Come Up Here And See

We currently live in a time where everyone wants to express their own opinion. Sometimes they will ask you “Well, what do you think about this topic?” If we are wise we will answer that it does not matter what we think or my opinion but what God says. 

It is amazing how difficult it is to keep our mouths shut and not share our opinions. We are too quick to share our views without comprehending whether our opinion is true or wanted. I believe that this comes from pride, the horrible sin trap that Lucifer fell into as we can also. 

• Cambridge Dictionary defines Opinion as a thought or belief about something or someone; the thoughts or beliefs that a group of people have; a judgment about someone or something or a judgment made by an expert.

The best way to learn about a topic is to see what the Word of God says, so I looked up “Opinion” and here we go. 

• Proverbs 18:2 AMPC A [self-confident] fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.
• Merriam-Webster defines foolish as unwise, senseless, insane, mad, crazy and stupid (synonym) 

God says that when I am expressing my personal opinions having no desire to comprehended the subject I am acting like a fool and I am prideful. That cut to the chase but I should not be surprised because the Word of God is a living, active, two-edged sword. 

• 1 Samuel 15:23 NKJV For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Derek Prince says in his book “Fight the Devil” that stubbornness or a stubborn person makes idols out of his own opinions. When we think of idols or idolatry we imagine someone bowing to a false god or golden calf. Exodus 32 

• Cambridge Dictionary defines idolatry as very great admiration or respect for someone, often too great

As we ponder this statement a stubborn person makes idols out of his opinions, we are placing our opinions above God. We worship our opinions, saying our beliefs and feelings must be bowed to by others. I shake my head at this statement because how often have I done that when I have presented or screamed my opinions at my husband, family and friends? No wonder they do not want to spend time with me because I am bowing to my attitude and expecting everyone to worship my opinions. 

• 1 Kings 18:21 NASB1995 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Elijah, the great prophet challenged the people to stop standing in the middle of the road and to choose this day whom they would serve. He was telling them they were lukewarm and God would spew them out of his mouth. Revelations 3:15-16

We express our opinions through our comments. Too often we shame others and slander them with our opinions of our version of truth. Media has multiplied greatly through the years with talk shows, TED talks, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram etc. Not only has the influence of Media multiplied but other realms such as government, arts and other areas of our society. We are bombarded with opinions and need to know where to take them. If we are not careful these expressed opinions will grab hold of our minds and place them into a prison. 

I believe that every thought we have we must take captive and surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the only safe ground that keeps us from being stubborn and worshiping idols. God also encourages me to present all of myself to Him as a holy sacrifice and not to behave like the world but to spend time in God’s presence, reading His Word so that my thoughts align with His thoughts. When I do this I will know His Will and be obedient to Him. 

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 ICB And we destroy every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.
• Romans 12:1-2 ICB So brothers, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him. This is the spiritual way for you to worship. 2 Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. And you will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect.

The Word of God teaches us to be slow to speak, oh my goodness that tells me to be careful how I express my opinions. Are they what God thinks or just my own. God also says my speech should be seasoned with salt. This means when I share what God thinks it should leave a thirst in others for Him. Jesus told us that as Christians we should be salt to the world so that they hunger for Jesus and the lost would come to repentance and be saved. The Lord also told us to accept others weak in their faith and not pass judgment on their opinions. We need the discernment of the Holy Spirit to walk in this. 

• James 1:19 AMPC Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offence and to get angry.
• Colossians 4:6 NASB1995 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
• Romans 14:1 NASB1995 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
• Matthew 5:13 NASB  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

Holy Spirit, we are grateful that You have provided Your Word where we find answers on how to deal with opinions. We ask that You give us spiritual discernment for every opinion we have. I also pray that we will take captive every thought, opinion, feeling and lay it at Your feet and we will exchange ours for Your truth. Father, we are sorry for making idols of our thoughts, and we ask forgiveness. We trust You for continual revelation so our mind is being renewed to the Word of God. Thank you Holy Spirit, in Jesus’s name, amen. 

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Photo credit to Steve Johnson