Love As The Highest Form of Truth w/Jared Byas

In some expressions of religious thought there exists some significant confusion around the concepts of “truth” and “love.” This struggle persists due to the apparent conflict between the two. Sometimes the truth doesn’t feel very loving, and at other times the demand to love someone comes at the expense of the truth. And for some segments of Christianity, prioritizing truth over love is a banner identifier for someone who is a “true believer.” The problem is that this kind of posture is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and the diverse wisdom found in the biblical tradition. The vision—the way forward—for a life lived in fidelity to the “truth” of Christianity is one that recognizes love AS the truth. This kind of perspective is a radical paradigm shift that prioritizes the relationship we have with others and how we live as a measure of what truths we actually believe. If more could embrace this way, the truth and love that we are all pursuing could be radically revolutionized.

Jared Byas holds an M.A. in Religion and Biblical Studies and a Th.M. in Old Testament both from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is an adjunct faculty member of Eastern University, the co-host of The Bible For Normal People podcast and author of Love Matters More: How Fighting To Be Right Keeps Us From Loving Like Jesus.