Who's Opinions Really Matter?

There is a verse in today's reading from 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 that has grabbed a hold of me and won't let go. Verse 20a says, "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?"

Indeed, where are the debaters of this age?

In today's society we hear a lot of people - politicians, pundits, and prognosticators - tell us how we should be thinking. They all have an opinion, which they say is the only opinion that counts, and they proceed to sway us to accepting their opinions as absolute truth. When we disagree on any point of their opinion we are called dissenters who stand in the way of progress. Those of us with differing opinions are then pushed aside and ignored if we ultimately don't agree with their views.

This is the church Paul was writing to; one of deep divisions over opinions. A few verses later Paul describes just this thing. He mentions that in the church at Corinth there are two groups of people who have extremely differing opinions. Paul makes it seem, and it most likely was, that two extreme "factions" have divided the church in Corinth.

Unfortunately we still see this kind of division in our churches today. For example, we see differences over opinions on same sex relationships. This argument is being argued in almost every Christian church with deep divisions on both sides. We are asked to pick a side, either we are with them or we are not.

And there is what Paul is talking about; there is no "either, or" mentality in Paul's vision for the church. There is only an acceptance of the other's opinions, and that it should be given as much respect as one can give. Paul understood that we all have opinions. What Paul is asking for is that we don't force others to be of the same opinion as us.

It's okay to disagree; it really is. It's even better to be in civil discussion (aka debate) over our difference of opinions. It's in the listening of each other we truly grow closer in relationship to one another and to our God. We will also find that in the listening we will grow closer in relationship to our selves.

Having a difference in opinions is not a bad thing. It's when we don't allow debate to grow our understanding (wisdom) that we begin to fall short of unconditional acceptance in today's culture. Open your ears, open your minds, open your hearts, and let the words of others be heard.