Jesus—always true, or sometimes true?

When something is “objectively true,” it is true no matter what. When something is “subjectively true,” its truth is dependent on someone’s experience or perspective.

To explain more fully, here is a list of five statements. Which ones are true?

1) The C.N. Tower is in Toronto.
2) The average gravitational pull of earth is 9.8 m/s squared.
3) Coke tastes better than Pepsi.
4) Spring is nicer than winter.
5) 2 + 2 = 4.

As you can see, this list includes two different kinds of statements. 1, 2, and 5 are objectively true. They are true no matter what. But statements 3 and 4 are subjectively true, meaning they are based on someone’s experience or perspective.

These days, we are at risk of being sucked into the expanding subjectivity of our times. In terms of faith, one of the ways this happens is when people take Jesus and try to shift him from an objective category to a subjective one. ‘Oh, that stuff may be true for you, but it’s not true for me.’

But Jesus doesn’t allow us that. He loves us too much to lie to us about what is or isn’t real or true. For example, in the Gospels the resurrection is presented as objective fact, not subjective experience. The apostle Paul says: “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). In other words, if the resurrection didn’t actually happen, we’re all wasting our time!

The truths of Christ are presented as objective realities in other areas as well. When Jesus says that we should love one another—that’s true for everyone, regardless. When he says he reveals the will of his heavenly Father—that’s true for everyone, regardless. When he says that he himself is the way to God—that’s true for everyone, regardless.

As we learn about these realities, and as we live them and share them, it is always important to be humble and respectful. But that doesn’t mean we should acquiesce to the expanding subjectivity of our times by neglecting or twisting the truth claims Christ makes about himself and the world.

Let’s trust what Jesus says, love one another, and strive for true faithfulness on the narrow path of life.