Christian Ramblings

So why is it when a question about God is asked, answers seem to pop out from everywhere? More often than not when there is an abundance of answers, it is a safe bet that most of those answers are opinions. The problem with opinion is that it is based on an inward sense of right and wrong. Since our internal desires have been corrupted by pride, the opinions we give as answers are equally marred by pride. The consequences of offering opinions masquerading as answers is that the one hearing and acting upon them is led into darkness. The one who speaks their opinion and represents it as being what God thinks is equally in danger of being judged. So the stakes of offering advice based on opinion can be horrific!

It is written, “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6) Giving bad advice is a very serious matter before God. Consider how it makes God feel when someone is led into darkness because someone wanted their ego stroked! There are only two choices for mankind which are eternal life or eternal death and the words we choose to speak will lead others to one of these conclusions. If the words we share are empty opinions, we are starting a fire. James also wrote, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1) We must be careful with the words we speak.

So why do we feel the need to offer an opinion in place of an answer? There are two basic motives which include: not wanting to look stupid and/or wanting to display knowledge. Not wanting to look stupid is motivated by fear of being found out that you don’t know what you are talking about. Wanting to display knowledge is motivated by the desire to have affirmation from men that you know something about God. When we are motivated by such desires, we are speaking out of pride and therefore what we say has an implicit lie within. Such pride is a recipe for disaster.

It is written that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Walking into the role of a teacher or advisor should be taken very seriously and if you do not possess the fear of the Lord in what you are doing, then you become a loose cannon and you can more damage than good. The core problem is not the opportunity to minister, but that the preparations to get to that point were not taken. It is written, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) When God has not told you what to say and you jump and speak your own desires, you are putting words into God’s mouth which is presumptuous.

The solution to this problem is to learn and use the words, “I don’t know.” We know God has all wisdom and power and is therefore able to put words in our mouths when they are needed. So do we trust God enough to say “I don’t know” when God has not put words in our mouth? It is hard to retrieve words once they have been spoken so it is our responsibility to have self control over what we say. Saying, “I don’t know” is telling the truth when we really don’t know and that honors God; Saying something when we really don’t know is a form of lying and dishonors God. Test yourself by asking if you can back up what you are thinking in the scriptures before you speak. The person you are ministering to may ask you to back up what you are saying and you will be put into an awkward situation when it is shown you did not know. If the other person is not very knowledgeable and you say something you can’t back up, then they will be misled. Sometimes even silence is better than saying, “I don’t know.” Ministering to people requires following the leading of the Spirit instead anticipating what God wants done.