Sharing Your Opinion

Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

During the months of September through November we find that the dinner hour is interrupted by somebody who calls us to ask our opinion on the coming election.

Those questions are diverse asking our opinions our political preferences, and who would we vote for if the election was today. We have tried very hard not to be rude.

Opinions. We all have them.

Name a recent president, and most people will be vocal as they share their opinion about him. We have opinions on the garbage collector, the children's teachers, the preacher in the pulpit, the auto mechanic, the next-door neighbor, and the check-out person at the grocery store. We have our opinions, and we're usually not afraid to say what we think; unless, of course, we believe the individual we're talking about might hear us or a spy might tell on us.

After all, we don't want anybody to talk badly about us.

Almost 500 years ago, Martin Luther said, "It is a common evil plague that everyone prefers hearing evil to hearing good of his neighbor; and ... we cannot suffer that any one should say anything bad about us ... everyone would much rather that all the world should speak of him in terms of gold, yet we cannot bear that ... spoken about others." Luther knew. We like to talk about others, don't we?

Have you ever noticed how often people have an opinion of, and are willing to talk about, others? Have you also noticed that many of those people don't have an opinion about Jesus? Almost as bad, if they do have an opinion, they aren't going to talk to others about Him.

Isn't that amazing? How could anybody not be vocal in expressing their opinion on Jesus?

Jesus stands alone. Jesus is absolutely unique. Shakespeare may be brilliant in his writings, but there are others like Homer who would not be embarrassed to stand by his side. Alexander the Great was a genius in battle, but Caesar, Napoleon, Rommel and Patton could command, too.

But Jesus Christ is special. He's one of a kind. More than anyone else, Jesus is the world's exceptional, extraordinary Person. He has changed the way the world thinks, the way humanity lives, and He alone is the way to forgiveness and eternal life.

If you must talk of someone, let that someone be the Savior. Let others know how you feel about the Lord who gave His life for yours.

Dear Lord, guard our tongue from saying wrong about others.  Help us instead proclaim the wonders of You and all that You have done for each of us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.