It’s Not My Opinion

It’s Not My Opinion

I spend a lot of time in sermons, Bible studies, and yes, my blogs addressing opinions within the church world. There are those who criticize that because they believe that everyone has a right to their opinion.

We are talking about the word of God, redemption, eternal life, light of the world stuff.

There are lives hanging in the balance while people in the religious circles are defending their opinion. Attacking those of us who defend the truth of the Gospel. Not by opinion, but by the word of God. Not twisting it to confirm some religious issue. Simply telling the truth.

The truth is that God does not measure the value of someone based on your opinion. He found value in prostitutes, thieves, rebellious folks. He found value in the Jews that He came for, who rejected Him, and the Gentiles that He commissioned Apostolic ministry for.

He found value in children, working people, and slaves. People who had little knowledge of the scriptures that told of Him. People who knew every passage that announced His coming.

He found value in the sick, the diseased, and the oppressed.

The hungry and the poor.

I share all of this to remind us that Jesus loved everyone. He taught us to do the same.

I read something to day from an article on Facebook and I lost it in the feed. I would love to credit the individual because it moved me, and confirmed something that I have preached, and wrote about for years. It is very simple.

This is what was said. “When the church stops talking about Jesus, it has nothing to say.”

Many times our sermons and studies are sprinkled with our opinions. That is a normal thing, to some degree. Everyone shares from personal experience and understanding.

I read a lot. I read doctrine, theological principles. commentaries, and lexicons. All of these are valuable, and they should be used to confirm facts.

I am fully aware that there are things in the Bible that no one really understands. I have heard a number of opinions on end time, after death, and various other references in the Bible. We accept them as the Word of God, and await revelation and understanding as the need presents itself. It will come.

My overwhelming concern is the the telling of the story of Jesus. Our mission to the world is not to build denominational foundations. Walls of doctrinal and theological principles. I love to study and I love all this stuff.

Our mission is to win the lost, and then teach them to win the lost.

It will not be raving against sin that will do this. It will be telling the story of Jesus.

His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

It will not be your opinion that wins them. It will be the love of Christ that overwhelms them.

We must view everyone as if they have value in the eyes of God. Knowing that they do have value, they were made in His image. Everyone has a Divinely appointed destiny.

They are simply waiting for someone to tell them the story of Jesus.

Remember what brought this on today.

“When the church stops talking about Jesus, it has nothing to say.”

Have a great week and be blessed. #inHisname