I attended the University of Toronto during the 1960s, and every week an issue of the student newspaper called “The Varsity” was published. It is still in circulation, and it has always been an independent paper, published totally by University of Toronto students since 1880. During my student days, I remember noticing that there was almost always a quotation at the top of the front page, related to our opinions. One of them went like this: “Suffer yourselves to be blamed, imprisoned, condemned—yourselves to be hanged—but publish your opinions.” Another line was, “Publish your opinions; it is not only a right: It is a duty.”
Sixty years later we see inquiries on the Internet such as, “Are there any platforms where I can write my opinion?” Or someone asks, “How do I get my op-ed published?” Going back a few years, long before the Internet, an act of parliament in England in 1872 set aside “speakers’ corner” in Hyde Park to be available from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Wednesdays and Sundays, for anyone to speak publicly on any subject. In a broader way, we now have large numbers of social media influencers who, because of their supposed knowledge and expertise in various areas, are able to create large followings of people who listen to their views. They give advice on raising children, managing finances, losing weight, and almost anything else that might catch your interest. All are their own opinions, of course! At the moment, large public protests are being held in major cities around the world, where people who feel strongly about a particular point of view are making their voices heard. Most of these protests concern the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza. Prior to modern means of communication, it was more difficult to spread one’s thoughts widely, but all down through man’s history, people have wanted to make their opinions known.
Purposes of “Influencers”
For many so-called “influencers” today, we must admit that this is probably an “ego trip” for them, although they may give good advice. However, this advice may be mixed with a desire for personal gain, or it may espouse some particular idea that the influencer wishes to foist on society, in order (hopefully) to change public opinion. The questions that frequently arise are, Can I safely listen to this advice, or is it suspect? Is this individual reliable and telling me the truth? Or is the truth being distorted for ulterior motives? In the news media, we are all familiar with so-called “fake news” and with the distortion of the truth by those who slant their reporting of the news by emphasizing certain details while omitting others. As individuals living in a mixed-up world, we face these questions constantly, but as Christians we must also decide whom to listen to, and especially in moral and spiritual matters. The Internet is full of websites that promise Biblical teaching, but obviously all are not reliable.
The title of this article is “Opinion Versus Truth,” and I am reminded of a frequent saying of an older brother, now with the Lord. He said, “Whenever you say ‘I think’ on any moral or spiritual subject, you think wrong, unless your thinking is founded on the Word of God.” This is a good statement, for the Lord Jesus could say, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:1717Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)). God’s Word gives us absolute truth on moral and spiritual matters, and all opinions on these subjects must be subjected to the light of God’s Word. It should be our desire to become so familiar with God’s Word that whenever a moral question is faced, we immediately think, What does the Bible say about this?
A Way Around the Truth
Even if we know what Scripture says, it is easy to rationalize our way around it and say, “Yes, I know the Bible says that, but my circumstances are different, and therefore that Scripture does not apply to me.” We must remember that we are never wiser than Scripture. God’s Word is for all time, for every culture, and for every circumstance. It is a wonderful thing to have it in our hands, to know that it is truth, and always points us to Christ, who is the truth.
However, there are those who use the Word of God, and yet corrupt the truth. Scriptures may be quoted out of context, or out of balance with other Scriptures. Paul calls this “systematized error” (Eph. 4:1414That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14) JND). This brings out the fact that the Spirit of God is the interpreter of Scripture and that there is what Paul calls “the unity of the Spirit,” into which the Spirit of God seeks to lead every Christian, according to the Word of God. Our natural minds can get working in spiritual things, and then our wills can be involved, so that we distort the meaning of God’s Word. It is only by the Spirit of God that we can interpret Scripture in a correct and balanced way.
The Right Place for Opinions
All this then perhaps begs the question: “Are opinions in moral and spiritual matters always out of place?” No, for the Bible itself records those whose opinions were valuable and well worth listening to. We will cite two examples.
When David was king, he had a counsellor named Ahithophel. It is recorded that “the counsel of Ahithophel ... was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God” (2 Sam. 16:2323And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. (2 Samuel 16:23)). Note that it does not say that he had enquired of God; it merely says that it was “as if” he had done so. He had an unusual gift of looking at situations and giving good counsel. It was not always on a moral and spiritual matter, and it was not a substitute for seeking counsel from the Lord, but it was well worth David’s attention.
In the New Testament, God saw fit to include in His Word the opinion of the Apostle Paul, when the Corinthians asked him questions about marriage. Paul talks about “my judgment” (1 Cor. 7:25,4025Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. (1 Corinthians 7:25)
40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 7:40)), and the word “judgment” has the thought of an opinion. As a godly man and an apostle, his opinion on a matter was very valuable. Some of what he told the Corinthians was from the Lord, while some was his opinion or judgment about a matter.
Thus the opinion of someone who walks with the Lord, and who perhaps has experience, can be most helpful when we face a difficult question. But the Lord must always be the final reference point. Whenever we get advice, it is good to take it to the Lord and ask Him if it is good advice. Only let us be careful not to reject good advice simply because it does not agree with our own thoughts.
The Truth Come From God
In summary, then, we must remember that the truth about everything must ultimately come from God. This is especially true in any moral and spiritual question. However, counsel from others who are equipped to give it can be very valuable, and we should not despise it. Sometimes our own thoughts can override God’s thoughts, and another who looks at the situation can see more clearly. But let us never seek counsel from someone simply because we think that he or she will agree with our point of view. Rather, let us look for someone who walks with the Lord and who knows the Word of God.
W. J. Prost