Subjectivism and Its Impact on Christian Witness
Subjectivism, in a Christian context, refers to the idea that truth or meaning is primarily determined by individual experience or perception rather than by objective reality or divine revelation. This perspective can significantly impact Christian witness by shifting the foundation of faith from an external, verifiable truth to an internal, personal feeling.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of objective, faithful witness. Jesus states, "If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid" (John 5:31). This highlights a principle found in Jewish law, where a person was not permitted to be a witness in their own cause [2]. A faithful witness, by contrast, "will not lie" [3], and such a witness is instrumental in "deliver[ing] the souls of the innocent" [5]. The Gospel ministers are described as faithful witnesses of Christ, whose preaching is a testimony concerning him [3].
When Christian witness becomes overly subjective, it risks losing its grounding in the objective truth of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul speaks of believers glorifying God "for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ" [4]. This "Gospel of Christ" is presented as a doctrine of grace, life, and salvation, with Christ as its author [4]. The witness of God, particularly through the Holy Spirit, is central to Christian belief. As 1 John 5:10 explains, the believer "hath the witness—of God, by His Spirit" within them, testifying that "Jesus is the Lord," "the Christ," and "the Son of God" [1]. To disbelieve this witness is to "make him a liar" [1].
Subjectivism can lead to a focus on personal feelings or experiences as the primary validation of faith, potentially diminishing the authority of Scripture and the historical facts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. While personal experience is a component of faith, it is not its ultimate arbiter. The power of the Word of God is to reveal the "secrets of his heart" to an individual, manifesting their true character [6]. This process is not merely subjective but is a divine work that brings an objective truth to light within the individual [6].
Sources
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 5:10: hath the witness--of God, by His Spirit (Jo1 5:8). in himself--God's Spirit dwelling in him and witnessing that "Jesus is the Lord," "the Christ," and "the Son of God" (Jo1 5:1, Jo1 5:5). The witness of the Spirit in the believer himself to his own sonship is not here expressed, but follows as a consequence of believing the witness of God to Jesus' divine Sonship. believeth not God--credits not His witness. made him a liar--a consequence which many who virtually, or even avowedly, do not believe, may well startle back from as fearful blasphemy an”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 5:31: If I bear witness of myself,.... Which was not allowed any man to do; nor indeed is it proper that a man should be a witness in his own cause: and, according to the Jewish canons, a man might not be a witness for his wife, because she was reckoned as himself. "An husband is not to be believed in bearing witness for his wife, that had been carried captive, that she is not defiled, , "for no man witness of himself" (k).'' So likewise they say (l), "a city that is subdued by an army, all the priestesses (or priests' daughters) that are found in it are rejected (from ”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 14:5: A faithful witness will not lie,.... For that would be contrary to his character as faithful; and as he will not witness to a falsehood upon oath in a court of judicature, so neither will he tell a lie in common conversation. This may be applied to Gospel ministers, who are witnesses of Christ; the Gospel they preach is a testimony concerning him, and they bear a faithful witness to the truth; nor will they, knowingly and willingly, deliver out a falsehood, or a doctrinal lie, since "no lie is of the truth", Jo1 2:21; the character of a faithful witness is given to ”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 14:25: See here, 1. How much praise is due to a faithful witness: He delivers the souls of the innocent, who are falsely accused, and their good names, which are as dear to them as their lives. A man of integrity will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light and rescue those who are injured by falsehood. A faithful minister, who truly witnesses for God against sin, is thereby instrumental to deliver souls from eternal death. 2. How little regard is to be had to a false witness. He forges lies, and yet pours them out with the greatest assurance ”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:25: And thus--omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions. secrets of his heart made manifest--He sees his own inner character opened out by the sword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12; Jam 1:23), the word of God, in the hand of him who prophesieth. Compare the same effect produced on Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:30 and end of Dan 2:47). No argument is stronger for the truth of religion than its manifestation of men to themselves in their true character. Hence hearers even now often think the preacher must have aimed his sermon particularly at them. and so--”