Articles
Subjective Truth
What is truth? It has been the question of the ages. It was a question even before it was asked of Jesus by Pilate.
Centuries before Pilate asked there was a time in Israel's history in which they practiced subjective truth. In biblical words, "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jud 17:6, 21:25).
Subjective truth is the reasoning that I, the subject, have the right to determine what is right and wrong. Based on that reasoning I determine what is truth?
Today, still, we have some very personally effective reasonings that help us decide that what I believe and practice is OK with God.
"As long as you're happy"
This reasoning may go like this (if I want God in the picture).
"God wants me to be happy..." "So if that's true..." "Everything that doesn't make us happy must be bad..." "If that's true, I should only do things that make me happy..." "And, whatever makes me happy makes God happy."
The wise man said in Proverbs 21:2, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts."
Your happiness is important to God but, God looks at the heart. God does not sacrifice His truth for your happiness.
"As long as you're sincere"
This reasoning generally says...
"All religions are basically the same, right?" "God just wants us to believe in something..." "It doesn't matter if I am a Christian, or Buddhist, or whatever, as long as I'm sincere about it..." "If God loves everyone then, everyone gets into heaven, right?"
Before Moses died he told God's people "You shall not at all do as we are doing here today - every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes - for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you" (Deut 12:8-9).
The truth is if we live by our own reasoning today we will not enter a land of rest, just as Moses told Israel.
"As long as you don't hurt anyone"
"I'm not a bad person... I mean, I know a lot more people who do a lot worse than I do..." "Who are you to judge me? It's my life..." "As long as I'm not hurting anyone how can you say it's wrong?" "God's in the forgiving business right? So, what's the problem?"
It is easy for us to conince ourseles that we do not need any counsel or recommendation. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise" (Prov 12:15).
Truth must be determined by more than our own perception, eyes or reasoning. What is the truth from God?
