The Word of the Year

If you could select just one word to describe modern life, what would you choose? The editors of the Oxford Dictionaries considered thousands of words as they contemplated what they would select as the “word of the year.” Their choice? “Post-Truth.” Why this word?

This has particular significance because it relates to “circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” It was a choice that “reflects a year dominated by highly-charged political and social discourse.”

As this decision suggests, many find it difficult to recognize truth, or even acknowledge that there is a real truth. The organization in particular pointed to the rise of social media as a “news source” as more people get “news” from sources with strong biases (and that make no effort to be “objective”). At the same time, there has been “a growing distrust of facts offered up by the establishment.” Sources once considered credible are now viewed by many as full of prejudices.

According to Oxford, the earliest known use of “post-truth” was in 1992. However, use rose dramatically in 2016, reflecting their conviction that this could become “one of the defining words of our time.”

In previous generations, the Bible was accepted by many as the source of truth. But, increasingly, many in our culture have decided to form their own idea of “truth.” They are like Pilate, who rejected the idea of an absolute truth (John 18:38). They find it difficult to believe that Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life.” They want to chart their own course. To create their own rules. What is the result? Spiritual confusion.

What is your attitude toward “truth”? Have you really committed your life to Jesus? Do you really believe that He is the truth?