By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice
We are now into our series, The Belt of Truth. In the introduction, we learned that trust is the foundation needed to build it, and that only comes through truth. Additionally, we covered the various aspects we will explore throughout this series: subjective, objective, normative, absolute, and applied truth. Let’s dive into subjective truth to keep the series moving. Shall we?
I used to think sagging pants were just a phase… until I became a youth pastor.
It started at home with my oldest son, Joshua, who is now 36, but was 15 at the time. I’ll never forget the day he shuffled into the room with his pants hanging on for dear life, no belt in sight—just a whole lot of confidence and a look that said, “Yeah, this is me now.”
Interesting, I thought, and I would give him that, you know, Dad look, and just shake my head.
He grinned. “It’s just a style, Dad.”
At first, I shrugged it off as a teenage fashion trend. But then came Wednesday night youth group.
That’s when I discovered this wasn’t just a Joshua thing—it was a movement. A gaggle of saggers, a fellowship of the fall-downs. His buddies would show up to church together like a boy band sponsored by gravity: pants halfway to the moon—if you know what I mean, oversized shirts, and just enough Axe body spray to alert the fire department.
They called it style. I, along with my Father-in-law, called it the Beltless Boogie.
Week after week, they would roll in like this, trying to act cool while discreetly holding up their pants with one hand—because, let’s be honest, freedom without a belt quickly becomes risky business.
What started as fashion became a picture of what was to come. So many of us—teens and adults alike—go through life spiritually sagging. We’re walking around with loose convictions, low standards, and vulnerable identities.
Our truth isn’t secured by anything solid; it’s just hanging on by preference, opinion, or mood.
We’re all tempted to live by subjective truth—what feels right, what makes sense to us in the moment. And sure, our personal experiences and perspectives matter, they really do!
God made each of us unique, with different temperaments and stories. That’s not bad—it’s beautiful.
However, when we elevate our subjective truth above God’s reality, the objective truth, which we’ll discuss next time, begins to wobble, and life is turned upside down.
Eventually, something’s going to fall! Fall, just as we see with Adam and Eve.
Ephesians 6:14 instructs us to “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…” Recognize that the belt of truth is what keeps everything in order; without it, you lack readiness and power, risking the embarrassment of stumbling over your spiritual pants and being exposed.
Truth is meant to hold us up, not weigh us down. But if we don’t fasten it, we’ll find ourselves spiritually sagging, tripping over compromise, fumbling through relationships, and wondering why we feel so revealed with no real power.
Let’s be clear—subjective truth isn’t the enemy.
It’s just incomplete.
Your story matters. Your perspective is valid. But it’s only when those experiences are secured by God’s unchanging, absolute truth (which we’ll discuss next time) that you’ll be able to walk upright and strong.
Jesus didn’t cancel people’s perspectives—He redeemed them. He met people in their “truth” (the woman at the well, Nicodemus at night, Thomas in his doubt) and invited them into the Truth: Himself. “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” ~ John 14:6
So here’s the challenge: pull up your truth.
Fasten the belt. Secure what you know, feel, and believe in the unshakable truth of God’s Word.
Don’t walk through life sagging to fit into the world’s trends or blend in with culture’s confusion. You weren’t made to trip—you were made to stand. And maybe—just maybe—next time you see someone sagging a little, it’ll remind you to check your own beltline, spiritually speaking.
The truth isn’t meant to restrict you. It’s meant to release you—to walk with confidence, conviction, and clarity. So pull it up. Tighten the belt. Walk tall, and as always…
Stay salty. Shine bright. Suit up!
Pastor Drake
To enjoy more of Drake’s content and conversations, CLICK HERE to connect with his podcast, “Just Sayin’ with Pastor Drake.”
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.