity relies firmly on its foundation of absolute truth. According to 2 Timothy 2:15, as Christians, we must exhibit ourselves as approved before God by correctly dividing the truthful word of God. We believe in the only true living God with a sacred and solid moral absolute that all people are commanded to follow. Our beliefs are not based on human inventions or fanciful notions but are firmly rooted in the Bible. God instructs us in Exodus 20:3 not to have any other gods before Him for a specific purpose. Why? Because God Himself is the source of all truth, and we must realize and understand this. The perfectly moral God we serve has precisely communicated in His word what ethical behavior He expects from us, so we, as His creatures, are obligated to comply. 

The Bible teaches absolute truth, which means that moral and ethical principles are objectively true and universally applicable, regardless of cultural or personal beliefs. This truth is based on the character and nature of God as revealed in the Scriptures. Conversely, relativism is the belief that truth is subjective and dependent on individual or cultural perspectives. In other words, there is no absolute truth that applies to everyone. The Bible teaches that God's moral and ethical standards are unchanging and apply to all people at all times. These moral and ethical standards come from the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus.

Relativism, on the other hand, rejects the idea of absolute truth and holds that morality is relative to cultural, historical, or individual factors. It argues that what is right or wrong for one person or culture may not be the same for another. This is crucial because moral relativism precludes any distinction between truth and error, right and evil. Absolute truth is absent from the middle of the moral relativity road. As a result, this highway is littered with the bodies of the morally deceased. Due to the rise of social media and the notion that everyone has an opinion despite clinging to absolute truth, many believe their views on truth are newly discovered true philosophies. Sadly, this also influences a considerable number of Christians today. 

Social media, for example, has made it very easy for many people to have multiple personalities (one online and one offline) and the ability to speak their own "truth" as though they are gods. But the truth is that there is only one God, and as God's word clearly states in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is nothing new under the sun. Satan has entered the mainstream social media pipeline, influencing people to have misguided "ah ha" moments. So, it is no wonder many new so-called truths are emerging daily. Considering there is nothing new under the sun, the Bible tells us this will happen in the last days (2 Timothy 4:3). But what does the Bible specifically state about philosophy?

The Bible and Philosophy

The apostle Paul's warning in Colossians 2:8 appears to be misunderstood by many Christians today. Colossians 2:8, the apostle Paul warns, "Beware that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition." In reality, when correctly interpreted, the Bible is no more opposed to philosophy than it is to religion. The Bible does not oppose religion per se but opposes false religion (James 1:26-27). Instead, the Bible opposes empty philosophy. 

It is widely agreed that Paul is not referring to philosophy in general when he writes Colossians 2:8, but rather to a particular philosophy influencing the church at Colossae, which is usually regarded as an early form of Gnosticism. In the original Greek, Paul uses a definite article, which should be translated as "the philosophy" or "this philosophy." When he made this statement, Paul was not talking about philosophy in general; instead, he was referring to a specific Gnostic-like philosophy that had made its way into the church at Colossae. This philosophy included asceticism, legalism, and mysticism, all incompatible with Christianity. A Christian well-versed in the many philosophical-related areas is better equipped to debate with adherents of non-Christian worldviews (Acts 17:22-31) and to use philosophical tools to prove the truth of the Christian faith. Ignorance and shallow thinking are not things God values (for references, see Matthew 22:37; Acts 17:17, 28, 34; Philippians 1:16; Titus 1:15; 1 Peter 3:3). 

When read for what it is, the Bible is clear on its absolute truth and that God Himself is the definitive author of truth—leaving relativism as just an "ah ha" moment with no fundamental foundation in truth whatsoever.