RELATIVISM:
the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to
culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.
world is flat, so why are we giving him grief? After all,
there is supposedly no absolute truth. What happened
to the “harbinger of tolerance?” Fortunately for Irving,
his teammate, Lebron James, still embraces relativism.
James said, “If he decides he wants to say the earth is flat,
so be it. He’s an interesting guy, and he believes it.”
In a world where facts are fluid, truth is transient
through time, and morality moves with prevailing
cultural shifts, maybe the earth is flat. If a man can be a
woman and a woman can be a man without any scientific
evidence, maybe the earth is flat. If a beating heart, a
brain, fingers, toes, arms, legs, feelings, and sensations
are not a human being, maybe the earth is flat.
You see, the problem is not that there is debate over
the shape of the earth. The problem is that we no longer
know the foundations of truth morally, scientifically, or
eternally. We have created our own reality along with the
“science” and “morals” to back it up. In that world, Irving’s
claim is totally legitimate. For that matter, perhaps the
world is square.
This madness comes subtly over time. When we ques-
tion the Creator, it won’t be long until we are question-
ing the creation. Our country long ago abandoned the
source of truth, and now we are a ship without a sail on
the sea of reality.
The pathway back to real truth is to embrace the one
who said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE” (see
John 14:6). The one who was “In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were
made through Him, and without Him nothing was made
that was made” (see John 1:1-3). Trust me, Jesus Christ
knows the shape of the earth, and not even an all-star
NBA player can change that truth!
Troy Keaton has pastored for more than 20 years. He
leads Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy and pas-
tors EastLake Community Church in Moneta, VA. ELCC is
a growing multi-site congregation of several hundred and
has planted several other churches. Troy and his wife, Janel,
have two daughters, a son-in-law, two sons, and a grand-
son. Contact Troy at [email protected].
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