Truth, Titanic, and the Kingdom of God
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“But what is Truth? Is Truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?”
“Trial Before Pilate” in Jesus Christ Superstar
My final semester at Milligan included a bunch of classes that I had put off throughout my college career, including a math class and a science class. The highlight of that final year at Milligan was Sociology of Religion taught by Dr. Higgins. There were a lot of smart people in that class (plus me). I believe all of us planned on pursuing some type of ministry-related profession after graduation. Our classroom conversations were challenging and creative and heartfelt. It pushed me in ways that few other classes did at Milligan. And that’s saying a lot.
I think every class at Milligan pushed and stretched and challenged me in one way or another. But Christy once joked that Sociology of Religion made me “think too much.” She meant it as a criticism, but I think it’s actually high praise for the class. Looking back, it was a nice capstone for my Milligan career.
Ministry in the wake of Titanic
Christy and I saw Titanic over Christmas break during our senior year. I don’t think I’ve watched it since then. Don’t get me wrong. I thought it was a good movie. But it didn’t really resonate with me. Clearly I was in the minority. It seems the world became Titanic obsessed overnight.
Titanic struck a nerve in some ministry circles. I can’t exactly tell you why this was such a big deal. History is full of stories of star-crossed lovers who had to keep their passionate relationship a secret. And there are countless films about self-discovery, defying cultural norms, and living out one’s personal truth – societal norms be damned. Several church leaders railed against it. One pastor called it “a statement of rebellion against God.” One of my communication professors, Terry Mattingly, once quoted conservative commentator Elizabeth Farrah’s assessment of the film:
This isn’t just a bad movie, she added, it is “manipulative” and “fundamentally immoral.”
TMATT referncing Elizabeth Farrah in his On Religion column, ”Titanic’ – The ’60s as sacraments
Maybe it was because this story had been so wildly successful. I don’t know. But looking back, it feels like there was some kind of wake-up call for people of faith who also sought to engage culture in a thoughtful and meaningful way. I guess you could say it was the beginning of that cultural hinge I’d heard some futurists discuss a few years later.*
Ministering in a ‘Titanic’ world
It was within the broader context of living in the wake of Titanic (a year later) that a classmate shared her observations about a move she and her friends had gone to see the previous weekend: Pleasantville. I remember quite vividly the way she described it. In her understanding, its underlying message was that there is no Truth except what’s found within yourself and there’s no denying your inner Truth. Because you are what you are and you can’t stop something that’s inside you.
I never saw the movie, so I can’t speak to the voracity of her claims. And, much like Titanic’s “be true to yourself” and “live out your own truth” message, this was nothing new. I mean, Obi-wan Kenobi undermined Truth back in the Original Trilogy (cf. the lesson on the Millennium Falcon and his conversation with Luke on Dagobah. But I digress… And don’t get me started on how Harry Potter is wicked and anti-Christian but similar sorcery and anti-Truth statements in Star Wars are acceptable in some church circles. But I digress. Again…
My classmate was very concerned that films like Titanic and Pleasantville where whittling away at the role of universal Truth in our society. This topic dominated our session that day. Dr. Higgins challenged us with this question. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since then. Yes, I still think about it 20+ years later.
“How do you preach Truth in a Titanic world?”
Dr. Higgins
A prophetic conversation?
Now we’re here two decades later and it certainly seems that the conversation we had during Sociology of Religion was a bit prophetic. Please understand that this goes much deeper than politics, but the current political climate has highlighted society’s relationship with Truth.
Alternative facts. Accusations of people getting their “own set of facts.” Speaking your own Truth. Masks work. Masks don’t work. Follow the science, but only the science that agrees with my agenda. Mail-in ballots are secure the data proves it. Mail-in ballots are not secure. The data proves it. Facts and Truth are only necessary to browbeat people who disagree with you. But they aren’t listening anyway. They have their own set of facts and Truth to support their side.
Watching people’s reactions to political debates illustrates this point even further. It doesn’t matter what happened in presidential debates. You probably think your candidate won. And the moderator was clearly biased against your candidate.
Whether we’re really allowed our “own set of facts” or not, people are picking and choosing their favorites.
Here we are. Truth doesn’t really matter to in our society.
Even outside of politics, people are just seeing what they want to see and disregarding the rest. Facts don’t matter unless they support what we already thought. Yes, there’s a lot of confirmation bias running around. But this is…deeper…
How we got here is probably irrelevant at this point. The fact of the matter is that we’re here. People don’t care about Truth unless they can use it as a weapon to defeat someone else. So what do we do about it?
Contemplating Jesus and Pilate
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, the quote at the top of this post is inspired by a conversation found in Scripture in the chapter 18 of Gospel of John. The religious leaders had brought Jesus to their Roman governor with the hope that they’d put an end to Jesus’ ministry by putting him to death. During the interrogation, Jesus said that he had come to proclaim Truth. “Everyone on the side of Truth listens to me.”
Then Pontius Pilate stared Truth in the face and asked,
“What is Truth?”
Pontius Pilate, John 18:38
I think John’s account of how Jesus responded to this question is telling. Jesus didn’t say anything. Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life, didn’t say a word when he was asked what Truth actually was. He could have laid out a whole laundry list of how he was Truth incarnate. He could have pulled out a big piece of paper and a giant Sharpie and taken Pilate to school. “What is Truth? I’ll show you Truth, Mr. Bigshot.”
Or he could have been a little more subtle.
He doesn’t take the bait
Jesus doesn’t say anything. Yet. He doesn’t need to win an argument here. He’s already said over and over again that he walked among us for a higher purpose. And he was focused on that purpose.
Here’s a quick rundown if you don’t know what happens next in John’s Gospel:
- Pilate finds no basis for the charge against Jesus. Asks crowd if he should release Jesus.
- Crowd says they prefer Barabbas.
- Pilate has his soldiers flog Jesus.
- They beat him, put him in a purple robe, and place a crown of thorns on his head. They mock him, shouting “Hail! King of the Jews!”
- Pilate insists there’s no basis to execute Jesus.
- The people demand it anyway. I would not be surprised that some of these same people were shouting “Hosanna!” when Jesus entered Jerusalem less than a week prior. How many times have I done the same thing? But I digress..
- Pilate asks Jesus a question.
- Jesus remains silent.
In the midst of all of this – the lies, the “alternative facts,” the deceit, the betrayal – Jesus stays quiet. No response.
I’m sure you already know all of this, but bear with me here. I’m going somewhere with this. I promise.
Jesus hasn’t said a word since Pilate looked him in the face and asked him what Truth is. He hasn’t said a word, that is, until Pilate declares to Jesus that “I have the power to free you or to crucify you” (John 19:10).
Jesus finally responded with a big fat “NOPE.”
Jesus needed to remind Pilate that God was in control of this whole thing. Things were falling apart around him. On the surface, it sure seemed like Jesus was the loser in this whole situation. But Jesus knew, and reminded Pilate (and us) that God is in control. Period.
And then Jesus showed his love for us. They mocked him. Spewed hatred towards him. They didn’t care about Truth. You could say they only paid attention to some alternative facts. And yet, Jesus still put his love for them (and for us) on display for the whole world to see when he willingly spread out his arms and allowed himself to be nailed to a cross.
“Greater love has no one than this – to one lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Jesus (John 15)
I wonder if that’s the example we should start following. Because bashing people over the head with facts, arguments, and Truth doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere. It’s almost like we’re trying to use the Truth as a weapon. That seems ineffective and contrary to the ministry that Jesus showed. And I’m not going to allow my faith to be weaponized against other people.
“What is Truth?” Is love the answer?
What if love is the answer to the “What is Truth?” question? I don’t really mean giving a verbal reply. I’m talking about responding with our lives. Jesus said over and over and over again that we should “Love one another.” Love God. Love others. That’s the whole of God’s commands. That’s what the Kingdom of God is all about. It’s not a list of facts. It’s not something you can use to fight against people who disagree with you.
The Kingdom of God is living with the understanding that God is in control. And within that context, it’s leading with love. It’s the Good Shepherd leaving the 99 to bring the 1 back into the fold. It’s the Good Father standing, watching, waiting, and then celebrating when the Prodigal Son returns home. The Kingdom of heaven is turning the other cheek, walking the extra mile, and praying for our enemies. It’s the widow who celebrates when she finds the Lost Coin.
God’s Kingdom is the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. It’s the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for being citizens of God’s Kingdom. It’s washing other’s feet, bearing burdens, and offering a cup of cold water. The Kingdom of God is the Good Samaritan, the woman at the well, the tax collectors, the outcast, the prostitutes, the downtrodden, the oppressed, the little children, the adulterous woman, the sinners…and the saints.
It can be quite a mess.
And it’s beautiful.
You see evidence of God’s Kingdom whenever you see joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…and love. Because love is patient and kind. It does not envy and it does not boast. Love is not proud. It doesn’t dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it’s not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the Truth. It points to the Truth because it walks hand-in-hand with Truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The Truth of God’s Kingdom is proclaimed most loudly when love is at its core.
Because love. never. fails.#
I’m done trying to out-argue people about the Truth. I’m ready to try to out-love them instead.
Because love just might be the answer when God is in control (and God is in control). Even when no one is asking the question.
endnotes
*I reference Glenn Beck in this link. I feel it’s important to point out that I haven’t listened to him in a decade. Or more. Either he changed, or I changed, or both of us have changed. Whichever way it is, I’ve outgrown most talk radio except the occasional sports talk show.
# cf. 1 Cor. 13:4-8
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