….This is how we can all come to the same table and edify one another and not take disagreements personally, and not unite around certain preachers or movements.
But many people do not read the Bible objectively, and this would indicate they have not yet fully grasped its AUTHORITY as the final authority.
When people have so much invested in their own ego, or in a celebrity preacher, how much can they have invested in the truth AS IT IS WRITTEN?
A subjective approach to the Scriptures is simply an extension of a person’s egocentricity. An egocentric person could never look at the Scriptures objectively.
As well, others try to factor in their own experiences (whether good or bad) as somehow having some determination on establishing what is true or not.
Continued in COMMENTS
Ian Vincent 
May 25, 2012 at 2:12 am
Let me try and explain the difference between objectively and subjectively reading the Bible:
OBJECTIVELY means that there is an absolute truth, and it is expressed in the Scriptures, and whether our understanding of it is fully accurate or not, it doesn’t change the fact that the truth remains the truth, as an absolute. Men don’t determine the truth, they simply stumble upon what God has already declared in Scripture.
SUBJECTIVELY means that man arrives at an interpretation of the Scripture, and then CANONIZES that particular interpretation as being equivalent with Scripture (at the least) or even greater than what the Scripture literally says (and this has its origins in the RCC).
In this case of SUBJECTIVITY we get more drawn into discussing peoples experiences and observations, and pragmatic (that which “works”) reasonings, than OBJECTIVELY looking at what the Bible literally says.
The sad thing today is that those who SUBJECTIVELY read and teach the Bible are in the majority. In most circles it is fully approved as a valid approach. They factor in Church history, tradition and what knows else, going round in circles quoting all sorts of theological references, and testimonies and stories, and you say, Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what does the Bible actually say? Well, our church says….. Yes, but let’s read the Bible together………..In most situations today Christians are not equipped to OBJECTIVELY search out what the Bible actually teaches on any subject, bcos they lack the foundation that the Scripture IS the sole authority on every matter of consequence and importance in this life.
Here is my point : It’s like the woman who had a bad marriage, and now that bad experience shapes the way she understands and defines what marriage is, and not the Word of God : subjective truth and not objective truth. Or a person who has had bad experiences with “church”, and now their understanding of what church is is shaped by that experience, and not by the Word of God : where peoples understanding is defined by their experience, or by the way things are – when peoples understanding of what Christianity and the Church is shaped by all that they see and experience today, even if it is FAR from how the Bible defines Christianity and Church.
All genuine understanding of the meaning of Scripture is surely by the revelation/teaching of the Holy Spirit, for Jesus said He will teach us all things. Salvation and sanctification is all by God giving revelation of the Word of God, the revelation of Jesus.
While dreams and visions may be used by God at times to give personal guidance and direction, they never establish the truth for us. If they are from God then they must point to the truth of Scripture, but then you realize that the truth is already established in the Scripture. If it points to the Scripture, then you know that it’s the Scripture which establishes the matter, not the experience. That is if a person is objective. If they are subjective, they could very easily believe an experience even if it contradicts the truth of Scripture, and that is usually the case…….
So, all understanding is by the Spirit in our spirit, in our heart and mind, and not from external factors or experiences. It is a NORMAL thing and the way we are to live, not a great supernatural experience, as it was to the OT prophets.
Objective people may have great supernatural experiences. I was converted by seeing a vision of Jesus. Yet i never cite what i saw in that vision as having any weight at all in establishing what is the truth. However Jesus revealed Himself to me, and continues to do so, it makes me EVEN MORE OBJECTIVE concerning the Scriptures, and not subjective, and that is an indicator that my experience is genuine, and it is the criteria by which we test all things supernatural – Does it point to the objective truth of Scripture? Does it lead you to trust the truth of Scripture or trust in the experience above the Scripture (e.g. like John Paul Jackson and his “portals” to heaven – placing experience and “revelation” above the truth of the Gospel).
Re: Romans 14
Paul is not saying that there is no absolute truth concerning these trivial matters, for concerning each issue he clearly spelled out the truth regarding food and days in other places, but, as they are trivial matters, and not important ones, he did not place the same weight upon them as he did the rest of what he taught and commanded. Paul is not saying it’s OK to remain “weak in faith”, as though being weak in faith was the normal Christian life, but he tells us here how we can walk in wisdom to help those who are weak in faith to become strong in faith. It needs to be stressed that this is solely regarding food and holy days. It’s not regarding matters of morality. And we see that Romans 14 is a favorite of false teachers to try and justify all kinds of unBiblical things, and to try and suggest, from that, that the interpretation of the NT is “up for grabs” and there is no absolute truth.
This applies in so many matters today: We have people who have had bad experiences with flaky pentecostals and all sorts of counterfeit manifestations. Now, sadly, their reference point for understanding the Holy Spirit and His gifts is their bad experience. Then, they begin to interpret the Bible, concerning these matters, in the light of their bad experiences. They’ve lost their objectivity, and therefore interpret Scripture wrongly.
(This is all from my Facebook page)
http://www.facebook.com/ian.vincent.5