OPINIONS

Everybody has a pocketful of opinions. And some have a mouthful. Everybody thinks his are best, and the longer he talks about it, the louder he talks!
Religious opinions are called scruples. These are not things the Bible actually addresses. They sometimes matter more to us than to God. Example: circumcision as a Christian obligation. Another is, shall we eat meat or vegetables? Another, birthdays and holidays. What do we do with a brother who has a different set of scruples from us? Romans 14:1 and 15:7 have the Greek word proslambano (receive, accept), commanding strong believers to accept weak believers.
On the other hand, Christians are forbidden to “receive” those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ (2 John 10). The disciple must discern the difference between what is true doctrine and what is personal opinion. Jesus does not want His disciples to be divided into a hundred splinters (I Cor 1:10-12; Mt 16:18; Jn 17:20; Eph 4:3), but to have “love, which is the perfect bond of unity”(Col 3:14; Jn 13:34-35). Don’t allow Christian friendship and unity to be disturbed with “vain janglings” ( I Tim 1:6) and indifferent things (Rom 14:22). These cause strife and envy (Rom 2:8,13;12:18). Those who take strong positions and insist on their own opinion “oppose themselves” (2 Tim 2:24-25).
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