Stanky

So what's stinkier than the Saints preseason game last weekend?  (They just didn't want to give away their secrets since they'll be seeing the Texans again in week 3, so I tell myself.)  Or my child's panties this weekend thanks to our potty training reversion? Well, I'll tell you...opinions.  I've come to learn that opinions -mine included- are like booties.  Everybody's got them and they all stink!!

Our culture seems to have a widespread epidemic of opinion entitlement.  Once we form an opinion, not only are you not gonna change our minds since we have closed ourselves off on the matter, but it becomes valued as our own truth if we have a misunderstood view of ourselves and our cognitive limitations. And how can truth remain truth if it changes from person to person?  Said another way, we confuse the definition of truth and opinion.

As defined, truth means: 1. the true or actual state of a matter: 2. conformity with fact or reality; verity
3. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like 4. the state or character of being true
5. actuality or actual existence.

And opinion:  1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

I've really had to deal with this lately.  A situation happened of which, due to my relational involvement, has effects on me.  And I don't like the decision a person made.  Not one solitary bit.  In fact, I'm quite disturbed and angry about it.  My feelings are hurt.  In other words, don't cross me in a dark alley, buddy! And believe me, I have my opinions.  Does that mean that I'm right?  In my own eyes, yes.  But in reality??  Do I know EVERY fact from EVERY angle?  Am I perfect in all my decisions?  Am I all knowing?  Since the answer to these questions is no, then maybe my judgments could be a little skewed...flawed...or down right wrong.

And all our judgments can be skewed for several reasons.  First, we don't know, nor could we comprehend, everything.  Second, we don't know all the facts. In our media driven society we are constantly bombarded with information and facts and mixed into the mix is opinion or personal views.  It becomes difficult at times to sort through and process it all. And this inundation of information makes us sometimes feel entitled to know even if it's not our place to.

Third, the Bible says that the heart in it's natural state is wicked.  Since we all have sinned, we have the propensity to sin.  And if any sin is involved, our vision can be clouded. So unless we are totally free from sin, we cannot see Truth in its clear totality.  Yes, we can hold it to the light of God's Word for Him to illuminate the truth, but on our own we can distort it.

So does that mean opinions are bad?  No.  It just means that we need to keep our opinions in perspective.  Yes, they can be based on truth, but they are not truth in and of themselves. And I have to be reminded, that maybe, just maybe, I might be skewed in my thinking.  I'm not perfect so neither can my opinions be.

So do I like the decision this person made?  No.  Do I have my opinions on how I thought the matter should be handled?  Yes.  Would I love to see a different outcome? Yep. Would I just love to give this said person a piece of my mind?  You betcha (though I don't think I'd ever have the nerve, nor is it my place to do so).  But I'm going to hold fast to the fact that just because I may be dogmatic in my belief, I may not be totally right.  It takes humility and self reflection on my part to keep this perspective. And sometimes that can be so hard to do.

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John 14:6
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the TRUTH and the life." 

Proverbs 21:4

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Luke 6:41
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"