A recent report surveying 11 studies globally has indicated that young people in English speaking democracies are less happy and less satisfied with their lives than they were in past decades. It’s no secret that since the Covid 19 pandemic, research has continued to find an increase in people’s depression and poor mental health. What’s alarming is that this trend does not seem to be slowing down.
While I am no expert, I do have thoughts as to why this is the case, and it has to deal with “almost truths”. I’ve heard it said that the best lie is a half-truth. Sometimes blatant lies are easily caught for just what they are, like a friend claiming all is “fine” when you know their life is a mess. But half truths, or almost truths, are much more dangerous. Almost truths contain pieces of partial truth and thus seem as if they have something going for them. But easily believed does not make it true. And because it’s a lie, it will never deliver on its promises. An almost truth distorts reality for some gain other than the benefit of the individual. We see these distorted almost truths all over culture today. Here are two prominent “almost truths”:
Being Seen Will Fulfill You
Celebrity and popularity will always be a draw for humanity. This is because being seen promises value and worth. Influencers, content creators, streamers and movie stars’ lives are glamorized, and thus we think… “if only I could attain that.” Thus we think, if I could be seen by more people, gain celebrity and status, I would be happy like they are happy.
Related: Three Profound Truths about Being Made in the Image of God
The Almost Truth
Being seen does satisfy to an extent. We all live our lives looking at people and things and ascribe worth to them. Material objects have value as they are useful for us, and often we treat people the same. Thus, when thinking about being seen ourselves, we imagine that others will look to us and ascribe worth.
The Lie
Being seen through what we portray is superficial and conditional. It’s superficial because no one shares everything publicly. We ascribe to the motto: “share the best and hide the rest.” No matter how much we share the looming thought remains, “if they really knew me, they wouldn’t treat me like this.” Our failures and flaws are staring us in the face daily. It’s conditional because your value becomes dependent on your performance. The following is ascribing value to you as long as you are providing value to them. Their loyalty depends on your utility. Chasing celebrity and popularity promises value and worth but delivers frantic restlessness.
The Truth
The truth is we are all born looking for someone looking for us. But it’s who we are seen by that makes all the difference. The bible states that you are intimately known by the God who sees. In Psalms 139:1, King David writes, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” In Genesis 16:13, Hagar cries out to God and calls him El Roi, which means the God who sees. Here is the difference between the superficial eyes of others and the fulfilling eyes of God: God sees you completely, the good and the bad, and chooses to love you not for what you do, but who you are. Instead of a frantic restlessness to deliver value to others, we rest in God’s love for us which empowers us to love others.
Intuition over Institution
Have you ever heard someone claim: “All religions teach truth and lead one way or another to god.” The idea is that life is one big mountain and we’re all on our own paths up to the top. It’s religious pluralism, and it’s a lie containing an almost truth. The underlying belief is that anyone can follow whatever they feel is right, because in the end we will all end up in some paradise. It states that in our religious quests, we fundamentally follow our intuition rather than an institution.
The Almost Truth
Our intuition is a guide of sorts. Everyone is created in the image of God, which means we have a moral compass testifying to what is right and wrong. In Romans 2, Paul states that God’s law is written on our hearts and our conscious bears witness. Whether someone knows or follows God or not, everyone knows right and wrong and can live accordingly.
The Lie
While our intuition may guide us, it’s not centered on what will actually fulfill us, but instead on what we think will fulfill us. It’s centered on immediate pleasure and immediate gain. Jeremiah 17:9 states “the heart is deceitful above all things….” James 1:14-15 (NLT) says, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” What matters is not what we think will gratify, but what will actually fulfill. Our hearts may know right and wrong, but they are a terrible guide to real fulfillment.
The Truth
In John 14:6, Jesus states “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is a guide we should follow, and He has revealed himself and his design through the Word of God. To follow one’s intuition is like saying to God, even though you created me, I actually think I know better. This is futile. Flourishing is found in knowing God, letting yourself be known by Him, and walking in his design. There really is one way to salvation and it’s through Jesus and that is good news.
As Christians, we must train ourselves to spot these almost truths in culture. How can we do this? Compare the claim to scripture, ask what it is promising, what it will deliver, and how it differs from scripture. Ask, what’s the almost truth, the lie, and the real truth?. In this we find an apologetic for Christianity: When we walk in God’s good design, and rest in his view of us, we find fulfillment and are empowered to do good in the world. It’s true and because it’s true, it works.
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