「對你來說是真的，但是對我來說不是」這樣對嗎？
2025年1月20日By Fritz Klumpp
「對你來說是真的，但是對我來說不是」這樣對嗎？
‘TRUE FOR YOU, BUT NOT FOR ME’？
「對你來說是真的，但是對我來說不是」？讓我震驚不已的是，和我交談的那位航空公司飛行員，居然能夠相信真理是主觀的，只不過是每個人，自己覺得是對的事情罷了。作為一名航空公司的機長，他明明知道自己的生命，以及乘客的生命，都仰賴著他根據絕對真理，做出正確決策的能力，他怎麼還能夠這麼說呢？
通常，在處理飛行航程中的緊急情況，或是在能見度很低的狀況下，借助儀器降落時，根本沒有犯錯的空間。即便如此，我發現那位商業飛行員並不是特例，我們生活的世界中，許多人認為沒有絕對的真理，一切都是相對的，並且都是因為個人的解釋而不同。
幾年前，我的朋友寧錄·麥克奈爾(Nimrod McNair)上校說過：「弗里茨，哈佛商學研究所教導的，真正有用的商業原則，其實都是根據聖經經文而來。」也就是我們可以在聖經裡找到的教導。他接著解釋，這並不一定代表，哈佛商學研究所的管理者和教職員知道這一點。寧錄還指出，哈佛商學研究所也會教授許多並不管用的原則。
儘管如此，寧錄說：「真理就是真理，無論你是在哪裡找到它的。」如果任何人應用這些原則，他們應該可以期待某些結果。我從未忘記我朋友的話－多年來，透過觀察，我也驗證了他的說法。
我為一家公司工作了三十年，我相信這家公司的企業管理做得很好。隨著時間的推移，我意識到這家公司的成功，可以歸因於他們遵循三項基本原則：不負債；照顧員工；以及照顧客戶。無論他們是否有意識到，這些原則其實都出自聖經。
例如，舊約聖經中箴言22章7節說：「富戶管轄窮人；欠債的是債主的僕人。」如果你能避免負債，無論是個人還是企業，就能自由地以最佳方式，善用你的財務資源，而不會受到債權人的限制。
箴言中的另一段話提到：「你要詳細知道你羊群的景況，留心料理你的牛群；因為資財不能永有，冠冕豈能存到萬代……(如果你妥善照料這一切)並有母山羊奶夠你吃，也夠你的家眷吃，且夠養你的婢女。」(箴言27章23-27節)。這裡的原則是，如果你妥善照顧你的員工，他們也會照顧你。
不幸的是，我退休之前的最後一位執行長改變了公司方針。隨著他系統性地放棄這些原則，公司的命運開始下滑，最終導致公司破產。
被猶太省的總督本丟·彼拉多問到祂是否是王時，拿撒勒人耶穌回答說：「你說我是王。我為此而生，也為此來到世間，特為給真理作見證。凡屬真理的人就聽我的話。」可悲的是，彼拉多竟隨口回答：「真理是甚麼呢？」(約翰福音18章37-38節)
再說一次，「真理就是真理，無論你是在哪裡找到它的。」我可以誠實地說，我在工作和個人生命中，經歷過的大多數失敗與痛苦，都可以歸因於違反了，聖經有明確陳述，或以榜樣教導的，那些原則及誡命。
©2025 William “Fritz” Klumpp 曾在美國海軍擔任飛行員，包括參與越南戰爭期間的多項戰鬥任務，曾任商業航空公司飛行員、房地產主管和 CBMC 前任常務理事。
反省與問題討論
第一、如果有人說：「對你來說可能是真的，但是對我來說不是」，你會如何回應呢？你是否同意真理是主觀的，取決於個人的觀點和信念呢？請解釋你的答案。
第二、你曾否思考過，在判斷某件事情的真假時，「相信有絕對的真理」這件事的重要性和影響？你會參考什麼，來定義什麼是真理呢？
第三、如果你遇到某位，工作內容極其重視精確性的專業人士，例如航空公司飛行員、建築工程師，或是腦外科醫師，而他不相信絕對真理的存在，你會有什麼反應呢？
第四、如果我們將「絕對的、非主觀的真理」這個概念應用到信仰上，你認為我們應該如何面對，聖經中所呈現的真理？當中是否有主觀解釋和應用的空間呢？請解釋你的答案。
挑戰思考
本週可能是，重新檢視你對真理所持態度的好時機，特別是與你如何過日常生活相關的真理。你是否會根據當前的情況，調整對真理的看法，也就是抱持著，有時候被稱為「情境倫理」(Situational Ethics)的觀點呢？與職場上的另一個人，或是你所參與的分會進行交流，了解他們對於真理的看法，以及他們如何判斷什麼才是真的，這可能會很有趣。
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考以下的經文（因篇幅有限，請自行參閱未列出的經文：哥林多後書1:12-13）:
詩篇51篇6節
51:6 你所喜愛的是內裏誠實；你在我隱密處，必使我得智慧。
詩篇119篇43-45節
119:43 求你叫真理的話總不離開我口，因我仰望你的典章。
119:44 我要常守你的律法，直到永永遠遠。
119:45 我要自由而行，因我素來考究你的訓詞。
約翰福音8章31-32節
8:31 耶穌對信他的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒；
8:32 你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」
約翰福音14章15-17節
14:15 你們若愛我，就必遵守我的命令。
14:16 我要求父，父就另外賜給你們一位保惠師，叫他永遠與你們同在，
14:17 就是真理的聖靈，乃世人不能接受的；因為不見他，也不認識他。你們卻認識他，因他常與你們同在，也要在你們裏面。
約翰福音16章13節
16:13 只等真理的聖靈來了，他要引導你們明白一切的真理；因為他不是憑自己說的，乃是把他所聽見的都說出來，並要把將來的事告訴你們。
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'TRUE FOR YOU, BUT NOT FOR ME'?
MONDAY MANNAJan 20, 2025
'TRUE FOR YOU, BUT NOT FOR ME'?
By Fritz Klumpp
“True for you, but not for me”? I was stunned that the fellow airline pilot I was speaking with could possibly believe that truth was subjective, simply based upon what one feels is right. How could an airline captain make such a statement, knowing his life as well as the lives of his passengers were dependent on his ability to make correct decisions based on absolute truth?
Often, as when dealing with an in-flight emergency or when flying on instruments during a low-visibility approach, there is absolutely no room for error. Nonetheless, I have found people like that commercial pilot are not the exception. We live in a world where more people than not believe there are no absolute truths, that everything is relative and subject to individual interpretation.
Years ago, my friend, Col. Nimrod McNair, said: “Fritz, the principles of business the Harvard Graduate School of Business teaches that actually work are scripturally based,” teachings we find in the Bible. He went on to explain that it did not necessarily mean the administrators and faculty of the Harvard Graduate School understood that. Nimrod also noted that they teach many principles that do not work.
Nonetheless, Nimrod said, “truth is truth, no matter where you find it,” and if anyone applies those principles, they should expect certain results. I have never forgotten my friend’s words – and over the years, by observation, I have put his premise to the test.
For 30 years I worked for a company that I believed had been blessed with good management. In time, I realized their success could be attributed to the fact they operated on three basic principles; stay out of debt; take care of your people; and take care of your customer. Whether they knew it or not, each one of these principles is biblical.
For instance, Proverbs 22:7 in the Bible’s Old Testament states, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” If you avoid debt, individually or corporately, you have the freedom to use your financial resources in the best ways possible, without being restricted by a creditor.
Another passage from Proverbs observes, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds, for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations…. [If you take care of them] you will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls” (Proverbs 27:23-27). The principle here is that if you take proper care of your people, they will take care of you.
Unfortunately, the last CEO before my retirement changed course. As he systematically abandoned these principles, the fortunes of the company fell, eventually leading the company into bankruptcy.
When asked by Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, if He was a king, Jesus of Nazareth replied, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” Sadly, to this Pilate simply replied, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38).
Once again, “Truth is truth, no matter where you find it.” I can honestly say most of the failures and grief I have experienced in business and my personal life can be attributed to violating principles and precepts that are either clearly stated or taught by example from the Scriptures.
William “Fritz” Klumpp served as a pilot with the U.S. Navy, including combat missions during the Vietnam War, is a former commercial airline pilot, real estate executive, and CBMC Executive Director.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. How would you respond to someone who said, “That may be true for you, but not for me”? Do you agree with the concept that truth is subjective, dependent upon an individual’s own perspectives and convictions? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever considered the importance and impact of believing there is absolute truth when determining whether something is true or not? What reference do you use in defining what is true?
3. What would be your reaction if you encountered a professional whose work is dependent upon precision, such as an airline pilot, a construction engineer or a brain surgeon, who did not believe in the existence of absolute truth?
4. Applying the concept of absolute, non-subjective truth to matters of faith, how do you think we should respond to the truths presented in the Bible? Is there room for subjective interpretation and application? Explain your answer.
Challenge for This Week
This week might be a good time for revisiting your attitude toward truth, especially as it relates to how you conduct your everyday life. Do you adjust your perception of truth depending on the circumstances of the moment, which has sometimes been called “situational ethics”?
It might be interesting to engage with another person at work, or a small group that you’re a part of, to get their perspectives on what they believe about truth and how they go about determining what is true.
NOTE:
For more about what the Bible says, consider the following passages:
Psalm 51:6, 119:43-45; John 8:31-32, 14:15-17, 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:12-13
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