If you’re anything like me, the mere question fills you with an immediate and intense rebuttal declaring the supremacy of absolute truth.

But what if truth can be absolute and flexible at the same time?

Before you swipe left, let’s give this a think together.

I’ve been studying the armor of God, taking long deep dives to explore every individual piece. The belt of truth doesn’t seem to need much exposition. Truth is the Word of God, what we need to surround ourselves with at our core.

We also know what a belt is and how and why it’s used today. Even so, I decided to keep diving. Merriam-Webster defines a belt as, “A strip of flexible material worn especially around the waist.” The word flexible stuck with me. A belt is flexible. Hmmm. But is it always? No matter how hard I tried, I could not think of a single example of a rigid belt I could successfully put around my waist. It just wouldn’t work.

Belt of Truth. Those two concepts no longer seemed compatible in my mind. Until I asked God to help me understand why He described Truth as a belt and told us to wrap it around ourselves.

His answer to me began with highlighting the Pharisees. If Truth of the Word of God was all that we needed for godliness, that bunch would have been the most godly of all. They knew every word by heart – every jot and tittle as they say. And we all know where that got them.

“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” ~ 2 Corinthians 3:6

Now I was beginning to understand. Truth apart from the Spirit of God is a deadly combination. Literally. The letter kills. It doesn’t just wound – it kills. Dead. The Pharisees, knew the truth. They just weren’t led by the Spirit in their application of it.

No wonder Jesus said in John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

Putting on the belt of Truth just got a little more flexible.