When My Opinion Meets Scripture

We live in an age of opinions.

Everyone has one. Social media has given everyone a platform to express one. Politics has taught us to defend one. Algorithms have become very good at surrounding us with people who share one.

But having a strong opinion does not make that opinion biblical.

And having a Bible verse attached to an opinion does not necessarily make it biblical either.

Before we ever build a doctrine, conviction, or dogmatic position around something we believe the Bible teaches, we need to make sure we have actually followed the teaching of Scripture—not simply found a verse that supports our position.

START AT THE BEGINNING—BUT DON'T STOP THERE

There is a principle of Bible study commonly called the law of first mention. The basic idea is that when an important subject first appears in Scripture, that first occurrence can provide valuable context for understanding how that subject develops throughout the Bible.

But there is an important caution:

First mention should begin our investigation, not necessarily end it.

1. We don't build an entire doctrine from one verse:

2. We follow the thought.

3. We examine the context.

4. We compare Scripture with Scripture.

5. We watch how the subject develops through God's Word.

6. We consider everything Scripture says about it.

Paul told the Ephesian elders:

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”
—Acts 20:27, KJV

Notice that phrase:

“all the counsel of God.”

That matters.

If I take one passage while ignoring five others that provide balance, clarification, or additional truth, I haven't developed a biblical doctrine. I have developed an argument supported by a Bible verse. There is a difference. This is one of the ways extreme positions develop.

Someone finds a verse. The verse supports something they already believe. That verse becomes the foundation of an entire position.

Soon every other passage is interpreted through that one idea rather than allowing the whole of Scripture to speak.

That is dangerous Bible study.

A biblical position should be able to survive the whole counsel of God, not merely our favorite proof text.

So when studying an issue, we should ask:

• Where does Scripture first introduce this idea?

• How does Scripture develop it?

• What other passages speak about it?

• Are there passages that challenge my interpretation?

• What conclusion best accounts for everything Scripture says?

Only then should we become dogmatic.

Because our goal isn't to prove our position. Our goal is to discover God's.

OPINION IS NOT CONVICTION

There is nothing inherently wrong with having an opinion. I have plenty of them. You probably do too. We have opinions about politics, clothing, music, education, parenting, church, culture, entertainment, money, and a thousand other things. But we need to understand the difference between:

“I believe this.”

and

“God said this.”

Those are not automatically the same statement.

Romans 14 gives us an excellent example of believers holding different convictions concerning disputable matters. Paul did not demand that every Christian develop identical personal preferences. Instead, he warned believers against judging one another over matters where God had allowed liberty.

That should make us cautious about turning every personal conviction into universal doctrine.

Sometimes Scripture clearly says:

“Thus saith the Lord.” Sometimes Scripture gives us principles requiring wisdom and discernment. And sometimes Scripture gives believers liberty. Spiritual maturity means learning the difference.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BIBLE DISAGREES WITH ME?

Here is where things become uncomfortable. What happens when I encounter Scripture that challenges something I strongly believe? Do I change? Or do I begin searching for a way to make Scripture agree with me?

Paul wrote:

“Let God be true, but every man a liar.”
—Romans 3:4, KJV

That includes me:

• It includes my political philosophy.

• It includes my traditions.

• It includes my generation.

• It includes my favorite preacher.

• It includes my denomination.

• It includes the culture I grew up in.

• It includes whatever ideological group I identify with.

God does not have to move toward my position. I have to move toward His.

That is where genuine submission to Scripture becomes difficult. It is easy to believe the Bible when the Bible agrees with us. The real test comes when it doesn't.

THE DANGER OF THE EXTREMES

One thing I have learned through the years is that extremes are often where we begin replacing biblical truth with our own conclusions. That can happen on the left. It can happen on the right. It can happen with liberals, conservatives, traditionalists, progressives, fundamentalists, and everyone in between.

Because the real problem isn't simply which “side” we are on. The problem begins when our side becomes more authoritative to us than Scripture.

Extremism has an interesting characteristic. The further we travel toward an extreme, the easier it becomes to interpret everything through that particular lens.

Eventually, instead of asking,

“What does Scripture say?”

we begin asking,

“How can I use Scripture to prove what I already believe?”

Those are very different approaches to the Bible.

Jesus repeatedly confronted people who knew Scripture but let traditions and assumptions distort how they applied it.

He told the Pharisees:

“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”
—Matthew 15:6, KJV

Think about that. These were religious people. They believed they were defending God. Yet Jesus told them that their tradition had actually interfered with obedience to God's Word.

That warning shouldn't only make us think about somebody else. It should make us examine ourselves.

BOTH SIDES CAN MISS THE BIBLE

One extreme may attempt to redefine biblical morality because Scripture conflicts with modern culture.

Another extreme may add rules, traditions, and cultural preferences that Scripture itself never commanded.

Both approaches have the same fundamental problem:

Something other than Scripture has become the final authority.

One says:

“The Bible must change because culture has changed.”

The other says:

“My traditions must be biblical because this is how we have always done it.”

But Scripture challenges both. God's Word does not belong to a political movement, generation, denomination, culture, or ideological tribe. It stands above all of them.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…”

A two-edged sword cuts both directions.

If we only use Scripture to cut the people on the other side, but never allow it to cut into our own assumptions, something has gone terribly wrong.

THE BIBLE SHOULD CORRECT ME

Paul explained one of the purposes of Scripture:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
—2 Timothy 3:16, KJV

Notice the word correction. Correction means there will be times when I am wrong.

If my study of Scripture never changes my mind, challenges my assumptions, corrects my behavior, or makes me reconsider something I have always believed, I should probably ask whether I am actually allowing Scripture to teach me—or simply using Scripture to reinforce myself.

The Bible wasn't given merely to prove that I am right. It was given, in part, to show me where I am wrong.

DON'T CONFUSE YOUR INTERPRETATION WITH SCRIPTURE

Another danger we need to recognize. Saying “The Bible says…” carries tremendous weight. We should therefore make certain the Bible actually says what we claim it says.

There is a difference between:

Scripture

and

my interpretation of Scripture.

Scripture is infallible. I am not.

Good people can misunderstand passages. Preachers can misunderstand passages. Churches can develop traditions around misunderstandings. Entire movements can become convinced that their interpretation is the only possible interpretation.

That is why we must study Scripture carefully, consider its context, compare Scripture with Scripture, follow a teaching throughout the Word of God, and remain humble enough to admit:

“I may have been wrong about this.” That isn't weakness. That is submission.

BEFORE YOU SAY, “THE BIBLE SAYS…” Maybe we should develop a habit before becoming dogmatic about an issue.

Ask:

1. Where does Scripture first introduce this subject?

Understand its beginning and context.

2. How does that thought develop throughout Scripture?

Don't stop with the verse that supports your position.

3. What does the whole counsel of God say?

Look for passages that clarify, qualify, or challenge your conclusion.

4. Am I dealing with doctrine, biblical principle, personal conviction, or personal preference?

Those are not the same thing.

5. Am I willing to change my position if Scripture proves me wrong?

That may be the most important question of all. Because if I approach the Bible determined that my conclusion cannot change, I am not really studying Scripture. I am looking for ammunition.

JUST A THOUGHT

Maybe one of the greatest dangers facing Christians today isn't simply that people don't believe the Bible. Maybe it is that we have become extremely good at making the Bible sound like us.

• Our politics.

• Our traditions.

• Our preferences.

• Our anger.

• Our culture.

• Our opinions.

We find a verse, build an argument, gather people who agree with us, and eventually become convinced that defending our position is the same thing as defending God's Word.

But biblical discipleship works in the opposite direction.

1. Start with Scripture.

2. Follow the thought.

3. Study the context.

4. Compare Scripture with Scripture.

5. Listen to the whole counsel of God.

6. Then allow the Word to form your position.

I am not supposed to reshape Scripture until it looks like me.

Scripture is supposed to reshape me until I look more like Christ.

So when God's Word confronts something I believe, my first response shouldn't be:

“How can I prove that I am right?”

Maybe it should be:

“Lord, if I am wrong, change me.”

Because opinions are just opinions. Traditions are traditions. Cultures change. Political movements come and go. My interpretation can be wrong.

But:

“The word of the Lord endureth for ever.”
—1 Peter 1:25, KJV

And when my opinion and God's Word truly stand in conflict, there should never be any question about which one gets the final word.

Just a thought.