Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. John 18:38

Several weeks ago Time Magazine’s cover asked, “Is Truth Dead?” The cover deliberately replicates a Time cover of fifty years ago. Then, on April 8, 1966 it had asked a similar provoking question: “Is God Dead?” The three- word text assaulted readers with sharp red letters against a black background. The Time logo banner was pristine white. The starkness of both covers meant to jolt and unsettle people. I can’t help but remember that the Nazi flag – a black swastika set in a white circle on a red background exuded power, domination and fear. Surely the artist and editors of Time are aware that those three primary colors are powerful and symbolic.

Much has been made of the 1966 cover, glowingly described as “iconic.“ Questioning whether God is dead was Time’s foray into supplanting the God of Judaeo- Christianity, that is the God of the Bible, with a pluralistic, impersonal deity emerging from every corner of the 60’s world view. Interestingly, two years ago Philip Goldman writing for the liberal on-line journal the Huffington Post, re-examined the 1966 article. Looking for intent more than content, he stated that “The Time reporters were tuned into the zeitgeist.” He elaborates:

“As it happens, in subsequent decades that anthropomorphic deity has largely been replaced by a conception of the Divine that’s more akin to The Force of Star Wars, or a coherent energy like something physics might describe, or the Brahman of Hinduism — formless, eternal and transcendent, and yet also imaginable in any number of forms.” Huffington Post June 21, 2014

Any and all forms are potentially divine in Mr. Goldman’s view. Hmm. The Divine as Star Wars fantasy? Perhaps Yoda as an all wise Buddha -like deity? Karma arising like Venus out of physics? Eastern TM and navel gazing as personal religions? This all embracing, all tolerant zeitgeist sounds all to familiar. It didn’t take very long to manifest itself.

Zeitgeist indeed. The German word means “spirit of the age.” We don’t have to dig far into the history of the 60’s to identify exactly what the “spirit of that age” let loose against the eternal Spirit of God. The dawning of Aquarius brought New Age –ism, post modern relativism and the deconstruction of moral reality. It can be summed up in two words: deception and rebellion.

The God of Christianity is still very much alive despite man’s puerile fist shaking. The same “zeitgeist” of the 60’s, Satan, the enemy of God, prowls about in the 21st century. He knows of course that God is not dead at all. Thus, He hones the tactics he knows best which are as old as time (not Time!) Deception, blatant lies and insinuations are Satan’s trademark.

He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”Gen 3:1

The serpent always attacks the cause of truth and plants doubt. Is God God? Is what He said true? Are you really, really certain? And then because he knows man’s weakness the serpent incites the heart to rebel. What God said is not true so why don’t you take His place? Truth will be whatever you say it is.

Regrettably, Time Magazine has again jumped onto the devil’s back. One needs only to scan the news headlines to realize that truth is under constant, increasing attack. People are duped to question reality and accept illusion; deny logic, rationality and truth and praise deception; denounce morality and deny God’s voice of reason. The pc gendarmes use intimidation and harassment to convolute empirical and moral truths. Insanity is taking over common sense.

Time’s question is self contradictory. First of all, any response to the question about truth requires an answer which is by nature a statement about truth. Logically, it assumes some kind of truth to exist. Even if disbelieved, it is still a “true” statement. I’d highly recommend a refresher course in Logic 101. Secondly, the question is certainly not original. It was posed and answered two thousand years ago in Jerusalem. Pilate asked Jesus a similar question. Pilate wanted to know if Jesus was a king. Jesus answered him:

“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

Pilate replied with another question, “What is truth”? It was a philosophical response. The Greek word aletheiea used by Pilate means truth in reality as opposed to illusion or delusion. Pilate wanted facts about Jesus in accordance with what was real, not false ideas. Although he found no fault or falseness in Jesus, Pilate retreated into philosophy. Jesus claimed truth; Pilate chose illusion.

It is in the light of Jesus’ claims that Time’s margumentative question utterly fails. Truth is not dead at all. In an astonishing “I Am” statement, Jesus tells the disciples,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus claimed that truth is neither abstract or intellectual. It is not culture or world view dependent. Jesus Himself, as a Person, the Son of God, is Truth. He and the Father are One – in Spirit and in Truth. He promised to send the same Holy Spirit into the world after His departure. Truth has always been Who, not What. All other zeitgeists are false. Jesus warns the true Spirit will be opposed.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:7

By asking if truth is dead, Time unwittingly implies that truth has to be first alive. Only animate beings can have life. There is no separate breath of life in concepts or even scientific laws. It is like asking Is Gravity Dead? The question becomes perversely subjective and unanswerable. No other person has ever made Jesus’ claim, to be truth. He came to proclaim and manifest the Father’s Truth and character. The Truth of God’s promises and purposes. The Truth of the Gospel. The Truth about salvation. The truth about eternal life.

I can answer Pilate and Time. Truth is not dead. He rose from the grave and overcame death forever. Death is the lie, not Truth. In the Spirit of Truth, by faith, I know Jesus. He is the truth and He has set me free. Finally, I offer this: If you sincerely desire to know the Truth, seek out the Word of God in the Scriptures. Therein, Jesus is revealed – in bold red letters!