The older I get the more I understand how small and insignificant my opinion is. There are 7.046 billion people in the world. And each of those 7.046 billion people has their own set of opinions about life. These opinions are heavily influenced by a person’s background, culture, personality, mental aptitude, etc.
Nowhere are opinions made more obvious than on social media. You can’t use Facebook or Twitter without seeing a daily stream of opinions on everything; from politics and religion, to sports and art. We create online profiles that reflect how we think, which gives us a sense of individuality and social influence.
The problem with opinions however, is that they are rarely based on fact. They are often emotionally charged expressions of a viewpoint developed by a specific person. These viewpoints are often presented as fact in a dogmatic manner. Bystanders feel like their only choice is to agree with the person or keep their mouth shut out of fear of being shunned.
Don’t get me wrong, opinions are interesting; when taken for what they are. They can spark discussion and benefit society. They can lead to new ideas and ways of thinking that develop into positive change. Opinions can create a sense of unity among people who agree on a set of issues.
But with the advent of the internet, many have become enthralled with the idea of being able to broadcast their thoughts on everything, ALL THE TIME. We feel the need to have an opinion on every issue; as if not having one is a sign of intellectual weakness.
I would like to suggest that sometimes not having an opinion shows the most wisdom. A studied man may have knowledge, but a wise man discerns between what he knows and what he doesn’t know. This skill is highly underrated and undervalued.
I don’t claim to know everything. I can’t pretend to be an expert at things I have no business judging. I don’t know all the facts. I can’t travel the world and examine all the physical evidence available. I can’t answer every philosophical question posed.
Because of this limited knowledge and understanding we have as humans we must have a source of unchanging truth to hold onto. One that does not require superior intelligence or knowledge to understand.
This is where God’s Word comes in. It doesn’t require anything more than a heart willing to believe in faith. The message of the Gospel is such a simple concept that even children can understand.
“At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." -Matthew 11:25
No opinions, knowledge or philosophies can invalidate this message because it comes with power.
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” -1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Sometimes we need to stop having faith in what we know and trust in what He knows. No opinion I can form will ever get me, or anyone closer to God. So instead of spreading our complicated opinions, I believe it is far better to spread His simple gospel.
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