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66. “Dead Truth”

13th November 2007 by Arthur Eedle

Part 1 of a four-part series. That which is “dead” is inert, inoperative, and lifeless.

Polly approached a “City Gent” as he was leaving the Bank of England, attired in bowler hat, pin-stripe suit, and neatly furled umbrella.

“Excuse me, sir. May I have a couple of minutes to ask a few questions? I’m doing research on Christian belief patterns.”

Man. “Yes, by all means. Fire away.”

Polly. “Do you recall having done anything wrong in your life?”

Man. “Ha, Ha!  Yes, but don’t we all?”

Polly. “Would you describe that as sin?”

Man. “Well, that’s an old-fashioned word, not very popular these days. But, yes, I suppose it is.”

Polly. “Would you describe yourself as a Christian?”

Man. “Well, I’m British, so yes, I suppose I must be. I’m certainly not a Hindu or a Moslem.”

Polly. “Do you read the Bible?”

Man. “Well, yes, we do actually have one at home. I find it a help sometimes with the Times crossword. Quotations, you know.”

Polly. “Do you believe that Christ came into the world to die for man’s sin?”

Man. “Funny you should ask that. It reminds me of what my old Granny used to say, and yes, in the Sunday School. Well I’m blowed. That takes me back a bit.             We used to sing a little rhyme that started something like, ‘Jesus died for all the children.'”

Polly. “Do you go to Church?”

Man. “As a family, we always go for Harvest Festival and the Carol Service at Christmas.”

Polly. “Thank you, sir.”

Man. “Not at all. Glad to be of help. And good luck with your research.”

Charles Dickens, in 1854,  aimed to expose tyrannous utilitarianism in his novel, “Hard Times.” His apostle was named Thomas Gradgrind, a name that singularly fitted his temperament and activities as a school teacher in CokeTown, identifiable as the Preston in Lancashire of Dickens’ day. Here is a brief quote from the beginning of the book.

Thomas Gradgrind was a man of realities. A man of facts and calculations. A man who proceeds upon the principle that two and two are four, and nothing over, and who is not to be talked into allowing for anything over.

“Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. . . . Stick to Facts, sir!”

“Girl number twenty, give me your definition of a horse,” he said.

Sissy Jupe was thrown into the greatest alarm by this demand.

“Girl number twenty unable to define a horse.”  Gradgrind’s square finger suddenly lighted on Bitzer who forthwith stood up.

“Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth, namely twenty four grinders, four eye teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring. In marshy countries, sheds hoofs too. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth.”

“Now girl number twenty, you know what a horse is,” said Mr. Gradgrind.

These two fictitious anecdotes pave the way for a few pertinent observations. We notice that the City Gent testified to his belief in sin, and what is more he was ready enough to accept that sin existed in his own life. Also, he believed himself to be a Christian, reinforced by the fact that he owned a Bible, and went to Church regularly, twice a year. Perhaps most important of all, he believed that Christ came into the world to save sinners, a fact he remembered from his early childhood days.

Most Evangelicals would be quick to dismiss this man as a non-Christian, even though he mildly acquiesced to Christian rhetoric and was ready enough to go along with Polly’s questions. What therefore constitutes a true born-again believer?

My article is headed “Dead Truth.”  The City Gent possessed several items of Dead Truth. The items he said be believed in were to him utterly lifeless, because the Truth had not done its work in his heart. There had been no miraculous change. There had been no Spirit-led conviction of sin, and the impartation of New Life. Even though hebelieved certain Truths, this type of belief never constituted him as a true believer.

This Dead Truth may therefore be likened to what happened in Dickens’s school room, under the tutelage of Thomas Gradgrind. The Truth had degenerated into nothing more or less than Facts. Now Facts may best be sought in an Encyclopaedia. It is brim full of Facts. But encyclopaedias do not have Life. So also the man whose head is swimming with Facts, so much so that his hearers are often sleepy by the time he’s finished regaling them with his encyclopaedic knowledge.

We therefore learn this important lesson, that we are not saved by Facts, nor regenerated by Knowledge, neither does the Truth cause the Son of God to smile upon us with pleasure. There has to be something magic, somethingunworldly, that causes the Truth to become alive to us, to convict us, to shut our mouths and squelch the great volume of Facts that buzz around in our brain. Best of all, to bring us New Life in Christ. Nicodemus, learned though he was, (the Master described him as a Doctor in Israel) tried to assess Jesus’ words in a futile human way by talking about re-entering his mother’s womb, impossible though he knew that to be. Later on, he came to know the Truth in a real way, but at that stage he was non-plussed.

The Bible tells us that the Devil and his cohorts are intent on keeping Gradgrinds in the Churches, feeding flocks with non-consumables, sending them back to their homes having enjoyed the learned messages, full of Dead Truth. Daniel was told that the Little Horn “cast Truth to the ground,” (Dan.8:12) and Isaiah was told that “Truth is fallen in the street, yea, Truth fails.” (Isa.59:14-15) Hosea prophesied, “There is no Truth, nor Mercy, nor Knowledge.”(Hos.4:1) These truly spiritual men understood what the Spirit of God was saying to them.  But that is only the negative side of things. We also learn that “Truth shall spring out of the earth.” (Ps.85:11) And we are told that“God desires Truth in the Inward Parts” (not emblazoned on our coats for all to see. Ps.51:6)  Finally we learn that“Jerusalem shall be called a ‘City of Truth.'” (Zech.8:3)

When Jesus comes into our lives, He comes as “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.”  (John 14:6) The Way is the process of bringing conviction of sin, the Truth is described by our Lord as “the Truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) In other words, free from sin. Finally, He is the Life, the Life that He imparts to us by His Spirit. The three items are therefore in a logical sequence whereby the Holy Spirit causes us to be “Born Again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the Living and abiding Word of God.”  (1 Peter 1:23)  It is Living!  Yes, the Word of Truth is Living, and when God applies it to our hearts it quickens us by His Spirit.

How important it is for God’s Ministers to be aware of this, not to fill the minds of their flocks with non-consumables, but to impart to their hearts the Living Word of God.  No doubt the Gradgrinds will be honoured by men, especially those who fill the pews with their unsaved minds, but sadly, this is also true of many who have tasted the good word of God. Thinking they have received a good sermon, they have merely had their minds filled with some of Gradgrind’s Facts. God’s true teachers may find themselves ostracised for imparting Living Truth. It always brings conviction, and the Sons of Adam are often unready to allow the Life-giving Truth to enter their hearts. But there will always be those who are enlivened, uplifted, and filled with worship when they hear Living Words.

Dead Truth is defined as Facts, as required by Gradgrind.     Living Truth is defined as the Knowledge of God imparted by His Holy Spirit.

Thus says the Lord, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Filed Under: The Wellspring

About Arthur Eedle

Arthur was born in 1931, and became a Christian in 1948. At London University he gained a 2nd honours degree in Physics. He went on to get a Teaching Diploma, and throughout his career life taught physics in England, Kenya, and Hong Kong. Coupled with his love of science, he was a keen student of Greek and Hebrew, and gave many lectures on Biblical subjects. Read more

The Wellspring

1. God’s Megaphone

1st September 2001 By Arthur Eedle

2. Suicide

1st October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

3. Petra

12th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

4. Two different Gods?

20th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

5. I AM

23rd October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

6. “Not I but Christ”

25th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

7. How I Love Your Law!

27th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

8. The Jewish Problem

2nd November 2001 By Arthur Eedle

9. The Evaluation of Coincidence

15th November 2001 By Arthur Eedle

10. Gracious Uncertainty

30th April 2002 By Arthur Eedle

11. Jasper & Sardius

8th May 2002 By Arthur Eedle

12. Antithesis

19th May 2002 By Arthur Eedle

12a. The Essential Role of Free Will in Universal Reconciliation

17th June 2002 By Arthur Eedle

13. The Importance of Earnest

10th August 2002 By Arthur Eedle

14. The Millennium

14th August 2002 By Arthur Eedle

15. Cancer – A Personal Testimony

17th December 2002 By Arthur Eedle

16. C.S.Lewis on the New Year

1st January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

17. Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

5th January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

18. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

12th January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

19. “The Intolerable Compliment”

12th January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

20. The Power and Practice of the Truth

22nd February 2003 By Arthur Eedle

21. The Power and Practice of the Lie

1st March 2003 By Arthur Eedle

22. The Use and Abuse of Power

8th March 2003 By Arthur Eedle

23. What on earth is happening?

29th July 2003 By Arthur Eedle

23a. A reply to “What on earth is happening?”

4th August 2003 By Arthur Eedle

24. Equality

17th August 2003 By Arthur Eedle

25. Paul to the “Ephesians”

31st August 2003 By Arthur Eedle

26. Mystery

3rd September 2003 By Arthur Eedle

27. Ephesians 1:15-23

10th September 2003 By Arthur Eedle

28. Ephesians 2:1-10

27th September 2003 By Arthur Eedle

29. Ephesians 2:11-22

6th October 2003 By Arthur Eedle

30. Cain and Abel

19th January 2004 By Arthur Eedle

31. Laying the Foundation of the Lord’s House

1st February 2004 By Arthur Eedle

32. Tomorrow’s Bread

22nd February 2004 By Arthur Eedle

33. Grace Parables

27th February 2004 By Arthur Eedle

34. The Responsibility Factor

5th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

35a. Our Wilderness Journey. Part 1

13th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

35b. Our Wilderness Journey. Part 2

14th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

36. Genetic Modification in the Bible

20th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

37. Arthur’s Testimony

28th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

38. Identified with Christ

31st March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

39. It Would Have Been Better…

6th April 2004 By Arthur Eedle

40a. Friday’s Man was nailed upon a Cross

9th April 2004 By Arthur Eedle

40b. Sunday’s Man was nowhere to be found

11th April 2004 By Arthur Eedle

41. Jeremiah’s Cryptogram

11th May 2004 By Arthur Eedle

43. The Gospel of Humanism

14th August 2004 By Arthur Eedle

44. Cosmetic Christianity

5th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

45. EXPERIENCE versus KNOWLEDGE

6th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

46. “Just a wearyin’ for you”

13th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

47. Islam by ex-Muslims

24th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

48. Six Particular Men

9th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

49. Ten “Everlasting” wonders in Isaiah

13th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

50a. Missing the Mark. Part 1

18th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

50b. Missing the Mark. Part 2

21st April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

51. The Mark of the Beast

29th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

52. Irreducible Complexity

2nd May 2006 By Arthur Eedle

53. No historical Jesus?

4th July 2006 By Arthur Eedle

54. The Power of God’s Spoken Word

17th March 2007 By Arthur Eedle

55. God’s chosen fast

19th April 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56a. Resurrection and the Change – Part 1

1st May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56b. Resurrection and the Change – Part 2

7th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56c. Resurrection and the Change – Part 3

10th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56d. Resurrection and the Change – Part 4

12th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56e. Resurrection and the Change – Part 5

13th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56f. Resurrection and the Change – Part 6

14th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56g. Resurrection and the Change – Part 7

15th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56h. Resurrection and the Change – Part 8

16th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56i. Resurrection and the Change – Part 9

17th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56j. Resurrection and the Change – Part 10

18th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56k. Resurrection and the Change – Part 11

21st May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56l. Resurrection and the Change – Part 12

22nd May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56m. Resurrection and the Change – Part 13

23rd May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56n. Resurrection and the Change – Part 14

24th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56o. Resurrection and the Change – Part 15

25th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56p. Resurrection and the Change – Part 16

27th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57a. Before He Comes – Part 1

31st May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57b. Before He Comes – Part 2

8th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57c. Before He Comes – Part 3

10th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57d. Before He Comes – Part 4

11th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57e. Before He Comes – Part 5

12th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57f. Before He Comes – Part 6

13th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57g. Before He Comes – Part 7

14th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57h. Before He Comes – Part 8

18th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57i. Before He Comes – Part 9

19th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57j. Before He Comes – Part 10

24th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57k. Before He Comes – Part 11

29th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57l. Before He Comes – Part 12

30th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57m. Before He Comes – Part 13

3rd July 2007 By Arthur Eedle

58. Free Will Versus God’s Sovereignty

28th August 2007 By Arthur Eedle

59. Rules of Engagement

10th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

60. Cameo. Part 1

15th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

61. Cameo. Part 2

18th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

62. Cameo. Part 3

26th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

63. Cameo. Part 4

28th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

64. In His Hands

1st November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

65. The Starlings

5th November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

66. “Dead Truth”

13th November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

67. “Dead Sin”

18th November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

68. “Dead Faith” and “Dead Works”

2nd December 2007 By Arthur Eedle

69. “Dead Worship”

18th December 2007 By Arthur Eedle

70. A Pseudo-Bunyan Author

19th March 2008 By Arthur Eedle

Article Series

  • All our Yesterdays (30)
  • Before He comes (13)
  • God's Spoken Word (37)
  • Mysteries of Science & Faith (8)
  • New Series (101)
  • Newsletter (2)
  • Original Series (109)
  • Prophecy considerations (5)
  • Recognising the Hand of Judgment (33)
  • Resurrection and Change (16)
  • Seekers Corner (14)
  • Simple Statements on Serious Subjects (6)
  • The City of God (18)
  • The Millennial Octave (23)
  • The Restitution Times (22)
  • The Song of Solomon (6)
  • The Standard (19)
  • The Wayside Pulpit (107)
  • The Wayside Pulpit 2015 (96)
  • The Wellspring (101)
  • The Wellspring 2017 (55)

Index of Topics

Arthur & Rosalind Eedle's Personal Testimonies Discipleship Expository Items Good and Evil Human Pre-Existance Jane Leade. Philadelphian Numerology in the Bible Quotations from other Authors Resurrection and the Change Ron Wyatt. Archaeology Science Topics The Kingdom of God the Millennium and the Return of Christ The Sabbath Day Universal Reconcilliation

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