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Opinions
by willetta pilcher Opinions are the view somebody takes about an issue, especially when it is based solely on personal judgment. Opinions are not necessarily right or wrong regardless of how firmly they are held. Why then are other people offended by the opinion of another? Is it because the other person feels that they are being attacked? That is quite possible if the person expressing the opinion is hateful and/or vindictive. Otherwise, it is simply being thrown out as a statement of how the other person feels about a situation. Are they not entitled to their personal belief? Opinions expressed do not necessarily mean that the one speaking desires that the other person hold their belief. For instance... one may say, "I like strawberry ice cream. That is the only one that tastes good enough to eat." On the other hand, their friend may say, "I totally disagree. It's chocolate all the way." Both parties are expressing a personal preference. There is no need to part company over a difference of opinion. Is it because one is so insecure as a person that they cannot consider an opinion other than their own? We are who we are... a person in developing progress... from birth to the grave. None of us ever arrive to the point that we cannot be challenged. It is only as our thought patterns are challenged that we can grow. Each of us is entitled to hold an opinion, right or wrong. That should not make us enemies. If I deny you the right to hold an opinion... or you deny me the right to hold an opinion... then we have closed the doors of our mind to any thought other than our own. And yet, I find that happening on a daily basis. Is it because that opinion brings conviction? It could well be, if it is a statement of biblical Truth, or something of which the person is already convicted and simply wishes to ignore. If so, why not see the opinion or Truth stated as something to consider. If they are correct our life needs to be readjusted. I find that to be true all the time. God has given us language with which to share our thoughts and feelings. If our thinking is never challenged, we may skip down a tulip lined path but it may lead us in the wrong direction. It is a funny thing about conviction. Conviction is intended to raise a person to a higher level personally and spiritually. However, it is the person through whom the conviction comes that angers most people. In reality, it is The Holy Spirit who ultimately brings conviction especially to the believer. Joh 16:8 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" And if conviction ultimately comes via the Holy Spirit, why then does it produce such anger? The Holy Spirit is not going to ask us to change in a harmful way. The person speaking often hears accusations of judgmentalism. That is a defense mechanism. It is someone's way of saying, "I know I am wrong but I don't wish to change. I am fine just like I am." It seems that humanity simply cannot say, "I am wrong." However, unless we can admit we are wrong there can be no forgiveness of sin. Willetta has spent most of her life ministering to people. In her late seventies, and a wheelchair now her mode of travel, she now ministers to people through the internet. Her webs are... www.teachmethyways.org www.successwithkids.org www.theseedsower.org Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |