First
of all I would like to qualify all that follows with this statement: I believe I
am, and have been often accused of being a radical Christian. I see no other
alternative. The most radical Christian ever recorded was Jesus. He lived what
the Father revealed to Him. I can't say that for me, but I can say that I *try*
to live what I believe..and that is where the radical part comes in.
I would like to explain my view (open to adjustment) of "objective truth." To
me, there are far too many denominations that qualify on this, but I am gonna
restrict myself to the church of Christ since that was a large part of my
personal religious history. I believe most of what we call "objective
truths" are actually subjective cuz they are based on each of our unique
backgrounds- our teachings, what we've read, what we have been exposed to,
accepted, and our personal frame of reference based on that particular
doctrine.
Someone from another culture or "religious" background might view the
application of various Bible verses differently than we do. Who is right? What
else can any of us believe except that which we were taught or have accepted as
truth? This is why I continually say our unity cannot be based on how
we (any particular doctrine or denomination) interpret the Bible. We are
fallible, and our understanding is incomplete. However, God is
complete and much greater than any of us can imagine!
Now when I speak of subjective truth, I am NOT referring to "warm fuzzies" or
what I would like or wish. I know what "tough love" is; I had
teenagers :). I am speaking of what has been (or at least appears to be)
confirmed through life's experience. I do not eliminate the possibility of error
even in our perceptions based on experience. We can easily be inaccurate (miss
the mark - sin) in our assessment of truth. But, Praise God, as I said earlier,
Christ is our provision for all sin.
I do believe subjective truth is a heart matter, and not just some cold hard
compliance to a rule or objective. How smug of us to believe that we are
accepted in the Beloved simply because we follow the rules. Yes, we may keep the
commandments, but the NT commandments are summed up in love God and one another.
The truth is our real acceptance is based on Christ and what He did, not what we
did (He loves thru us). In that, I will agree that it is objective, but also
subjective cuz we get to experience that wonderful love.
I will end part 2 with this quote: "Little Children, let us not love with word
or tongue, but in deed and TRUTH. We shall know by this that we are of the
truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, if our heart accuses us; God is
greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not
condemn us, we have confidence before God." (I Jn. 3:18-21) The apostle John
goes on to say that in those things in which our heart does not condemn us, it
is because we keep His commandments and then goes on to tell us that that means
we believe in the name of His Son and love one another.
charlie - attempting to live this life radically and lovingly
