Everyone has one and is entitled to it! The last devotional on myths and lies could have quickly addressed this statement. Of course, I am talking about opinions. By the way, most of us don’t just have one but many. Given enough time on any matter or subject, if we don’t have an opinion, we can develop one at warp speed. As a follower of Christ, according to the scriptures, we are to embrace the mind of Christ and to bridle our tongues (I Cor 2:14-16, Phil 2:5) and (Eph 4:29, James 1:26). This greatly contradicts the cultural truth that encourages me to pursue and defend my “rights” to a view. Should I feel strongly enough about my opinion, I am to voice it as loud and persistent as I feel it is necessary to defend that right. Also, the undertone of that thinking is to convince others that my opinion is correct and they should agree, support, and join my chorus.What does it mean for me, as I have described myself as a velcro Christian, to adopt the mind of Christ? It means I must put away the opinions of others respectfully, surrender my own views to the mindset of the spirit and embrace Jesus’ opinion on matters. Rather than testifying of my own perspective and enlisting others to support it, Christ has called me to discard my own way of thinking and pursue His.
The cultural view, the opinion of the faithless world, will tell us this is brainwashing, that we are losing our sense of ourselves and our identity. Somehow, we are forfeiting the critical matter on the altar of urgent ritual. By allowing the spirit of God to transform our thinking, that makes us spiritual robots. When in fact, nothing could be further from the truth than this. God wants me to interdependently use every neuron, every brain cell, all my talent and knowledge to develop as a unique healthy individual while partnering with Him. He wants me to use it in a constructive way, best for the purpose He has designed me for and called me to. I become the best version of me with Him. Without HIm, I am just a shadow of all I could be and miss out on the blessing of reaching my potential. This includes my opinions and what they could accomplish for my good and His glory.
While it takes commitment and concentration to adopt the mind of Jesus, I have found discarding my own opinion is often far easier than tossing the opinions of others. Some, by nature, are people pleasers. Certainly, by the time we reach adolescence, the need for peer approval is often looming large on life’s horizon. From there, the influence of what others think about our choices, relationships, physical appearance, the pursuit of success, and lack thereof can serve as a god-like authority in our lives that cannot be silenced and rarely satisfied. Some enter into marriage or careers looking for the affirmation that is thought unconsciously to bring the affirmation that is so desperately wanted. Opinions of others have influenced the choice of mate choice of vocation. Choice of philosophy and a moral code. This isn’t just true in the culture outside of folks who are following Christ. Inside the circle of faith, many have exhausted themselves in ministerial pursuits to secure validation, affirmation, and even fame. Likewise, many often fall away from a conviction or a personal calling of Christ in their lives by being discouraged by what I refer to as the peanut gallery.
In the early days of vaudeville, when the cultural popularity of being entertained was beginning to assert itself, many folks could not afford the luxury. For theaters and shows to glean as much profit as possible, back row seats were sold at dirt cheap prices to fill the venues. Peanuts were sold as a concession to this faction of the working class. Depending on the quality of the entertainment, the crowd voiced its opinion of the performance from the back row, often heckling singers, dancers, and comedians. If this didn’t silence the performers, the crowd took to throwing peanut shells or peanuts themselves and literally drove folks off the stage. While I haven’t seen any peanut shells on the floors of sanctuaries or houses of worship, I certainly have heard more than one opinion about what transpired during the fellowship of the disciples. Too sad and regretful, sometimes my own opinion.
As a body of believers, we have developed a consumer-type mentality (like we bought and paid for a seat) that we feel entitles us to preference and opinion. The music, the preaching or teaching, the topic, the temperature, nothing escapes the target of what we or others think and sadly often voice. I have been in both places. I have been in the cheap seats and had a critical, if not heckling, spirit. I have also been teaching, speaking, leading, serving as a praise singer and instrumentalist and have been privileged to entertain the opinion of others, both good and critical. The critics can discourage and wound, and their words can cling to my velcro layer like ticks on a dog. In the same vein, too much flattery and praise can start to fill me with pride and swell my head where I can lose sight of the main objective of lifting up the name of Christ and furthering His kingdom.
It would seem in these last several months, the peanut gallery has been at an all-time level of activity and even frenzy. Everything from politics to vaccinated or unvaccinated, racial issues, gender, violence has invited us into the debate. Just wait in line anywhere, and you are liable to get an unsolicited opinion on many issues. However, I still believe the most favorable opinion, the most trouble arresting mindest, the most effective method of problem-solving and maintaining peace is that of Jesus, Himself. I believe if I hold tight to His way of thinking, His way of loving, His view of others, His view of me, it is enough to equip me to navigate this road called life and anything I might encounter along the way. I trust that when I do as Isaiah declares in the 26:3, God will keep me in perfect peace when my mind is fixed on Him.
Lord, thank you that your opinion is the only one that matters. Help me to use every ounce of resource you have blessed me with to serve you and only you. Help me not to let my head be turned by flattery by the world and at the same time not let the criticism of others rob me of the conviction and the peace you have placed within me. Help me to put down my peanut shells and be the one that helps others sweep up.
I hope you have enjoyed this short series on the Velcro Christian. Next time, come back to the vineyard where the 5 o’clock worker begins to examine The Shema.
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