08/26/14 OPINION... "a personal view, attitude or appraisal."

08/26/14 OPINION... "a personal view, attitude or appraisal."

Opinion is the free will of the mind at work.

An opinion may or may not be based on fact.

An opinion may or may not be important.

An opinion may be the launching pad of our actions.

Opinions can be changed.

But opinion can destroy relationships, lives and eternal destinies.

So, we must not take the power of opinion lightly.

Opinion, when based on fact, can be empowering; when based on error it can be destructive.

Our opinions are not as important as the subject in question.

Our opinions are not as important as the facts concerning the subject in question.

Sometimes the subject in question is not important.

But opinions can become more important to us than the facts, the subject and the people, with whom we are communicating.

Some people act (whether they think it or not) as if their opinion on every subject (whether it is important or not) is the touchstone of truth.

They treat trite issues with DIVINE AUTHORITY.

They are willing to offend and ostracize people because they are so committed to their OPINIONS.

When they do this, they lose influence on the issues that are important and in the lives of people they could help.

Regardless of the subject, opinions should be built on facts.

With some subjects it may not be important. Concerning the revelation of God, it does matter. Even when a person is right, he needs to "speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)," because, as the old adages say, "Your actions are so loud I cannot hear what your words are saying," and "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." Being opinionated about triviality does not show that we care.

Here is a well known saying that can be applied to opinions.
"In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity."