Opinions Don't Matter

The internet and 24/7 news seem to be more opinion than factual, well-researched, newsworthy portals. That is my conviction. To many Christians, TV was (and still is) the enemy of the mind and spirit. I would add the former two items. Christian blogs and forums abound here. With them comes the abundance of opinion about any topic of interest including the very Word of God. My conviction further holds that opinion does not matter in the case of the Word of God. If anyone has anything to say about the Word of God therefore let him do the following:

1. First, search the Scriptures to see whether the things heard and read and believed are really so. Acts 17:10-12 - "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." The power of the Word of God will always bear fruit.

2. Form your thoughts and convictions in heaven. Romans 11:36 - "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." The Word of God will always glorify the LORD.

3. Study. II Timothy 2:15-16 - "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." The Word of God will always boldness. Opinion is ungodly.

Any further time I spend on Christian forums, blogs, or other writings will be initiated in this way. This is not a criticism of those things or people, though some should be admonished for I see opinion far more often then is good. For instance:

1. The work has more of a person's word than the Word of God. Such knowledge is puffed up. Paul uses this term in I Corithians 4:6, "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." As in this verse, so I usually see it on the web. "I think God means such and such because so and so person says in his book...." What matters is what God says, not what others say about Him.

This is a subtle but important point that I shall dwell on for a moment. God says in II Peter 1:20, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." He goes on to warn us of false teachers. I see "Christian" writers labeled as false teachers all the time. While sometimes this is true, I want you to see that truly God's Word has but one and only one interpretation. Yet at the same time "... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Furthermore, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) When you are One with God and Jesus, you have the personal relationship whereby you hear God speak His Word to you intimately.

This is a mystery spoken of in Ephesians 1:9, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" and Romans 16:25-26, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" These are the words that we are called to boldly proclaim as truth according to I Thessalonians 2:13, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

This mystery must remain untouched, this glory that we behold in One (John 17:24).