The need to be subjective
When we discuss the relationship of subjectivity to objectivity, we don't want to give the impression that the subjective aspect of life and faith is necessarily bad. In discussing the issue of integration, we run into problems with one aspect or the other when it is overemphasized or out of place. To fasten two pieces of wood, we need both a hammer and a nail. One is not more important than the other – they are both essential, but we wouldn't use the nail to hit the hammer.
There are problems with misplaced or overemphasized objectivity as there is with misplaced or overemphasized subjectivity. Both are needed as long as they function in their intended way.
Having faith in God is not of much worth without the subjective aspect of faith. That God exists and that he loves us are objective realities. They are true no matter what we think. They are true whether or not you and I exist. But that objective reality will not benefit us adequately if we do not engage it personally. Even without personal faith we still all benefit from God's existence and love to some extent, since he is good to all his creatures. However it takes a personal and interactive faith to have the kind of relationship with God that we were designed for.
Truly knowing God includes mental, emotional, and physical components. God is not just a fact to which we attest. Knowing God will affect our attitudes and out actions. This means that at some point faith becomes very personal. Whatever are the objective truths about God, it is only when we subjectively accepted those truths in our minds and hearts that we will act upon them. To claim we hold truths of God that have no personal impact on our lives is to be a hypocrite.
Some people have learned to simply spout objective truths about God and the Scriptures without also being challenged to live out those truths. How many of us claim to believe the Bible, but don't really read it or read it thoroughly? And if we read it, do we act upon what God says? Some read the Bible, but do so through the filter of their traditions or their favorite preachers.
Some claim to believe in prayer, but do they pray? We claim faith (which is another word for trust), but do we really trust God?
At some point to know God in his objectivity, which is another way to say knowing him for who he really is, the objective truth must become subjective or it will have no actual impact on our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment