The Lens of Personal Experience-Man Centered Theology

Recently I had a series of correspondents with a Man-Centered Christian on the topic of right and wrong. The question I posed was, how do we as Christians determine right from wrong? The answer was very eye opening for me.

My friend gave me a psychologically correct answer, we view right and wrong through the lens of experience. Put another way, we determine right and wrong based on our past experiences.

This understanding disturbed me because it was a fancy description of Moral Relativism. Moral relativism teaches that there are no moral absolutes. Everything is relative to the individual’s personal experience.

When I asked how God's Word figured in to that position, the response was:

"We all read/interpret the Word through the lens of our experience that's why there is such a variety of interpretations."

The following is my response. I am passing this on because it is my desire and goal to expose humanism in the church when ever I find it. By using God's Word, I aim to give you the tools needed to spot and defend against it as well.

Your brother in Christ

ABR

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Dear Man-Centered Christian:

Thank you for taking the time to discuss with me this important topic. I must say your explanation has got me to thinking. Please consider the following scriptures in regards to viewing Gods Words through the lens of experience:

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death

Proverbs 28:26a
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

I don’t believe I am to use my experiences to determine right and wrong. I don’t deny that experiences are important in shaping understanding however,

• I view experiences through the lens of Gods word. That is, God’s word determines how I view and understand my experiences.

Please consider that humanity's sense of right and wrong is self centered. If we allow our understandings or experiences to dictate the meaning of scripture, we will find fault. Scripture contradicts selfish ambition by teaching us to die to self. Scripture places God's ambitions, and those of my fellow man, before my own.

In regards to Biblical interpretation

You said "We all read/interpret the Word through the lens of our experience that's why there is such a variety of interpretations."

I believe that this is true for the unbeliever only. This misalignment was a direct result of the fall of man in the garden.

Consider the following:

Gen 3:4-5

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

You Shall Be Like God.

Our sin in the garden was not that we wanted to know good and evil. It was that we wanted to be like God. We wanted to decide for ourselves what was good and evil or right and wrong. Our understandings first. We wanted to be our own god.

Eve relied on her own reasoning and accepted the serpents self centered interpretation of God's Word when she reached out and ate of the fruit.

Gen 3:6

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

In so doing, we gained an understanding of Good and Evil. But we lacked the ability to only choose good. In addition, we based good and evil/right and wrong, on our own perspectives and reasoning. What seems good to me does not always seem good to God. Man had became wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 3:5)

God removed man from the garden and denied them access to the tree of life.

Gen 3:22

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

In one single act of rebellion man withdrew his submitted will, from God and said I will decide for myself what is good and evil. Thus I will decide for myself, based on past experiences, if God's word be true. Man wanted to be like God then and we want to be like God today. When confronted with God's Word man will always say "My will, not God’s."

Luke 22:42
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

John 4:34
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

As a regenerated or saved man I strive to return my will back to God. I place His Word, His purposes, and His ambitions before mine I ask that you reconsider your understanding. Scripture teaches us that we are to view our experiences through the lens of God's Word.

A mans theology will dictate his actions or his actions will dictate his theology-Bill Gothard

Look at this quote from Augustine

“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don't like, it’s not the gospel you believe, but yourself."

Augustine was referring specifically to the gospels of the New Testament; the principle can be applied to all of scripture as well. In our discussions, you have dismissed some teachings in the Bible; I am concerned that you may not see scripture as God's infallible word.

You believe:

• We all read/interpret the Word through the lens of our experience.
• Personal experiences, as they relate to God's Word, are the primary ruler that defines our understanding of scripture and ultimately your understanding of right and wrong.

What if our experience suggests that God is unjust? Scripture teaches that women should not be pastors; this contradicts your understandings of right and wrong. For you, scripture does not agree with your experience or your understanding of right and wrong, as a result, you conclude that scripture is wrong.

Others dismiss scripture because it teaches that only Born Again Christians will go to heaven or because it teaches Jesus is God. Some scoff at the notion that God created the earth in 6 days or that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will return again. More feel the whole idea that a loving and just God would send the majority of mankind to hell is just ridiculous. How can the Bible be true?????

Thus the quote from Augustine:

“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don't like, it’s not the gospel you believe, but yourself."

Our natural sense of right and wrong is self serving; birthed from our desire to be our own God. Aside from Christ our fallen nature says " I believe myself not the scripture.

The point is that Christians accept God's will and understanding of right and wrong over their own. Even when it contradicts their own understandings. In those times of contradiction we must walk by faith and obedience to God's Word

In Christ

ABR