THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE TRUTH
There is a story about how the blind once felt an elephant. One, after the experience, said the elephant felt like a huge hose; the second said it resembled a large barrel; and the third claimed it was comparable to a tree trunk. Often, when we talk about the same thing, we view it from different angles. We see things differently, and yet we can all be right.
But is this always the case? Not necessarily. For example, there is an interesting story from Africa. A man, after baptism, was given a new name and, according to the customs of his community, was forbidden to eat pork. One day, a minister came to visit him. Upon entering the hut, he smelled pork cooking and began to reproach the man. In his defense, the baptized man insisted that it was not pork, but fish.
The minister lifted the lid to check—and indeed, the smell clearly came from pork. After listening to the minister, the man said: “You baptized me and gave me a new name, as if I automatically became a new person. In the same way, I baptized the pork, so that it would no longer be pork, but now a fish.”
Here, of course, common sense is needed. Although we often lose our unity over minor issues, it also happens that, on the other hand, we compromise with lies and end up deceived.
People cannot be right at the same time if their statements contradict each other. Truth cannot be vague, and it certainly cannot be contradictory. Today, I am often sent links to numerous videos promoting conspiracy theories. Watching them, it becomes clear that not all opinions can reflect reality, since they often contradict themselves. From this, one can conclude that the claims of these conspiracy theories cannot all be true.
When we speak of objective truth, it means something that is true regardless of opinions or assumptions. Objective truth is absolute and applies to everyone, even if they are unaware of it or refuse to acknowledge it.
Subjective truth, on the other hand, is something that may be true for one person but not for another. For example, I might say, “What a beautiful modern kitchen,” while my wife says, “I prefer wood and a rustic style.” This is a matter of aesthetic taste—it is subjective truth.
To understand the difference between subjective and objective truth, it is essential to distinguish between them—so that we do not lose unity and, at the same time, are not led astray.
Why is this so important? Because increasingly, secular society promotes the idea that all truth is subjective—that it is merely a matter of opinion or perspective. But this directly contradicts the faith of a Christian, since Jesus clearly states that His truth is objective and unchangeable. He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
We must understand that Christianity is founded on objective truth. If it were otherwise, we could have no firm faith or confidence, for all our beliefs could collapse if any of them were proven false. This is a crucial matter. Moreover, Scripture warns: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 16:25).
Therefore, for our path to lead to eternal life, it is vitally important to trust in objective, absolute, and unchanging truth. After all, with God is no variation, without even a shadow due to change (James 1:17).
Recently, it has become fashionable to claim that all truth is subjective. Yet in reality, no one lives according to this assertion—not even those who fiercely defend it. It is obvious that we affirm objective truth every day. For example: “Today is May 6th,” “I work in an office,” “Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.” These statements are either true or false; there is no middle ground. They cannot be merely a matter of opinion.
Therefore, objective truth exists, whether people recognize it or not. Even those who insist that all truth is subjective are, in fact, claiming objective truth, since they assert that their statement is absolutely correct.
But the question remains: how can we know which objective truth is correct and what constitutes absolute truth, without the interference of human judgments and opinions?
Often, we hear that Christians are allegedly intolerant of other beliefs, simply because we stand for absolute truth. By definition, tolerance is the quality of allowing others to say or do as they wish, even if you do not agree or approve; the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
However, this does not mean that we should accept everything at the cost of abandoning our own beliefs or denouncing them. Claiming that absolute morality and objective truth exist does not make us intolerant or extreme.
Today, there is a growing idea that we must accept and believe that others are not mistaken, no matter what views they hold, simply because all opinions are supposedly subjective. However, tolerance means showing patience and respect for other people’s beliefs, not changing your own convictions at the cost of recognizing something else as the truth.
Therefore, it is important to understand, firmly believe, and confidently proclaim that Christianity is the only way to salvation. Belief in this absolute truth in no way makes one intolerant.
In the era of individualism that dominates modern culture, we often hear—even from the pulpits—phrases such as “in my opinion,” “I think,” or “I believe.” Apparently, this was also characteristic of spiritual leaders during the earthly life of Jesus Christ.
However, the words of the Bible, our Holy Scripture, must be spoken with authority. If we truly live with Christ, and this has become a reality for us—not just a religious statement—then people will speak of us in the same way they spoke of Him:
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29).
It is often said that Christians force their views on their children. In this context, it refers to the suggestion of ideas, or so-called indoctrination, in other words, “brainwashing.”
So, what is indoctrination? It is the purposeful dissemination of any ideas, opinions and beliefs of a certain group in order to form the social consciousness embedded in it, without taking into account the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of other groups. In short, it is the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.
By definition, this process is inherently harmful, as it often leads to intolerance and evil. The accusation, then, is that Christians allegedly teach and educate their children in a way that hides alternative opinions from them, and worse, conditions them to be hostile toward those who think differently.
Is this what the Bible teaches? First of all, Scripture instructs us to love our enemies and do good to them. Secondly, Christians must be familiar with the cultural characteristics of unbelievers or followers of other religions, so that they can understand why people think as they do and how to guide them gently toward the path of truth.
Even the Apostle Paul demonstrated this approach. When speaking with Greek philosophers, he referenced their own poets, saying:
“…for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” (Acts 17:28).
It is important to understand how we teach our children. No one truly knows what happens in our homes, and so some people draw their own prejudiced conclusions. What they dislike is that Christian parents are teaching their children objective truth. Therefore, the issue is not indoctrination—it is that they reject the objective truth we teach to our children.
Indeed, in higher education, professors often assume the role of teaching their own version of “truth,” which students are expected to accept, or else they are labeled intolerant. This is a coercive ideology, intolerant of any other views or beliefs.
When children enter universities, they are often told that faith in God is merely a tradition handed down by parents and previous generations—something imposed on them. But is that really the case? Do we give our children the chance to make their own choices in life? Does the Lord give them such a chance? Absolutely. God has endowed every person with free will and the ability to choose.
Therefore, before beginning an independent life—especially before entering college or university—our children should understand what professors mean by the word indoctrination. They should not feel that their faith is unfounded or merely a family tradition without any real grounding.
They must come to know the Living, True God of the Bible. A solid foundation is built when they personally experience a relationship with the Lord. When this foundation is established, no one can shake their faith.
So, teaching children to believe in God is often labeled brainwashing. Yet those who make such claims themselves assert their own absolutism and “objective truth,” allowing no room for compromise or critical thinking. The irony is clear: people who claim that all truth is subjective are, in fact, asserting their own objective truth.
Based on this, we can conclude that truth cannot be merely a matter of opinion. Even when we must make decisions about what is true, we cannot simply choose the spiritual beliefs we find appealing. Objective, absolute truth requires seeking—a personal, honest, and pure pursuit of God.
The Lord rewards those who seek Him with all their hearts. Truth must be sought, not arbitrarily defined by us as we see fit.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8)
"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!" (1 Chron. 16:11)
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13)
May the Lord be found by all, and may His truth become an eternal necklace for those who seek Him with all their hearts.
Max Volkov in Christ
