The two terms, “subjective and objective,” are defined by the dictionary as follows:<\/p>\n
Subjective:<\/strong> Relating to the subject of mental states, the ego; proceeding from or taking place within the thinking subject: opposed to objective.<\/p>\n
Objective:<\/strong> Having independent existence or authority, apart from experience or thought.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Under the definition of subjective the dictionary adds, “in a brief phrase, it may be said that subjective relates to something within the mind, objective to something without (that is, outside of) [the mind].” Thus when relating these two terms to the matter of religious authority we see that subjective authority is that of emotion, experience. and feelings, while objective authority is located outside of and independent of the ego, emotion, or feelings.<\/p>\n
Subjective authority is the “better felt than told” or “I found it” appeal. One who experiences some great emotional uplift may falsely relate that experience to salvation. Whether one senses or feels something within has no direct bearing on whether they have done the will of God. God has never required emotional experiences as conditions of pardon. What he has and does require is obedience to revealed doctrine (Hebrews 5:9; Romans 6:16).<\/p>\n
Subjective authority makes each person his own authority. Not all persons feel the same thing or react the same to the same circumstance. If salvation depended on one’s feelings many would be lost. Some people never cry, some never laugh, some never experience the “roll on the floor” emotional kicks that characterize some revivals.<\/p>\n
Authority for speaking in an unknown tongue is decidedly subjective. Listening to them tell of their experiences reveals a plurality of forms or patterns. Few are alike. This is because the individual is the authority, not the Word.<\/p>\n
Acceptable service to God is based on objective authority. The written word of God constitutes the only standard of faith and deed. This authority is separate from man’s ego and independent of feeling or emotion. Regardless of what one feels the Bible is still the same. Though Heaven and earth pass away, God’s word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).<\/p>\n
All must submit to one<\/strong> standard. “The word which I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day<\/em>” (John 12:48). The written New Testament is declared to be the final, complete standard for all time. “…that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once (for all) delivered unto the saints<\/em>” (Jude 3).<\/p>\n
Modem day faith healers and tongue-speakers appeal strongly to subjective authority. The emotions and inner senses are brought into play as evidence that God has really touched their lives. Women go about today laying hands on people claiming to have received this power from God or the Holy Spirit. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can show where any woman in the New Testament ever laid hands on anybody to impart spiritual gifts. (For that matter, or any man who was not an Apostle.)<\/p>\n
As long as “every man does that which is right in his own eyes<\/em>” there can be nothing but chaos and confusion in religion (Proverbs 21:2). Subjective authority is deceitful, destructive, divisive, and uncertain. Individuals change but the Word of God remains the same. Observe the example of Christ who was tempted and tried. Three times he repulsed Satan with “it is written.” He didn’t say “I feel” or “I’ve had an experience.” We can do no better than the Lord. Let us say “it is written” (see Galatians 4:30).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Kenneth Frazier Sentry Magazine, June 2000 The two terms, “subjective and objective,” are defined by the dictionary as follows: Subjective: Relating to the subject of mental states, the ego; proceeding from or taking place within the thinking subject: opposed to objective. Objective: Having independent existence or authority, apart from experience or thought. Under the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[78,142,141],"class_list":["post-31409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-authority","tag-speaking-in-tongues","tag-tongue-speaking"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":84617,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/standards-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":31409,"position":0},"title":"Standards (Moyer)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Standards are common. The term can refer to a commonly accepted value, a recognized authoritative model, or something acceptable though not top quality (dictionary). In all these cases, there is a recognition that expectations of some kind are to be met and accepted by more than just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55573,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/circular-reasoning-in-the-book-of-mormon\/","url_meta":{"origin":31409,"position":1},"title":"Circular Reasoning in the Book of Mormon","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 7, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jon Gary Williams The book of Mormon closes with an appeal to pray to God asking Him to reveal that the book is true. An assurance is then given that if one is \"sincere\" God will \"manifest\" that it is true (see Moroni 10:4). However, this is circular reasoning.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/11\/circular-reasoning.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23429,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/racism-is-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":31409,"position":2},"title":"Racism Is Wrong","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Racism is wrong. Do you know why? If you say that it is wrong, but do not ultimately know why, then all you are doing is expressing either your own personal preferences or mirroring the preferences of others. That is not acceptable, for preferences are subjective expressions,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/racism-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41843,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/subjective-spirit-leading\/","url_meta":{"origin":31409,"position":3},"title":"Subjective Spirit Leading","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Subjective \"Spirit Leading\" is when one is moved by imagined nudging and impulses, then attributes that imagination to the \"leading of the Spirit.\" It often never is in complete harmony with the Spirit's \"revelation\" in the Bible. It is sometimes outright contrary to Spirit guidance through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38797,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-can-know-the-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":31409,"position":4},"title":"We Can Know the Truth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Objectivity is not a strong point in our society \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Objective means the existence of something outside of oneself. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Our society prefers things to be subjective \u2013 belonging to one\u2019s own mind \u2013 especially when dealing with matters of right and wrong. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92011,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/something-missing-in-our-culture\/","url_meta":{"origin":31409,"position":5},"title":"Something Missing in Our Culture","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by David V. 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