Workmen or Captives? Avoiding the Snare of Subjectivity

The Call to Discern

Once the mind is reclaimed, the aspiring workman must learn to use this newfound intellect to distinguish truth from error. None too soon, either, because the greatest threats to our faith come furtively, and in forms we may not anticipate. The “Nine Enemies of Truth”² listed to the right are detected through the determined discernment of a Spirit-led mind.

Over time, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the application of our mind, will, and affections to Scripture will create biblical wisdom — the ability to apply Scripture to concrete situations, evaluate life through spiritual eyes, and discern truth from error (Jas 3:13-18; 1 Cor 2:13-16; 1 Jn 4:6). Spiritual discernment is simply biblical wisdom in action.

Let me illustrate the evolution of discernment from my own life. Some men achieve distinction in an academic field or a sports arena. In the world of soda choices, however, my gift for distinguishing Diet Pepsi^® from lesser colas remains unsurpassed. My soda discernment was not cultivated by sampling the plethora of cola knock-offs, but through a consistent and enduring habit of drinking Diet Pepsi^® morning, afternoon, and evening. My intense enjoyment of the authentic equips me to smell a counterfeit from across the room. This talent was developed, not from being preoccupied with imitations, but through devotion to the genuine article.

So it is with discernment and Scripture. True discernment comes through diligent study of Scripture, not the myriad of counterfeits. The truth implanted in us through the Holy Spirit is then agitated by anything fraudulent. When unbiblical doctrine or practices occur, spiritual discernment triggers in both heart and mind a subjective sense which has been built by objective truth. As Jonathan Edwards once explained, godly people can smell the depravity of an act before they can explain why it is evil. “Smelling depravity” is a mark of growing discernment.

 

The Effects of Weak Discernment

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some” (2 Tim 2:16-18).

Here Paul identifies two men who, due to sin and lack of discernment, were attracted to bad theology. Their theology guided them away from truth and enticed others to follow, “destroy[ing] the faith of some.” Don’t ever listen to anyone who says theology does not matter.

How can we discern bad theology? Paul’s words echo Christ’s: “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Mt 7:16). There are at least three fruits of bad theology.

1. Spiritual and moral degeneration: “more and more ungodly” (v.16). Only sound doctrine will foster and sustain true godliness.
2. Proliferation of heresy: “teaching spreads like gangrene” (v.17). This is due to the influence of bad doctrine on “infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (Eph 4:14).
3. Deteriorating allegiance to Scripture: “wander away from the truth” (v.18). Eventually, false theology will progressively undermine one’s belief in the uniqueness and authority of the Bible.

In looking beyond his death, Paul knew that good theology would be critical to the continued health and growth of the church. With all of the exciting and potentially distracting things that compete for our attention today, we must renew our resolve to be people of The Book. Our lives depend upon it. So do our souls.

 

A Context for Truth

Most Christians are probably comfortable with the idea that the foundation of theology is the Bible. By itself, that statement leaves us free to interact with Scripture in a way that can seem fairly autonomous. It places the primary emphasis, appropriately, on an individual relationship with God through his Word.

But do we as readily accept the testimony of Scripture itself that the foundation of the Bible is … the Church? “If I am delayed,” Paul wrote to Timothy, “you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).

Paradoxically, although truth is indeed the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20), the church is also a foundation for truth. The sense here is that truth must be anchored and applied within the local church. Without a church community to provide a practical context for the application of truth, truth would merely be a profound but impractical philosophy. A cool idea, and nothing more.

But truth applied is truth that has meaning and that protects us from deception. Truth applied is truth preserved. That’s why the church is such a brilliant idea! God could have just left us with a body of knowledge. Instead, he ordained a context where truth can be applied in this life as we prepare for the next.

And what if we fail (or refuse) to become Paul’s “good workmen,” to reclaim the mind, and to cultivate biblical discernment? Funny you should ask …

 

This Present Darkness

In September 1520, almost three years after launching the Reformation, Martin Luther fired another volley into the Roman Catholic camp. With sagacity destined to incite further controversy, he penned “The Babylonian Captivity of the Church,” a booklet that drew scathing analogies between the Babylonian captivity of Israel and the rule of Rome in Luther’s day. According to Luther, both Babylon and Rome had made forcible entries into the land, integrated themselves into the culture of God’s people, polluted the theological well, and neutralized the faith of believers.

If Luther were alive today, what might he entitle his next booklet? My guess is, “The Subjective Captivity of the Church.” I define this captivity as the tendency to exalt experiences, feelings, impressions, or emotions over the Word of God. This captivity does not eliminate or reject God’s Word, it simply relocates its authority to the periphery. Once disconnected from a source of ultimate authority, subjectivized Christians suffer gradual dislocation from sound doctrine, increasing loss of discernment, and choices that drift inevitably toward their own sinful drives.

Tags: avoiding, captives, snare, subjectivity, workmen

Category: Living the Faith, Summer 2002