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Q & A for Jon and Mindy Hirst, Authors of Through the River

Q: Where did the idea for Through the River come from?

A: The analogy of a river to describe how we view truth came from a philosopher named Peter Berger, and we first encountered it through our partner in writing—Dr. Paul Hiebert. This river analogy gives us a rich story in which to share a topic that could be rather complicated. Our goal is to make the topic of epistemology so accessible that any Christian who is committed to thinking through their faith can pick up this book and learn some important lessons.

Q: Define a truth lens and how it relates to us in our daily lives.

A: A truth lens is our way of describing the concept of epistemology (the science of knowledge). We use this term because your epistemology is the part of your worldview that allows you to bring truth into focus. It serves as a pair of glasses to help you take what you see in the world and understand the truth of it. Our assumptions about truth are key to how we navigate social issues, relationship challenges, questions about our faith and our understanding of Christian outreach.

Q: What does a river have to do with truth?

A: In our book, we use the analogy of a town that sits on a river with three separate communities: the Rocky Shore, the Islands and the Valley on the far shore. These three communities each represent a truth lens. The river that runs through the town represents the forces of relativism in our world. We chose this analogy because these three communities of people each have developed their own values and approaches to life and have to relate to each other as they go about their day. River Town is a small version of the reality we live with in the world today. By watching these communities and life in the town at large and understanding these three truth lenses, we can be better equipped to understand truth in community.

Q: How are your relationships impacted by your truth lens?

A: You will find that many of your friends, relatives and co-workers have a different truth lens than you do. This means they will look at the same idea but with very different assumptions. If you do not understand your truth lens, there are opportunities for many misunderstandings and frustrations. But by understanding how you view truth and how your family and friends view it, you can better connect with them and find ways of moving forward together in your understanding of God and His world.

Q: Why is this book needed today?

A: Today Christians are living in a changing world that is increasingly challenging our view of truth. Most Christians realize this but don’t know quite how to balance the truth they believe with the opportunity to engage people where they are. This book helps you understand how you view truth and how others view it. It then helps you take that new-found knowledge about truth and apply it to your faith, your relationships and your outreach. Armed with this new perspective, Christians will be able to engage each other and the wider world on key topics and issues with which everyone is wrestling. This foundational understanding gives Christians the tools to understand how they think about truth.