One dictionary entry for the word “objectivity” includes the following: “Not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased.”
I have found that being objective is not easy. In fact, merely recognizing how little objectivity I posses can be challenging in itself. Numerous things influence and shape my perspective without my even noticing it; such as experiences, familiarity, education, tradition, and the cultural environment that we all live in. Have you ever considered to what degree these things influence your own objectivity?
This is not to suggest that being subjective – the antonym for objective - is inherently a bad thing. In fact, a certain level of subjectivity – or to use another term: presupposition - can be beneficial. For example, if you were invited to a wedding, but didn’t receive any instructions on dress code, I would “presuppose” that you would not show up wearing cut-off blue jeans and flip-flops, why? Because, my prior experience attending weddings is that people dress up, not down. And why do they do that? It’s a cultural expectation we have. Now, if the wedding is inHawaii
So how does this relate to studying the Bible?
Well, we often bring to our study of God’s word a certain level of subjectivity that prevents us from seeing the things that God wants to show us.
For example, as we approach the Christmas season, think about the things that you will see or hear that have influenced your thoughts and interpretations surrounding the events of Christ’s birth. Were there only three wise men that brought gifts to the baby Jesus, or is our interpretation of that event based on the manger scene in the neighbor’s yard outside? What about the design of the manger structure itself? Have you ever seen one designed to look more like a cave instead of a lean-to? Do you see how tradition and culture can influence our interpretation of the scriptures?
I remember, for a long time, thinking that when Daniel was thrown in to the lions den that he was a youthful lad. And where did I come up with that? Most likely, I saw an image in a children’s Bible when I was young that depicted the scene that way. Later, when I studied the book of Daniel and noted that it was Darius who reigned inBabylon
The examples noted above are of no theological consequence. Whether Daniel was 18 or 80 when he was in the lions den doesn’t change the lesson of faith and obedience that we learn from his experience, nor does the number of wise men or the lean-to structure in the neighbor’s yard change the reality of Christ’s birth. However, what other presuppositions might one bring to the text of scripture based on experiences, familiarity, education, tradition, or cultural environment that would have theological consequences?
Consider an example from the category of “experiences”. Imagine a child that grows up in a home with a Dad that is warm and caring. Later in life, when the child becomes a young man, his subjectivity about what our heavenly Father is like is probably more accurate than someone who’s Dad was cold and uncaring. The resulting theology produced by this is of great importance, as it would shape his perspective about the very nature and character of God!
You can probably think of more examples from these categories on your own. One category unique among the others - and perhaps the most difficult to overcome - is that of “familiarity”. Suspending it long enough to approach the scripture with a fresh investigation is what’s needed. This doesn’t mean forgetting everything that we’ve learned beforehand, but rather, ones heart needs to be in the right posture to see new things. It has been said that the biggest barrier to learning something new is related to ones perception that he already knows it.
I suspect there are many books available on the ways in which objectivity is compromised by subjectivity, but the purpose of this post was simply to heighten our sensitivity to the fact that we have a subjective nature, which influences our study of the Bible. When we study the Scriptures, we want to try to do it without too many assumptions, familiarities and presuppositions, which often prevent us from seeing much more of the things that God wants us to see in His word.
I believe the “antidote” for too much subjectivity begins with prayer - asking God to do things like removing my cultural blinders - and then approaching the Bible with a careful, intentional study method. In the next post, I will share a few of those study methods that have helped me regain some objectivity.
I pray that your 'time in His word' is enriched.
I have found that being objective is not easy. In fact, merely recognizing how little objectivity I posses can be challenging in itself. Numerous things influence and shape my perspective without my even noticing it; such as experiences, familiarity, education, tradition, and the cultural environment that we all live in. Have you ever considered to what degree these things influence your own objectivity?
This is not to suggest that being subjective – the antonym for objective - is inherently a bad thing. In fact, a certain level of subjectivity – or to use another term: presupposition - can be beneficial. For example, if you were invited to a wedding, but didn’t receive any instructions on dress code, I would “presuppose” that you would not show up wearing cut-off blue jeans and flip-flops, why? Because, my prior experience attending weddings is that people dress up, not down. And why do they do that? It’s a cultural expectation we have. Now, if the wedding is in
So how does this relate to studying the Bible?
Well, we often bring to our study of God’s word a certain level of subjectivity that prevents us from seeing the things that God wants to show us.
For example, as we approach the Christmas season, think about the things that you will see or hear that have influenced your thoughts and interpretations surrounding the events of Christ’s birth. Were there only three wise men that brought gifts to the baby Jesus, or is our interpretation of that event based on the manger scene in the neighbor’s yard outside? What about the design of the manger structure itself? Have you ever seen one designed to look more like a cave instead of a lean-to? Do you see how tradition and culture can influence our interpretation of the scriptures?
I remember, for a long time, thinking that when Daniel was thrown in to the lions den that he was a youthful lad. And where did I come up with that? Most likely, I saw an image in a children’s Bible when I was young that depicted the scene that way. Later, when I studied the book of Daniel and noted that it was Darius who reigned in
The examples noted above are of no theological consequence. Whether Daniel was 18 or 80 when he was in the lions den doesn’t change the lesson of faith and obedience that we learn from his experience, nor does the number of wise men or the lean-to structure in the neighbor’s yard change the reality of Christ’s birth. However, what other presuppositions might one bring to the text of scripture based on experiences, familiarity, education, tradition, or cultural environment that would have theological consequences?
Consider an example from the category of “experiences”. Imagine a child that grows up in a home with a Dad that is warm and caring. Later in life, when the child becomes a young man, his subjectivity about what our heavenly Father is like is probably more accurate than someone who’s Dad was cold and uncaring. The resulting theology produced by this is of great importance, as it would shape his perspective about the very nature and character of God!
You can probably think of more examples from these categories on your own. One category unique among the others - and perhaps the most difficult to overcome - is that of “familiarity”. Suspending it long enough to approach the scripture with a fresh investigation is what’s needed. This doesn’t mean forgetting everything that we’ve learned beforehand, but rather, ones heart needs to be in the right posture to see new things. It has been said that the biggest barrier to learning something new is related to ones perception that he already knows it.
I suspect there are many books available on the ways in which objectivity is compromised by subjectivity, but the purpose of this post was simply to heighten our sensitivity to the fact that we have a subjective nature, which influences our study of the Bible. When we study the Scriptures, we want to try to do it without too many assumptions, familiarities and presuppositions, which often prevent us from seeing much more of the things that God wants us to see in His word.
I believe the “antidote” for too much subjectivity begins with prayer - asking God to do things like removing my cultural blinders - and then approaching the Bible with a careful, intentional study method. In the next post, I will share a few of those study methods that have helped me regain some objectivity.
I pray that your 'time in His word' is enriched.
Good post to bring awareness to our natural tendency to be subjective. This will be useful while convincing others to read the Word for themselves.
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