The Marks Post: ‘What is truth?’

In John’s Passion narrative, there is an exchange between Pontius Pilate and Jesus where the Pilate asks “What is truth” (John 18:38). Before Jesus could answer, though, the Roman governor leaves the scene.
To me, Jesus gives us an answer to that question earlier in John’s Gospel with one of His seven I AM statements. He says during the Last Supper discourse, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
If anyone asked me Pilate’s question, I would answer and say the truth is absolute. For instance, circumference equals pi times the distance and other geometric theorems are constant. Also constant are scientific principles such as two hydrogen atoms form water when combined with an oxygen atom.
Even though truth is absolute, many have tried to perverse and corrupt it in order to fit their own agenda. Social ideologues posing as professors on college and university campuses have been doing so for decades. More recently, our own leaders, even some of our Church leaders, have been bending and stretching the limits of the truth regarding gender and marriage.
Also, it seems whenever a person speaks out in defense of the truth, that person then is labeled as a racist, sexist, misogynist, or whatever kind of -ist you can think of.
For example, look at Harrison Butker, who recently delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College, a small liberal arts college in Atchison, Kan. I read the speech on the National Catholic Register Website, and, in my opinion, it is filled with the kind of truth that hardly seems proclaimed anymore in our society.
But, as much is the case, Butker’s remarks have been taken out of context and distorted by those ranging from much of the national media to Benedictine College’s Sisters of Mount Scholastica. One of the sticking points is Butker addressing the role of motherhood.
Butker, during his remarks, describes homemaker as being “one of the most important titles.” He shared how his wife, Isabelle, started living her life after she gave up having a career and began her vocation as a wife and a mother.
“She is a primary educator to our children,” expressed Butker. “She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. She is the person that knows me best at my core, and it is through our marriage that, Lord willing, we will both attain salvation.”
“I say all of this to you because I have seen it firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God’s will in their life. Isabelle’s dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you asked her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud, without hesitation, and say, ‘Heck, No.’”
I read this as Butker speaking about the importance of the domestic church, which consists of a father, mother, and children. He is not saying women should stay home, raise children, and not have a life of their own. To me, he is saying women can have fruitful careers outside of the home but saying they should not abandon their responsibilities to the family. Much of the reason our country and our world are in the shape they are in today is because of the fractured state of the domestic church.
I could be off target, but this is only my humble opinion regarding the issue. I encourage you to read Butker’s full remarks and then judge for yourself.
Getting back to the question of what is truth for a second, Jesus gives us another answer after He meets the woman accused of adultery. In John 8:31-32, He says, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”