Many years ago, the saying was, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion.” (Poor choice of pronouns, but that’s the way I remember it.) I’ve always thought, if one doesn’t know anything about the subject, he or she is NOT entitled to an opinion. But, that’s just my opinion.
Many years ago, there was another saying, “I disagree with what you said, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” How long has it been since you heard that one?
However, in
an argument, one would say to another, “That’s just your opinion,” making it
clear the speaker had no respect for said opinion, as it was only an opinion.
Clearly, the speaker’s ideas were the only valid ones in the discussion. This
seems to be the mode of the day; opinions have taken precedence over facts, but
only the speaker’s opinion has validity, and there is so much rancor in
discussions that everyone disrespects any viewpoint other than his or her own.
When it comes to discussions of events, instructions, or beliefs that we find in the Bible, my opinion – and yours—does not matter. If we believe God and believe the Bible is His Word, we should always ask, “What does God say?” Only God’s opinion is of significance; His is the only one we need to put forth. We need to compare Scripture with Scripture, all of it His words, to understand what He is saying. We need to represent His words honestly.
The people
around us do not accept God’s authority or even His existence, but they also do
not accept our authority. When attempting to present God’s viewpoint on
anything, there is not much point in saying, “In my opinion…” We would do
better to say, “God says,” and let them accept or reject Him rather than
ourselves. This is what the prophets of God did. They didn’t put forth themselves
as people with authority worth listening to. They said, “God said.” Even so,
those who didn’t want to hear it took out their resentment on the messengers.
My opinion is that our opinions get in the way of God’s message. Our thoughts don’t explain God’s thoughts better than He did. “My religion” and “my faith” do not have compelling authority in the minds of others. What does God say? “My word that goes out from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is. 55:11 NIV). If we want to put forth God’s Word and honor Him, we need to try to keep ourselves out of the way of it as much as possible. If we want to speak, teach, or act God’s message, let not our force, our authority, be “my opinion.” In fact, if we are to speak with grace (Col 4:6), boldness (Acts 4:29), and in demonstration of the Spirit (I Cor. 2:4), our opinion (which is a bit of our pride) does not have a part in it.
In I Corinthians
2 we are told, “We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God
predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers
of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written: ‘Things which eye has
not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all
that God has prepared for those who love Him.’ For to us God revealed them
through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the spirit of the
person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the
Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit
who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. We
also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught
by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (2:7-13 NASB).
--Lynda Shenefield
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