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Three Steps to Answering Questions
Bible study on answering questions.

Any answer to a question may be categorized as objective or subjective. It is not that the question itself is objective or subjective, but that the answer to the question is either objective or subjective. So, if a question must be answered from an objective perspective, I have termed it an objective question. On the other hand, if the question must be answered from a subjective perspective, I have termed the question a subjective question.

Objective is "belonging to the sensible world and being observable or verifiable esp. by scientific methods," "emphasizing or expressing the nature of reality as it is apart from personal reflections or feelings," and "expressing or involving the use of facts without distortion by personal feelings or prejudices" (Webster). One example of an objective question and answer is: What does two plus two equal? Of course the answer is four. This question is answered upon undeniable scientific fact and is therefore objective.

Subjective is "relating to or determined by the mind as the subject of experience," "characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind," and "lacking in reality or substance" (Webster). One example of a subjective question and answer is: When does a fetus become a living human being with unalienable, personal, human rights? The answer to this question cannot be scientifically proven at this time; therefore, any answer must be subject to an individual's application of unscientific knowledge such as religion and philosophy.

For this article, I am not considering the ramifications of those who are suffering from mental illness wherein that which is objective to the mentally healthy may be subjective to the mentally ill. Nor am I considering those (such as children) who are, through education, growing in objectivity and moving away from subjectivity. But, I am considering those things that healthy, mature adults consider existing in objective reality in contrast to that which is subjective because of a lack of convincing scientific evidence.

For example, two plus two equals four is objective. But, genetics in relationship to homosexuality is subjective since only some speculative scientific data, upon which is much disagreement, has been presented on this subject. We can also look back into history to observe questions and answers that began as subjective, but later became objective. One example of this is the argument concerning the shape of the earth. When men first espoused the position that the earth is round, it was from a subjective perspective. But the earth's shape is now an undeniable scientific fact and is therefore considered objective.

Can you think of one question concerning morality that does not demand a subjective response? I cannot. It is important for Christians to properly approach questions concerning morality to produce an answer in accordance with the will of God. This reminds me of a professor at Indiana University from whom I took trombone lessons. During a lesson one day, he told me that to produce a proper sound on the trombone (or any wind instrument), I only had to properly blow into the instrument.

Now this seems over simplified, but is it not the truth? If we approach a thing properly, will it not produce the proper results? If I blow a trombone as a trombone is intended to be blown, will it not sound like a trombone, or will it sound like a violin? Similarly, if we approach God properly, will we not be the individuals He desires us to be?

Jesus taught on this subject. He says as recorded in Matthew 12:33-35: "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."

Living before God can be boiled down to basics just like playing the trombone. If we approach God properly, with a good heart, we will be a proper individual in relationship to Him. If we approach God improperly, with an evil heart, we will not be a proper individual in relationship to Him. So, if my heart is right with God, I will be right with God because my heart will cause me to do what He desires, not what I desire in personally gratify my flesh.

So ask yourself: Is my heart right with God? In the next article, we will begin discussing three specific steps in answering moral questions. If we approach moral issues properly, we will find the moral answer to our questions. And, if our heart is right in relationship to the Lord, we will do what is right to produce godliness.