How many times have we engaged in a conversation that began with: “What’s your opinion about________?” Fill in the blank with the topic of your choice. It’s a great way to get to know more about people you meet or people you already “hang out” with. Read the following quotes about opinions and see if you agree with any of them.
*” People generally have too many opinions and not enough convictions.”
*” Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has the right to be wrong about the facts.”
*” Fact is fact and feeling is feeling; never does the second change the first.”
*” A fanatic is one who can’t change his opinion and won’t change the subject.”
*” Man is never as hard of hearing as when his opinions are being challenged.”
*” We may ask for information, but we are usually only interested in what confirms our opinions.”
*” The quickest way to kindle a fire is to rub two opposing opinions together.”
*” Everyone has the right to express an opinion; however, no one has the right to expect everyone to listen.”
*” Our present generation is so smart it can form an opinion without consulting any of the facts.”
These quotes came from a book entitled 14,000 Quips & Quotes for Writers & Speakers collected by E. C. McKenzie, Baker Book House Company, Copyright 1980. Although this book was published forty years ago, it’s amazing to see that things haven’t changed much when it comes to people’s opinions. Everybody’s got one! In the vast array of things in our everyday lives, we’re going to differ in our interests, tastes, styles, things that we’re attracted to, things that appeal to us, things that entertain us, or things that fascinate us and hold our attention for any length of time. How many conversations have you had with friends, family, or even strangers about things you like and dislike, things that really bug you, or about movies, books, video games, foods—the list is endless (and so are the differing opinions about each thing)?
Here’s another old saying for you (and by now, you know I love old sayings): “Variety is the spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” [William Cowper’s poem, “The Task,” 1785, dictionary.com]. Life would be kind of boring if we were all the same and liked all the same things. We’d just sit around and twiddle our thumbs with nothing interesting to talk about. We’d probably never try anything new. Pretty dull. So, a “good-natured” difference of opinion about things on subjects like those we talk about with friends and family is warranted.
There are some things; however, on which we must all be in agreement 100%, and 100% of the time. For instance, if our state, county, or city makes a traffic law, or laws against stealing other people’s property, well, a law is a law—it’s written down in a book somewhere, or maybe now in this modern age, posted online, as part of the code of law. If any one of us breaks a law, we’re deemed guilty and there will be some type of penalty or punishment to make restitution for the act. The law is an agreed on “system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.” [lexico.com]. Many people don’t like laws and break them frequently. They want to make their own rules or have no rules at all. They think they know what’s best, and they’re of the opinion that laws are too strict, and penalties are too harsh. But laws give society peace and a sense of fairness, balance, and safety for all—if followed properly.
We may not like the laws of the land, but it’s in our best interest to obey them. Also, we’re commanded by God to do so—it’s not optional. Romans 13:1-2, NKJV, says: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” I Peter 2:13-16, NKJV, says: “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.”
Also, we don’t get to use our opinions to dodge the law. I’m no lawyer, but aren’t most cases built around facts and factual information as evidence and not just someone’s opinions? As Christians, are we to listen to the opinions of men and what they think when it comes to our souls’ salvation? Since everybody’s got one, think of how many differing opinions there are about the way we get to heaven. Do we want to risk our salvation by following some man’s opinion, or should we follow what God has commanded us to do in His Word?
The Apostle Paul warned the Galatians in his letter to them (and to us) about people who would try to “pervert” or change the gospel of Christ, Galatians 1:6-7, KJV. Then, he said this in Galatians 1:8-12, KJV: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
God has made His law and His new Will in the form of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s laws are immutable—they can’t be changed because a man has his own opinion about something. Man can’t build his own church and name it; he can’t die for his own sins, he can’t pray to another man for forgiveness of his sins, and he won’t be his own judge on Judgment Day.
Jesus Christ built one church; He was crucified on a cross as the Lamb of God, spotless and without blemish, as the final sacrifice for all of mankind’s sins; He is our mediator when we pray in His name to God, the Father; and He will judge us according to the scriptures, the way we obeyed the gospel, and the way we’ve lived our lives in Him, II Corinthians 5:10; John 5:26-27; Romans 2:16,KJV.
So, when I close this blog with the steps for becoming a Christian, and becoming a member of God’s family, the church, I’m not giving my opinion of what I think or feel. I have no opinion about it—because what God says is the law and the truth. He has all authority—He created us. Truth will remain the truth whether it’s believed or not. It’s been written down for us, but we must search the scriptures. Yes, it would be so much easier if there was one page in the Bible that we could turn to that had all the things listed for us to do in order to obtain the salvation of our souls. But with something as important to our eternal souls’ salvation, something that we must be 100% sure that we’re doing according to God’s Will, the effort of gathering all scriptures relative to our salvation reaps its reward!
To be a Christian, a follower of Christ, a person who wants to be like Him and do His Will, we first must hear the Word of God, Romans 10:14,17, KJV. Having heard the Word leads us to believe the Word, to believe that God is Who He says He is, and that Jesus Christ is His Son, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Mark 16:16, KJV. God’s Word convinces us that we’re in a sinful state and motivates us to stop doing sinful things—in other words, we repent of our sins, Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30, KJV. We must then confess before men that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Matthew 10: 32-33; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10; I John 4:2-3,15, KJV. To complete our obedience to Christ, we must be baptized for the remission of our sins. Our sins will be removed and we become a new creature in Christ, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-4; Matthew 28 :19; I Peter 3:21: Ephesians 4:5; Acts 22:16; Acts 10:48; Galatians 3:27; Acts 8:38; Colossians 2:12, II Corinthians 5:17, KJV. And then, for as long as we live, we must remain faithful to God and Christ, Revelation 2:10, KJV.
But since we are humans, sin will creep back into our lives once again because no one is perfect and because Satan never rests. He wants our souls and will do anything to get them. He targets faithful Christians as his prize to win a victory against God. We must fight back. We must never give in.
The inspired writer of the book of I John is talking to Christians when he says this in I John 1:7-9: “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive (or lie to) ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I Corinthians 10:12, KJV, says: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Also, some very comforting words are written by the Apostle Paul to Christians in Galatians 6:1, KJV: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” When we fall, we can have God’s “amazing grace” and be restored back to the fold.
We need all of our Christian brothers and sisters to help support us on the path through this life. There will be many amazing people to meet and to know, with many different opinions on life’s abundant topics of interest to share together. No, we’ll not always agree on the more trivial things of life, but hopefully we’ll come to the conclusion to let God’s eternal truth, the only thing that really matters—what His Holy Word says—be the thing we all can agree on 100% of the time as we head toward Heaven.