Knowledge: Can we ‘know’ anything? A Christian perspective:

People relate to knowledge in various ways. The debate of how we interpret knowledge, revelation, and truth is actually a highly-debated topic within the American culture and academia.

As Christians, we are always walking in between the tensions of various conclusions, because often, it is not a ‘black and white’ answer, but a matter wisdom, discernment, and living by the Spirit. We also must be flexible to know when to stand firm, when to back down, and when to surrender. Living by the Spirit also means we ‘know what time it is’, or rather, we know was is needed in that season, moment, etc. (ref. Ecc. 3).

The philosophical debate around knowledge extends from ‘you cannot truly know anyting’ to ‘how do we know what is true?’ This particular article will address three ways of relating to knowledge that Christian should consider:

(1) We should not give in to epistomological relativism, suggesting ‘no one can know anything.’

(2) Our knowledge will always been joined with trusting God’s character.

(3) We must always remember we ‘see in part'.’

Let’s begin!

(1) The Philosophical Cultural Battle: Can you really ‘know’ anything?

To begin to answer this question, let’s go over 3 terms to know:

• Epistomology: The study of knowledge (how do we know anything?)

• Epistomological Relativism: The philosophical belief that no one can know anything. (Which is a lie)

• Moral Relativism: The philosophical belief that there are no moral absolutes (i.e., God’s law), only perceieved morals constructed by culture, people, and preferences. (Which is also a lie)

Moral and epistomological relativists suggest that “no one can really know anything.” And, “If you have absolute claims on moral or religious truth, you are arrogant and/or ignorant.”

Let me just begin with this: this is a lie. This philosophy is an outright assault on the Truth of Jesus Christ, who Himself claimed to be Truth (John 14:6) and works very hard to prevent people from knowing spiritual liberation and freedom through the truth. Epistomological relativists also accuse those who believe in Truth as “arrogant and ignorant.” (Side note: most epistomological relativists do not know this is what they are and possibly do not even know the term.)

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

-John 8:32

God said, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge,” which means He wants us to know! But again, He wants us to know what He intends for us to know, not meaning we know the entirety of all things. 

But God obviously desires that we KNOW who He is, what His plans are, His promises, what is right and wrong, what His perfect will is, and what is to come.

The concept of epistemological relativism (all knowledge is relative to the person; no absolute knowledge can exist) is always a contradiction in terms. (Which is why every lie is illogical - because it does not come from the mind of God, Who Is Logic Himself- the Word of God)…

“Is it absolutely true that no one can know anything absolutely?”

If nothing can be known absolutely, then their assertion that it is absolutely true that no one can know anything absolutely is also up for questioning. Relativism always collapses on itself.

Most concepts of relativism in society (moral relativism, religious relativism, epistemological relativism) are masked as sophisticated conclusions from the evolution of knowledge, but are the same old suggestions from Satan himself.  

(2) When our knowledge must also trust:

Even though the Lord has given all of us mind to help people know the Truth, there is still a point at which we must trust. This is not just trusting for trusting’s sake, but actually trusting in the Goodness of God.

We can trust His character and testimony, based on creation and evidence. Evidence in creation reveals that God is a God of beauty, order, connection, relationship, comfort, and power.

Even though there is plenty I do not know about God, I trust that He has provided for me all I need to know and is not out to hurt me. I can also trust His testimony based on the fulfillment of prophecy, the historical reliability of the scriptures, evidence in creation, my own 5 senses He has given me to perceive the external world, a soul to connect with His Spirit, and a mind to connect the information together.

“Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events-in detail-many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2,000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors. The remaining 500 or so reach into the future and may be seen unfolding as days go by.”

- Hugh Ross, Astrophysicist

There must come a point that knowledge is vulnerably placed with trust. This doesn’t mean that trust means ‘blind faith’ as some foolishly go by. We trust because we have evidence, even in what has been made. I see evidence in creation that He is our provider for all things (with food, water, light, able bodies, a brain, relationship, pleasantries, etc.), so I can also trust that He provides for us in a way that is perfect and exactly what we need.

C.S. Lewis said, “to love at all is to be vulnerable.” I believe this is true.

To be vulnerable means you could get hurt, you could be let down… but instead, you lay yourself down to give yourself to another. When God tells us to love Him, and if vulnerability were a part of that equation, then that means that we trust God in spite of our fears that He will let us down, not come through, or deceive us about Himself in any way.

The reason trusting Christians choose not to indulge these fears is because we trust God’s word when He tells us that when those fears and doubts are present, it is not because they are true, but because of indwelling sin and the fall. We are choosing to believe Him and trust in His goodness, rather than listen to the accusations towards God that come straight from the accuser’s mouth, who is a liar.

We have also been given a mantle and we have all been annointed by God to know the truth and to stand firmly on what we know. Do not cower down to the epistomoligical relativists who claim no one can know anything. They contradict themselves by saying that anyway.

“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you haveit, and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.…” - 1 John 2:20-22

(3) Remember: We see ‘in part’

For this one, I am going to leave you with a scripture, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, ESV)

People can take this scripture and throw out any claim of the knowledge of truth, which would be foolish. The right way to interpret this scripture is to hold tight to the concrete evidences and testimony in scripture and make allowances in your heart and mind (without creating dissonance) for some mystery.

Remember, God is God because He is far greater than us. If we had all knowledge, we would be God… but thankfully, that is not the case.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”(Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

We are also rememebered when God was speaking to Job in Job’s lack of understanding from the suffering he was experiencing, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4, ESV)

Sometimes, we won’t understand… but we return to trusting His character. Again, this is not ‘blind trust’ but honest trust, based on Who God is, His faithfulness, and His character. This can be applied to how we observe others, a situation where we do not have all the information, suffering that we endure, questions that we don’t quite have the answers to, etc.

I will end with this: faith is trust. Trusting God as a child would trust their loving parent.

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said,“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

To conclude: Christians hold fast to what they know, rebuking anyone who says they can knowing ‘nothing’, and trust God in what they do not understand.