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Attitude, Action, and Truth
Attitude, Action and Truth
Attitude — “position, disposition, or manner with regard to a person or thing: a menacing attitude. 2. Position of the body appropriate to an action, emotion (American College Dictionary). Good attitude, bad attitude, we all have an attitude. In some cases, the attitude we manifest is genuine. In other cases, it is for the purpose of effect, i.e., we desire a certain response, therefore, we assume an attitude conducive to our goal, or pose for effect. Defendants before jurors; traffic violations before police officers or judges, politicians before constituents; all clothe themselves with an attitude conducive to their goal. Even when we know our attitude is bad, we try to dress it up with purest of motives. We are people with an attitude, be it good or bad.
Actions — “something done; an act; deed” (ibid). Actions play an important role in self-evaluation, and in some cases, collective evaluation. In Matthew 7:15-23, the Lord said, in reference to false prophets, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” This measuring stick has, in some cases, been abused and in others ignored: it is either used to judge the actions and attitudes of those with whom we agree or disagree, or it has been ignored when the actions of an individual definitely depict their attitude and intent. One cannot successfully contradict that fruits bear witness to the nature of the tree. Being true to ourselves, the first place we need to apply any fruit inspectors is in our own lives. Again, in Matthew 7, verses 1-4, the Lord emphasizes the need to look into one’s own condition before exerting themselves elsewhere: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” The need to look into one’s own condition before making any attempt to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye is seen also in Romans 2:1-2: “Wherefore thou are without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou hat judgest dost practice the same thing.” When we observe the actions of others, we make judgments. We either approve or disapprove of any given act, but make judgments we do. What do our own actions tell us about ourselves? That’s where we need to begin and then, once we have brought ourselves in alignment with the will of God, we can extend assistance to others.
Truth — “that which is true; the true or actual facts of a case: to tell the truth. 2. Conformity with fact or reality; verity; the truth of a statement. 3. A verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths. 4. the state or character of being true. 5. Genuineness, reality, or actual existence. 6. Agreement with a standard, rule or the like. 7. Honesty, uprightness, or integrity. 8. Accuracy, as of position or adjustment” (ibid). Truth is most loved but also most abused. The battle between truth and error, light and darkness, good and bad, has possessed every society, every nation, every people and every dispensation of man. In science, medicine, and religion the pursuit of truth is a trumpet call which bids men to spend their time, wealth and energy to attain some semblance of truth. The Atheist; the Creationist; the Deist; the Trinitarian; the Catholic; the Lutheran; the Methodist; the Baptist; the Pentecostal; the Mormon; the Jehovah’s Witness; the Moslem; the Buddhist; the Taoist; the Astrologist, all believe they have found the truth in regard to their purpose and future. Truth is often defined through the eyes of the one beholding it. Even the laws concerning the establishment of truth varies among truth seekers. Most everybody wants to be dealt with in a truthful manner. No lies, no deceit, no guile, no fallacies! Just “pure-d ole unadulterated truth!” Give us the truth (as long as it does not conflict with any preconceived notions)! The writer of Proverbs emphasizes the value of truth when he said, “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (23:23), and the Lord himself emphasized the value of truth when He said, “and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). But the fact remains that not everyone wants the truth and those who do not are described as children of the devil: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. But because I say the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:44-45). Why is it man does not have a love for the truth? Second Thessalonians 2:10-12 answers that question: “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” As Jesus stood before Pilate, He said, “To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hearth my voice,” (John 18:37-38) to which, “Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth?” The answering of, and heeding the answer to that question is before every man. In John 17:1, 17, the Lord said, “Sanctify them in the truth: thy (the Father’s, ret) word is truth,” which is realized in the hearing of the Lord’s voice, (John 18:37). ret
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