Why Not All Beliefs Can Be True: Teaching Biblical Discernment in a Culture of Contradictions
August 19, 2025
Not All Truth Claims Can Be Right
Christian educators today are navigating a cultural environment full of contradictions. Students encounter claims that sound equally valid but cannot possibly all be true. One voice says, “Live your own truth.” Another insists, “Truth is absolute.” Which is it?
At first glance, students may not see a problem. In fact, they may try to hold both ideas at once—affirming biblical truth in one setting while embracing relativism in another. This syncretistic or “meta-narrative” worldview feels tolerant. It sounds inclusive. But it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Romans 1:18 warns of those who “suppress the truth by their wickedness,” suggesting that people often reject God’s clear revelation of truth in favor of something more convenient or self-serving.
Here’s the challenge: contradictory truth claims can’t both be correct. If one worldview says God created the world with purpose and moral design, and another claims everything is random and morality is self-defined, they are not merely different perspectives. They are logically incompatible. The book of Proverbs offers wisdom here, stating, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15). True wisdom begins with the acknowledgment that God is the source of all truth and that His revelation is unchanging and reliable.
Students need to understand this—not just at the intellectual level, but as a guiding principle for how they assess ideas, choices, and even relationships. As 1 Thessalonians 5:21 advises, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” By understanding that truth is not subjective, they can begin to evaluate competing claims through the lens of God’s Word.
Why This Gets Confusing for Students
On the surface, many worldviews offer similar language. Terms like love, justice, freedom, and purpose show up in classrooms, social media, and personal conversations. Students hear them often. But the definitions behind those words vary dramatically depending on the worldview.
For example, biblical freedom means being set free from sin to serve Christ. Cultural freedom often means being free from all constraints—including God’s authority. Both use the word “freedom.” But they point in opposite directions.
This is where worldview assessment becomes essential. Without it, students may absorb contradictions without noticing them. They’ll affirm ideas that cannot logically coexist. And eventually, that confusion turns into conflict—within themselves, in their relationships, and in their discipleship.
Christian leaders must give students tools to recognize these clashes, evaluate them, and commit to what is actually true.
Truth Isn’t Subjective—And Students Need to Know That
Today’s culture often treats truth as a matter of preference. But if two beliefs contradict each other—if one says Jesus is God and another says He was only a teacher—then one must be wrong. This isn’t intolerance. It’s logic.
Jesus Himself made exclusive truth claims. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). That statement does not leave room for multiple, equally valid truth paths.
Therefore, Christian students must learn to recognize the difference between preferences and truth. They can—and should—treat others with respect. But they should not confuse kindness with agreement, or tolerance with affirmation. Discerning what is true requires courage, clarity, and conviction.
As educators and leaders, our role is to help them practice that discernment now—not later when the stakes are higher and the habits are harder to change.
How Postmodern Thinking Distorts Truth
Many students today are immersed in postmodern or even a meta-modern culture, whether or not they’ve ever heard the term. This mindset suggests that all truth is subjective and based on personal experience, or that it’s possible to select different aspects of various worldviews in different contexts. The danger is subtle—but significant.
When students believe that all viewpoints are equally valid, or are subject to the context,, they lose the ability to assess truth at all. They start to believe that disagreement equals disrespect. They may even feel guilty for holding strong convictions.
Yet the Bible teaches that truth is knowable and rooted in God’s character. Postmodernism and meta-modernism erode this foundation. It teaches students to rely on feelings rather than facts, on opinion rather than wisdom. Over time, this leaves them vulnerable to spiritual confusion and moral compromise.
We must counter this by teaching students not just what is true, but why it matters. Truth is not just about having the right answers. It’s about living in alignment with reality—the reality God has revealed through His Word, His Son, and His world.
- Do All Religions Pray to the Same God? A Biblical Worldview Perspective
- How Can We Know Which Worldview Is True?
The Role of Worldview Assessment in Discipleship
It’s not enough to teach truth in the classroom. Students must be equipped to evaluate what they already believe. This is where tools like the 3D Worldview Survey make a real difference.
Unlike traditional assessments that only test knowledge, a 3-dimensional worldview assessment examines beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. It reveals how students actually think about God, people, and the world—not just what they say they believe on a test.
This matters because discipleship happens in real life. A student may affirm biblical doctrine but still live as if truth is relative. Why? Because their attitudes and habits haven’t caught up with their stated beliefs. Assessment can surface those disconnects.
By giving leaders insight into the internal tensions students face, worldview assessment becomes a discipleship accelerator. It helps educators identify blind spots, guide conversations, and pray more strategically.
If you haven’t experienced it yet, the 3DWS Mini-Quiz for Christian Leaders offers a quick, insightful introduction. It’s designed for you (not your students) to explore the kinds of questions that can spark meaningful dialogue.
What Educators Can Do Right Now
If you want to help your students develop a biblical worldview, here are three strategic actions you can take:
- Teach clear definitions. Don’t assume words like “truth,” “freedom,” or “love” mean the same thing to everyone. Clarify how they differ across worldviews.
- Highlight worldview contrasts. Show students real examples where beliefs directly conflict. Help them see that not all ideas can be true at once.
- Model confident humility. Speak the truth with conviction, but also with grace. Students will mirror your tone as much as your content.
Ultimately, helping students discern truth is not about winning arguments. It’s about discipleship—about helping them know the One who is Truth. And that starts with showing them that truth is not relative, not fluid, and not optional.
If you’re ready to explore how a three-dimensional worldview assessment could support this work in your organization, try the 3DWS Mini-Quiz for Christian Leaders. It’s a practical step toward helping students live—and think—in truth.
Key Takeaways
- Contradictory beliefs can’t both be true. Students must learn that competing worldviews don’t simply differ—they conflict.
- Language alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Familiar terms often carry radically different meanings across worldviews.
- Truth is not a matter of preference. While students can respect others, they should not confuse tolerance with agreement.
- Postmodern and meta-modern thought undermine biblical clarity. When feelings define truth, discipleship suffers.
- Assessment reveals disconnects. A 3D worldview tool gives insight into not just what students believe—but how they live and feel about those beliefs
Explore More
If you’re ready to take the next step in understanding how students navigate competing truth claims, try our free 10-question 3DWS Mini-Quiz for School Leaders. This brief sample, drawn directly from the full 3-Dimensional Worldview Survey, gives you a hands-on preview of how the tool surfaces worldview through its integrated focus on beliefs, behaviors, and heart-level attitudes. You’ll see how the survey works—before deciding if the full version is right for your students.
In a culture filled with conflicting narratives, let’s equip students to know the truth—and live it with grace.
- What Is the 3-D Worldview Survey?
- Take the 3-D Worldview for yourself
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