Too Many Opinions

Have you felt as I have felt lately, that there are too many opinions about almost everything? As I study the Scriptures, I don’t see that our opinions are required or even encouraged. I can tell you that the Lord has told me more than once in my life that He has no interest in my observations. As Christians we should be informed and engaged, but what we think is not important; it is what His thoughts are as stated in His Word that matters. Yet we Christians, myself included, seem to invest a great deal of time sharing with other Christians our opinions. I am struck today by the thought that this is not time spent thinking on good things or encouraging others to. Usually, our words are not that edifying or uplifting.

And there is another danger. Today, more than ever before, Christians are disagreeing about several important issues. I see growing annoyance, frustration, and at times hostility related to whether we should wear masks, return to church attendance. or send children back to school, just to name a few examples. One Christian may think the other is not informed or has enough faith if her friend masks or quarantines. The other may think that anyone who does not mask and quarantine is not loving the least of these who are vulnerable to illness and death if these precautions are not taken. She may feel her friend should respect the authority over us and render to Caesar what has been asked. Both have good points.

I have been here before when I see a decision one way and a Christian friend I love sees it a different way. Often, these impasses come up in the course of serving the church. One person may feel a friend should help out and give her gifts to a project, yet the friend does not feel the Holy Spirit calling her to that service.

We have a beautiful example of just such a difference in the story of Paul and Barnabus (Acts 15.) Both of these men served together on their first mission trip as a highly effective team bringing souls to Christ and establishing churches everywhere.  As they were preparing for their second mission trip, they disagreed when Barnabus wanted to bring along John Mark. The young man had bailed out on them on the first trip and returned home; some say it was because his mother was ill. Barnabus wanted to give John Mark a second chance and continue the process of mentoring and developing this young missionary. Paul was strongly against it.

What was the result? They each pursued separate ministries with Barnabus working with his nephew and not Paul. Because of the split of two experienced missionaries, they probably reached many more people. That is often the case when the Lord allows such a divide to take place. He is sometimes doing it to grow a new ministry or expand an existing one. At other times, He is growing and building us, and that is often painful. Whatever the reason, when God is behind two Christians going in different directions on an issue, we should not discourage the person who sees things differently from us. She may be hearing from God just as we are. God can definitely tell one Christian to stay and another to go. We do not all hear exactly the same thing from God at the same time. When I am partnering with someone who wants to do something very different from what the Lord has told me, I have learned to pause, pray, and allow the time for God to unfold His plan for both of us. Even if the person turns out to have made a mistake. I am only responsible for sharing what I am hearing from the Lord in prayer and when reading the Scriptures. After going to my friend and sharing what God has told me to do, I am not responsible for bringing pressure to bear on my partner to see things as I do. Of course, this does not apply to sin, but to situations where we are seeking direction.

The last thing we are to do is to encourage and affirm our friend no matter what she decides to do.  In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul says, “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” I admire Paul so much for being able to change his mind about John Mark and tenderly appreciate and value his service despite his initial bad experience with him.

And In I Corinthians 9:5-6, Paul speaks of Barnabus in a way that shows they are close again in service and in likemindedness. We will never know the forgiveness and probably apologies that went on to bring them back to this point, but Paul’s regard for Barnabus is unmistakable.  

What about you? Is there a Christian you have had a disappointing experience with that you need to give a second chance? Are there friends that feel very differently from you on mask-wearing, quarantine, or social issues that you need to call up and tell how much you love them? God may be sending them directly into the midst of Covid19 but have you separated to do other ministry.  All we can do is to continue to seek what God wants for us in each situation and to love our brothers and sisters at all times.