How do we know what is true?  Philosopher Alvin Plantinga, a retired professor emeritus at Notre Dame, suggests that, unless we have the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Christian Trinity, moving through and speaking to us, we cannot.
     At first glance, this seems rather arrogant.  How does he know this?  Perhaps it is. Compounding this assertion are the many and obvious differences among Christians about what the Bible has to say about various cultural, social, and political issues.  If everyone has the same Spirit, leading them, ostensibly, into the truth, why do people come away with so many interpretations of what it is?
     On this day, on the eve of America's celebration of its independence, on a day when Americans might think more deeply about the ideals upon which the nation was founded, perhaps we should remember this:  although there can only be one truth (how else would it be truth?), we will not, indeed cannot, all come to and experience it in the same way. Our geography, cultural background and upbringing, education, ecclesial and political experiences shape our perception of truth in more ways than we might care to admit.  We are captives of who we are.
     Hence, when we argue and debate about the truth, we do well to remember that although truth, in the person of Jesus Christ, God became flesh, definitively exists, how we step into and understand this truth is as varied as we.  In a nation and in a world in which, whether we know it or not, we all long to know and experience truth, we are advised to tread carefully.  God is a very big God.