Loving the Truth
by Jonathan Mattull, 6th Grade and 9th-12th Grade Theology Teacher
The annual Upper School Retreat was held September 4-5th. As those reared in the culture of Christianity, we are committed to love the truth. In an address titled 'Love of Truth,' I was able to speak to staff and students about the relationship between the affection of love, and the reality of truth.
Remembering that love is the strongest positive affection that leads one to do something, we considered that love for the truth ought not only be thought of as an intellectual exercise. To love the truth we certainly need to engage in the rigor of academic study. We must first discern the truth, and pursue it at all costs. Our minds are never inactive in our study of or delight in the truth. However, there are many who possess accurate notions of truth, but could in no way be considered lovers of the truth. One who loves the truth meditates upon, appreciates, relishes, defends, promotes, practices and ultimately relates to the truth. The fact that it is for the truth demands that we relinquish industrial notions of studying. That there are times for memorizing and learning by rote, is indisputable, but woe unto us if this is our only notion of learning! Rather one who loves truth pursues it as a relationship, with delight, engagement and pleasure. I trust the applications to the classroom are apparent.
We would have erred had we neglected that truth is ultimately tied up with the person of Jesus Christ. He himself said, 'I am the Truth.' Rather than seeing truth as fragmented factoids, we ought to see all truth as that which flows from the fountain of truth, namely, the Son of God.
This means that when we discover or uncover truth in Science, History, Literature, etc., we are actually coming into contact with the mind of our Lord. This is why being a classical Christian school implies much more than simply having a Bible class, as necessary and good as that is. This in no way equates what is called General Revelation with Special Revelation, or knowledge about the truth with saving knowledge of our Savior, for General Revelation cannot reveal to us the knowledge necessary to know Christ as Savior. However, it is capable of illustrating to us the glories of Christ's mind. When we rightly discern the truth, we are in a sense realizing the way in which Christ has ordered his creation.
Lastly, when we love the Truth as a person, that is, when we actually love the Lord Jesus Christ for who He is and what He has done, we are struck with the reality that He first loved us (1 John 4:19). This confirms and heightens the thought that to love the truth is more than an industrial or mechanical exercise; it is truly and ultimately relational. If we find within ourselves a love to the Person of Truth, far from being puffed up with arrogance, we rather ought to be humbled and wonder at God's gracious love to us. May such thoughts alter the way in which we study, teach and live as we love the Truth.