Truly Objective
July 13th, 2007
(By John MacArthur)
Biblical truth is objective. It is true by itself. It is true whether or not we feel it’s true. It is true whether or not it has been validated by someone’s experience. It is true because God says it is true. It is wholly true, and it is true down to the smallest jot and tittle. Psalm 119:160 says, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
That is the very starting point and the necessary foundation for a truly Christian world-view. Give up the ground of biblical truth, and whatever belief-system you have left is not worthy to be labeled Christian, even if it retains vestiges of Christian symbolism and terminology.
Many who would call themselves Christians today are in precisely that situation. They use the language and symbolism of Christianity, but their real source of authority is something besides Scripture. Some simply live by their feelings and shape their beliefs in accord with their own personal preferences. Others actually claim God speaks directly to them through voices, strong impressions, or vague feelings which they interpret as direct revelations from the Holy Spirit. Still others think of the Scriptures as an improvisational script, which they can modify or interpret any way they please. In any case, their lives and beliefs are ordered in accord with their own personal preferences.
But historic Christianity is based on the objective revelation of Scripture. That is why our first key word for describing the Christian world view is objectivity. Our faith is grounded in the conviction that God has spoken, and His Word is objective truth. What He has given us is absolute and unshakable — and it is the truth by which all other truth-claims are measured.
“But historic Christianity is based on the objective revelation of Scripture.”
Amen.
Thank you to the Lord, for Dr. MacArthur’s ministry. I’m a long time reader of Pulpit and appreciate the blog immensely.
I’m still digesting the series on Po-Mo-ism and have been visiting The Ooze blog to learn more.
The perspicuity of Scripture is at the core of all the debate. For that reason Bernard Ramm’s classic “Biblical Interpretation” has regained a place in regular reading.
My question: if a young believer inmeshed in Po-Mo-ism asks you to recommend a book…just one…on the objectivity/perspicuity of Scripture, which would it be?
Has anyone on this blog come across the testimony of a believer who has been involved in Po-mo-ism but has come out of it? I’d be interested in hearing their story.
Scott,
For a young believer, I might just recommend John’s recent book TRUTH WAR. It deal with the clarity and authority of Scripture in a way a laymen can grasp.
I think I’d also challege that new believer to read through the entire New Testament in the next month or two without reading any of his PoMo commentators. I doubt he would be able to come away from that exercise claiming that most of what the NT says isn’t clear!
I think I will also get out Ramm’s book and review it along with B.B. Warfield’s INSPIRATION AND AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE. Thanks for the idea.
Blessings on your ministry.
Steve Lamm
Interesting question then. Previously, I seemed to struggle with a logical conclusion to what MacArthur has written (which I agree with).
If one does not believe that the entire Word of God is actually His Word, then wouldn’t they fall under what MacArthur said, “modify or interpret any way they please…their lives and beliefs are ordered in accord with their own personal preferences.”
Be careful with a rash response to this.
Dr. MacArthur, all I can say is AMEN! Praise the Lord that God used/uses your books, your preaching (on tapes
) and my professors from TMS in TBA Croatia to change my life DRAMATICALLY! I will never be the same!!! God bless you, sir!
I don’t know what PO-MO is, but from the comments I understand that it talks about NT not being clear. Well, I know of one passage that’s very clear: 2. Peter 1,19-21 where Peter is saying that there is only ONE interpretation of Scripture - God’s interpretation and we should use it to fight against false prophets! You need clear revelation to fight against a false system! Peter believed that NT (and OT) was clear!!!
I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that many, perhaps most, confessing Christians in America base their beliefs on what they grew up learning, what their denomination teaches or what feels or seems to be right (which perhaps is the primary reason so many reject the Biblical doctrine of predestination and election — it just does not seem to be right). Pastor John is absolutely correct: Scripture is our unchanging and inerrant guide. When we deviate from that, we open ourselves to all manner of error and end up with man-made doctrine. Such is the case with Roman Catholisism.
“Biblical truth is objective.”
My first question would be: how can you claim to know it “objectively”?