The Truth
“The truth is the shortest distance between two points.”
A statement I recall from reading a speech by Reverend Moon.
Is it true?
Typical situation:
A friend, colleague, coworker, family member or acquaintance walks up and asks you, “How are you?”
“Should I give you the short answer or do you have five hours?” you respond. It is a thought going through my mind whenever I am asked.
“The short answer.”
“I’m fine.”
Am I fine? Am I simply being polite? Is it honest? Is it the truth?
Am I fine in regards to any responsibility, or job, I am being asked to take on and oversee? Did I say that?
“I am fine in regards to the task at hand.”
“I am fine in that I am happy to see you.”
These may be closer to the truth, qualifying in what regards, ‘I am fine.’
“I am sick.”
“I am tired, but okay to work.”
Also more descriptive, more honest and closer to the truth as to “How are you?”
Now, “Do you have five hours?” If you chose those five hours I suspect you would find yourself further from the truth afterwards than with the short answer.
Why?
It depends on what you consider the truth to be, relative or absolute. If the truth is relative, this entire written piece is meaningless and without value. The fact that we can all identify with this line of reasoning is proof itself that the truth is an absolute; an absolute we are pursuing and have yet to achieve.
A five hour answer would be filled with statements of self interest, self rationalization. If one has a chip on their shoulder, you will hear about it. All insecurities, envies and political maneuvering would be exposed to a seasoned listener.
The five hour answer conveys truth from one persons perspective, but a listener of ethics, of moral fiber, would clearly understand that all others mentioned in this expression of truth would convey a very different perspective on what is true if given the chance.
The Bible encourages us not to be busy bodies, gossips or people of loose lip. Why? Because it increases the distance between each of us as God’s children. It is divisive, destructive, unproductive. Such rants ultimately degrade the common good and are hurtful to God.
It takes more than words, but also a world view, an understanding of ones position and responsibilities to others, an ethical framework in accordance with the truth, to convey the truth accurately. This would be the truth from the eyes of the origin of truth; God.
We come back to the modified short answer being the most truthful.
From another perspective, a new born child communicates in the only way it understands. It cries when it is hungry. But it may cry to achieve any and all other desires it may have, leaving the parent confused.
A child matures, as do all people and civilizations, increases its’ vocabulary, increasing its abilities to communicate its needs and desires. As a child’s understanding grows his position increase and his responsibility to others increases.
Through language, and understanding one’s position and responsibilities to one’s community, concise and clear descriptions can be conveyed to communicate the truth more fully or completely.
One’s position and responsibilities; is this a typical way to frame the truth?
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
— Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
Understanding one’s position is central in the Ten commandments. It is God’s word and God created through the word; created what is true.
An example of one’s responsibility to one’s community would be to testify honestly to events and activities for the benefit of the common good. That may comprise the conveying of information accurately, so that a crop may be harvested at the proper time for the greatest benefit, or in the pursuit of justice.
Does the decaying of a language, the diminishing of its known vocabulary, represent a civilization in decline; a civilization no longer seeking truth? Is it a sign of moral decline?
Scriptures are the same. The later they are, the more clearly they communicate. But still, a final truth, conveyed clearly in words, is the promise. Yes, Jesus Christ is the truth, but our inability to relate fully keeps us from fully uniting with His truth.
The clear truth promised in the last days, words of life, are required to open our hearts and minds to achieve that oneness. This is clearly stated in the Bible and suggests a responsibility on man’s part. A responsibility to receive the word and practice it. This brings us closer to God.
“The truth is the shortest distance between two points.”
When one can truly and completely, absolutely, connect with God, one’s value, position, and responsibilities to their fellow man become absolute. One can truly understand their fellow man and their responsibilities to each other, in absolute terms, shortening the distance between us all.
“The Divine Principle” The word of God conveyed by Reverend Moon is an explanation of the Christian Bible from the perspective of the truth God has revealed through Reverend Moon for this age. It is a short read completely integral with the Bible, filled with scriptural references.
A statement I recall from reading a speech by Reverend Moon.
Is it true?
Typical situation:
A friend, colleague, coworker, family member or acquaintance walks up and asks you, “How are you?”
“Should I give you the short answer or do you have five hours?” you respond. It is a thought going through my mind whenever I am asked.
“The short answer.”
“I’m fine.”
Am I fine? Am I simply being polite? Is it honest? Is it the truth?
Am I fine in regards to any responsibility, or job, I am being asked to take on and oversee? Did I say that?
“I am fine in regards to the task at hand.”
“I am fine in that I am happy to see you.”
These may be closer to the truth, qualifying in what regards, ‘I am fine.’
“I am sick.”
“I am tired, but okay to work.”
Also more descriptive, more honest and closer to the truth as to “How are you?”
Now, “Do you have five hours?” If you chose those five hours I suspect you would find yourself further from the truth afterwards than with the short answer.
Why?
It depends on what you consider the truth to be, relative or absolute. If the truth is relative, this entire written piece is meaningless and without value. The fact that we can all identify with this line of reasoning is proof itself that the truth is an absolute; an absolute we are pursuing and have yet to achieve.
A five hour answer would be filled with statements of self interest, self rationalization. If one has a chip on their shoulder, you will hear about it. All insecurities, envies and political maneuvering would be exposed to a seasoned listener.
The five hour answer conveys truth from one persons perspective, but a listener of ethics, of moral fiber, would clearly understand that all others mentioned in this expression of truth would convey a very different perspective on what is true if given the chance.
The Bible encourages us not to be busy bodies, gossips or people of loose lip. Why? Because it increases the distance between each of us as God’s children. It is divisive, destructive, unproductive. Such rants ultimately degrade the common good and are hurtful to God.
It takes more than words, but also a world view, an understanding of ones position and responsibilities to others, an ethical framework in accordance with the truth, to convey the truth accurately. This would be the truth from the eyes of the origin of truth; God.
We come back to the modified short answer being the most truthful.
From another perspective, a new born child communicates in the only way it understands. It cries when it is hungry. But it may cry to achieve any and all other desires it may have, leaving the parent confused.
A child matures, as do all people and civilizations, increases its’ vocabulary, increasing its abilities to communicate its needs and desires. As a child’s understanding grows his position increase and his responsibility to others increases.
Through language, and understanding one’s position and responsibilities to one’s community, concise and clear descriptions can be conveyed to communicate the truth more fully or completely.
One’s position and responsibilities; is this a typical way to frame the truth?
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
— Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
Understanding one’s position is central in the Ten commandments. It is God’s word and God created through the word; created what is true.
An example of one’s responsibility to one’s community would be to testify honestly to events and activities for the benefit of the common good. That may comprise the conveying of information accurately, so that a crop may be harvested at the proper time for the greatest benefit, or in the pursuit of justice.
Does the decaying of a language, the diminishing of its known vocabulary, represent a civilization in decline; a civilization no longer seeking truth? Is it a sign of moral decline?
Scriptures are the same. The later they are, the more clearly they communicate. But still, a final truth, conveyed clearly in words, is the promise. Yes, Jesus Christ is the truth, but our inability to relate fully keeps us from fully uniting with His truth.
The clear truth promised in the last days, words of life, are required to open our hearts and minds to achieve that oneness. This is clearly stated in the Bible and suggests a responsibility on man’s part. A responsibility to receive the word and practice it. This brings us closer to God.
“The truth is the shortest distance between two points.”
When one can truly and completely, absolutely, connect with God, one’s value, position, and responsibilities to their fellow man become absolute. One can truly understand their fellow man and their responsibilities to each other, in absolute terms, shortening the distance between us all.
“The Divine Principle” The word of God conveyed by Reverend Moon is an explanation of the Christian Bible from the perspective of the truth God has revealed through Reverend Moon for this age. It is a short read completely integral with the Bible, filled with scriptural references.
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