Jump Start # 873

2 Peter 2:10-12 “Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed.”

Peter warns brethren about the rise of false teachers. This entire chapter reveals their dark intent and destructive ways. Their false words, crooked promises and deceptive ways will lead many off course and into error. The faith of many will be shattered. Others will put their hope in promises that are not true nor from God. These false teachers prey upon the ignorant. Those with knowledge will be able to stand firm.

Since Peter’s words were written, wave after wave of new ideas, fresh perspectives, “out of the box” thinking and new approaches have been presented. Some came from innocent people who did not know what they were teaching. Others, came from those who knew, but were twisted in their heart and soul and intended to be radical. Different things were presented about Jesus, His nature and His deity. Many different things have been presented about the end of time, the destruction of the world, and what the new heaven and new earth meant. Wild theories about resurrections, physical battles upon the earth, the prediction of modern events were all wrapped in Scripture and given the idea that they were God approved.
One of the greatest threats to our faith is error. Believing a lie will hurt us. The greatest threat to error is the truth. Study. Know. Overcome error with the word of God.

Our passage reveals the spirit and attitude of the false teacher. His demeanor is different than Jesus. He is not humble, kind and helpful. Instead, Peter uses the words, “Daring, self-willed,” and unafraid. It gives us the picture of someone who is arrogant. Someone who is opinionated. Someone who is stubborn. They will not listen. They are not exchanging thoughts. They are telling you. This is how it is. They are not open to discussion or even to listen to opposing thoughts.

All of this leads me to discuss three words: conviction…opinions…opinionated. Those are not the same. We can easily confuse them. Some of these words overlap. Some are not negative when used with God and truth. When used of self or error they are negative.
Opinion is what we think and how we feel about things. We all have opinions but not about everything. Get a car load of people and ask them where they want to eat and nine times out of ten you will get the response, “I don’t care.” They have no opinion. We have opinions about what TV shows we like, what outfits look good, what team to cheer for. Our opinions can change. Our likes change through the years. We have opinions about how we feel worship ought to be conducted. We have opinions about how a sermon ought to go. Most of our opinions are based upon our past experiences and our personal likes. For instance, being a preacher, I get suggestions, which are often opinions about what makes a good sermon. Some like long, detailed sermons. Others like short sermons. Some like a lot of stories. Some want just Bible and no stories. Who is right? In this, they are all. They have their opinion or what they like.

Conviction is stronger than an opinion. Conviction is faith in something. Conviction is firm belief and often unchanging. You see an old veteran at a ball game, and when the national anthem is played, he stands with his hand over his heart and just stares at the flag. The look in his face is different than others. He has a conviction. Spiritually, our conviction is based upon the word of God. It runs deep within us and is something that is not for sale. Our convictions define us and describe us. Evidence supports our convictions. These are more than wishes, wants or feelings about things. This is simply the way it is. God said, end of discussion.

Opinionated are feelings that are wrapped as conviction. Some have strong opinions about how they feel about things, but are wobbly about what they believe. They will not bend or consider other thoughts about how they think things ought to be. Peter’s words come to mind, “daring…self-willed.” The will of self. Not the will of God.

Learning the difference between these three is essential. Some get all steamed up about things that are only opinions. It doesn’t matter. They get worked up, hot and bothered and threaten to leave—often the work place, the marriage, or a congregation– because things do not go the way they think it should. Off to another job… another church…another relationship, until they find and encounter the same thing again. Opinions vary. There are different ways of doing some things. Not everyone sees what you see. Some don’t get that. Convictions are different. They are not, at least they should not, be based upon how we feel, but rather upon principles. Right, honesty, integrity, God’s word are common themes of convictions. I have many convictions. I will not bend on those. Paul in the book of Acts would not give the false teachers an hour of his time. He was not dealing with opinions, but convictions. God declared. God said. There is no opinion about that.

I have found that the opinionated are often loud in volume and quiet in proof. They feel that the louder they get the more evidence they present. I just want to put my hands on my ears. No one is killed by thunder. It’s the lightning that kills. Volume doesn’t mean proof. I have also found that the opinionated are often stubborn. They won’t listen. Their minds are closed. They scream and holler but have no basis for their opinions other than this is how I feel about it. The opinionated generally stirs the pot and causes trouble. They do that in the family, in church and at work. They are a pain to work with because it has to be their way or a war breaks out. They won’t consider anything but what they want. Selfish, stuck and stubborn. Those are not the traits of Jesus. That’s not the spirit of the New Testament.

Now, all of this comes to you and I. Convictions…opinions…opinionated. I tend to think we have a mixture of all of those in us. Some have more of one than the other. The more our needle points to the conviction side of things, the more God-like we are. The more the needle points to the opinionated side of things the more of a pill we are to others. The man with convictions has a voice. He is unmoving, which may appear stubborn. The difference is that he holds what he believes to be true based upon facts, principle and evidence. The opinionated one stands upon how he feels things ought to be.

Some of the troubles in families and work come from opinionated people not convictions. When we look in the mirror it helps us to see what we are standing upon—evidence, God’s word, or just how we feel things ought to be. There is a time to stand up and speak out for what is right—that is principle. Not getting my way is opinion.

Daring…self-willed…not the character qualities that builds a future with God. We must watch for those things, especially in our self.

Roger