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Truth be Told: Living truthfully in a post-truth world
It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is an almost universal ambivalence towards truth these days. Many even reject the idea that universal truths have any valid place at all in our ‘post-truth’ society.
As Christians, we cannot afford to let our society’s loose relationship with truth influence our thinking, living and speaking. In Truth be Told, Lionel Windsor goes back to the Bible to show how the gospel provides a foundation for both understanding truth and interacting truthfully with our culture. Provocative and timely, this book offers Christians practical help in the task of sharing the truth of the gospel with confidence and conviction.
As Christians, we cannot afford to let our society’s loose relationship with truth influence our thinking, living and speaking. In Truth be Told, Lionel Windsor goes back to the Bible to show how the gospel provides a foundation for both understanding truth and interacting truthfully with our culture. Provocative and timely, this book offers Christians practical help in the task of sharing the truth of the gospel with confidence and conviction.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2024
6 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Lionel Windsor
6 books4 followersLionel Windsor formerly worked as a photovoltaics engineer at a solar cell research company. He is now an ordained Anglican minister, lecturing in New Testament at Moore College in Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 17, 2026
I think many of us would realise that truth is in crisis. While in some ways that's always been the case, the last few years have seen an increase in fake news, social media algorithms that favour controversy, more tribalism among people of differing viewpoints, and the rise of AI which can make it even harder to identify what is true. This book is a timely exploration of some of those phenomena and what we do about it from a Christian faith perspective.
The book is divided into three parts. In Part One, Windsor looks at the problem with truth in our world today, covering such topics as fake news, technology, institutionalised 'truth', postmodernism and post-truth, and the notion of 'your truth' and authenticity (which is not always the same as truth). I'd read a fair bit about this topic before, but Windsor writes in a very straightforward accessible style that is easy to understand. This provides a great overview of the topic, without getting too bogged down in different political ideologies. One thing that stood out for me was the idea that truth doesn't even seem to matter to a lot of people in our modern society. For example, politicians have always told lies or stretched or bent the truth. However, it used to be the case that if someone was 'caught out' in a significant lie, it was a big deal. People would resign or be demoted or experience some kind of consequence. Now in some circles, you're lucky if you even get a shoulder shrug. It's as if truth is cheap and doesn't even matter that much.
In Part Two, Windsor builds up the case for why truth should be vitally important for Christians. God is truthful and faithful by His very nature. Jesus is full of grace and truth. We are meant to walk in the truth and speak the truth in love to each other. I would have liked to see a bit more specific information about the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, though that is implied in other discussions. Still I thought it would have made an interesting section by itself.
In Part Three, Windsor looks at specific actions we can take to be a people of truth who act faithfully (e.g., keep promises) and recognise the seriousness of deception. He also looks at some tricky situations and gives guidelines for anyone in leadership or for churches and Christian groups in general (e.g., creating a culture in which people can raise concerns and know that their concerns will be investigated and acted on where necessary).
The book also includes reflection questions after some chapters and a helpful summary of the whole book at the end. Highly recommended for anyone who is concerned about the decay of truth and is interested in remedies from a Christian faith perspective.
The book is divided into three parts. In Part One, Windsor looks at the problem with truth in our world today, covering such topics as fake news, technology, institutionalised 'truth', postmodernism and post-truth, and the notion of 'your truth' and authenticity (which is not always the same as truth). I'd read a fair bit about this topic before, but Windsor writes in a very straightforward accessible style that is easy to understand. This provides a great overview of the topic, without getting too bogged down in different political ideologies. One thing that stood out for me was the idea that truth doesn't even seem to matter to a lot of people in our modern society. For example, politicians have always told lies or stretched or bent the truth. However, it used to be the case that if someone was 'caught out' in a significant lie, it was a big deal. People would resign or be demoted or experience some kind of consequence. Now in some circles, you're lucky if you even get a shoulder shrug. It's as if truth is cheap and doesn't even matter that much.
In Part Two, Windsor builds up the case for why truth should be vitally important for Christians. God is truthful and faithful by His very nature. Jesus is full of grace and truth. We are meant to walk in the truth and speak the truth in love to each other. I would have liked to see a bit more specific information about the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, though that is implied in other discussions. Still I thought it would have made an interesting section by itself.
In Part Three, Windsor looks at specific actions we can take to be a people of truth who act faithfully (e.g., keep promises) and recognise the seriousness of deception. He also looks at some tricky situations and gives guidelines for anyone in leadership or for churches and Christian groups in general (e.g., creating a culture in which people can raise concerns and know that their concerns will be investigated and acted on where necessary).
The book also includes reflection questions after some chapters and a helpful summary of the whole book at the end. Highly recommended for anyone who is concerned about the decay of truth and is interested in remedies from a Christian faith perspective.
October 9, 2025
This was the most satisfying book I read this year. And so timely! As good books often do, it also challenged me, and I had to reflect on how I have been less than truthful in so many situations. I'm confident that it will continue to challenge me and help me grow in truth/truthfulness. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Listened to the audiobook, but also read some parts.
Listened to the audiobook, but also read some parts.
October 15, 2025
interesting commentary on living as a Christian in a post truth world. I enjoyed it
April 29, 2024
I am someone who is chronically online and across a few social media feeds every day. Needless to say, it messes with your head a bit. I was beginning to have a bit of an epistemological crisis, really, because I was finding myself increasingly unsure of how to get a hold on truth in those spaces. And if I couldn't be certain about it, I began to worry about what it might mean for the future: mine and others. SO when I saw that Lionel was writing this book I was super keen (no really, I accidentally pre-ordered it twice lol).
The book is helpfully arranged in three sections. The first outlines the various ways in which truth is in trouble in our world (i.e. in politics, our institutions, via tech, generally throughout culture and (like a sucker-punch), within ourselves. That last one shouldn't have been as much of a surprise to me given I'm well acquainted with the doctrine of sin, but since I had spent all of my time worrying about being lied *to*; being reminded that I, too, am fundamentally predisposed to lying was a helpful corrective.
The second section is a helpful survey of what the Bible has to say regarding the truth, starting with an OT overview and zooming in on relevant NT letters. I think this focus really helped me to see how important truth is to the gospel, and it became incredibly significant to me that Jesus calls himself 'the truth'. Lionel reminds us that truth is personal and I began to appreciate how often Jesus identifies himself with the truth. I guess I always knew that but in 2024 it just hits different.
The third section is made up of practical suggestions on how to live truthfully in the world as Christians. I really appreciated this section because it reminded me that finding truth in the world is less about untangling everything *out there* and more about emulating the faithfulness of Christ in my community *right here*. I am particularly mulling over the distinction between authenticity and integrity, reminding myself to be careful in the promises I make and to show up when I do, and wondering about whether or not I am being truly honest in my evangelism.
At the risk of sounding like a sycophantic, uncritical reader, I don't have any complaints about this book! It was just brilliant and exactly what I needed. I think it is required reading for any Christian who is even vaguely aware that we are living in a post-truth world. Also, I think it is a particularly helpful complement to books like Trueman's 'Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self' or Andrew Wilson's 'Remaking the World' because it picks up where they leave off. Our post-truth world is a symptom of the developments those authors identify and by going in depth on one issue, Lionel really helps us to get practical and think about how to live as Christians in our current culture.
The book is helpfully arranged in three sections. The first outlines the various ways in which truth is in trouble in our world (i.e. in politics, our institutions, via tech, generally throughout culture and (like a sucker-punch), within ourselves. That last one shouldn't have been as much of a surprise to me given I'm well acquainted with the doctrine of sin, but since I had spent all of my time worrying about being lied *to*; being reminded that I, too, am fundamentally predisposed to lying was a helpful corrective.
The second section is a helpful survey of what the Bible has to say regarding the truth, starting with an OT overview and zooming in on relevant NT letters. I think this focus really helped me to see how important truth is to the gospel, and it became incredibly significant to me that Jesus calls himself 'the truth'. Lionel reminds us that truth is personal and I began to appreciate how often Jesus identifies himself with the truth. I guess I always knew that but in 2024 it just hits different.
The third section is made up of practical suggestions on how to live truthfully in the world as Christians. I really appreciated this section because it reminded me that finding truth in the world is less about untangling everything *out there* and more about emulating the faithfulness of Christ in my community *right here*. I am particularly mulling over the distinction between authenticity and integrity, reminding myself to be careful in the promises I make and to show up when I do, and wondering about whether or not I am being truly honest in my evangelism.
At the risk of sounding like a sycophantic, uncritical reader, I don't have any complaints about this book! It was just brilliant and exactly what I needed. I think it is required reading for any Christian who is even vaguely aware that we are living in a post-truth world. Also, I think it is a particularly helpful complement to books like Trueman's 'Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self' or Andrew Wilson's 'Remaking the World' because it picks up where they leave off. Our post-truth world is a symptom of the developments those authors identify and by going in depth on one issue, Lionel really helps us to get practical and think about how to live as Christians in our current culture.
October 9, 2024
I found this a very helpful summary of the theology and applications of the topic of truth in the Bible, including God's character, which is full of 'steadfast love and faithfulness' and 'grace and truth'. It helped me make sense of some challenges I'd faced with seeking to be truthful in a 'post-truth' world e.g. trying to complete documents truthfully at work, or trying to explain that you want to be truthful to an accountant! There were helpful applications about how to be faithful towards others, and combat the white lies that we're tempted to tell to protect others' views of us. Would recommend.
May 20, 2024
I admit that I'm biased (the author is my son). However, for what it's worth, I found 'Truth be Told' to be so timely and relevant to what appear to be western society's contemporary attitudes (and my own) to '#therealtruth'.
I also appreciated the scriptural, practical suggestions on living as a Christian in a post-truth world.
For any of you who have read Carl Trueman's 'Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self', I regard 'Truth be Told' to be just as important and relevant as Trueman's book; but a much easier and quicker read
I also appreciated the scriptural, practical suggestions on living as a Christian in a post-truth world.
For any of you who have read Carl Trueman's 'Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self', I regard 'Truth be Told' to be just as important and relevant as Trueman's book; but a much easier and quicker read
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews