Why Truth Still Matters in a Post-Truth Culture
Everyone wants the world to know their truth, their life, their story. People crave recognition, acceptance, and validation of their narrative. Can you blame them? I can’t. Deep down, we all long to be known for who we truly are, flaws and all. Even if it’s only from one person, we desire acceptance. To deny that longing is, in itself, a kind of dishonesty.
Today, there is a cultural push for the idea of “my truth.” This mindset arises from modern philosophical, political, and social forces that elevate individualism, personal experience, and identity. We like to believe that our stories are so unique that no one else could possibly understand them. It’s my truth, not yours. That distinctiveness, we’re told, is what makes us who we are. But here’s the question: Is “my truth” really truth at all? Or is it simply perspective?
The “my truth” movement often elevates personal experience above objective reality. While personal stories carry great emotional power, they don’t always align with fact. Think about it: when someone shares their story, they often present it as the absolute truth while leaving out or reshaping details. Sometimes this is intentional, omitting facts that might weaken their case. Other times it’s unintentional, forgetting or misremembering. Either way, the result can be misunderstanding or, worse, misinformation. And we know how quickly misinformation spreads, igniting like wildfire.
In a post-truth culture, objective facts take a back seat. What matters most is what appeals to emotion, reinforces personal belief, or advances political talking points. It’s far easier to sway someone by tugging on their heart than by presenting hard evidence. But this is dangerous territory, where the lines between fact and fiction blur until both seem interchangeable.
So why does truth still matter in a post-truth culture?
Because truth builds trust. Without trust, everything crumbles. In politics, for example, you watch candidates proclaim “their truth” across TV and social media. You listen, hoping they mean what they say. Yet as “my truth” has replaced objective truth, trust in leaders, institutions, media, and even education has eroded. When “believability” becomes more important than reality, the foundation of trust disintegrates. Without trust, society loses its ability to agree on reality or to work together toward shared goals.
This erosion has fueled polarization. Social media amplifies misinformation by preying on emotions and personal biases. As a result, we’re more divided than ever. Debates devolve into conflict. Neighbors become enemies. And opposing “truths” collide like weapons.
So again, why does truth matter in a post-truth culture? And how do we return to it?
The answer is God.
God is the foundation of truth. In a world where “truth” shifts with opinion, God provides an unchanging, objective standard. In Christian theology, truth is not merely a concept but a person: Jesus Christ, who declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” God is perfect. He does not lie, He does not err, and His Word, the Bible, is the ultimate authority on what is true.
Jesus promised that those who abide in His Word will know the truth, and that the truth will set them free. The Gospel offers freedom from sin, deception, and the chaos of subjective whims. God’s Word gives us a framework for living, not based on feelings or shifting cultural narratives, but on eternal truth.
If the world embraced Jesus Christ, truth would no longer be fractured into “yours” and “mine.” God’s truth does not bend to personal experience, belief, or emotion. It stands as the framework for building a better life, a better community, and a better world.
So if you haven’t yet embraced God’s truth, the objective truth, there’s no better time than now.