Reading Time: 5:10
I love living in a society where everyone is an expert on everything. 1st Corinthians 8:1 states that “knowledge puffs up,” and we are living in a time when knowledge is more available than ever. However, so are lies, deception, and opinion. There are as many people out there today who are intentionally spreading disinformation as there are those who are honestly trying to disseminate reliable knowledge.
In the midst of this my position is to know when to not add my opinion to the mix. As a pastor you would not believe how many times I am asked to provide medical opinions, financial advice, and relationship savvy to those who for some reason think I have the inside scoop on most topics.
Yes, I try to stay on top of things (as you should also), but it is for my own consolation and benefit. I encourage others to do the same. However, most people only dig to find the opinion they agree with so they can be the authority in other people’s lives. Also they use a small base of knowledge to “troll” the ignorant and add more people to their mindset. None of these things are beneficial to anyone.
Yes, reliable information is hard to find and the enemy of our souls works hard to dirty the waters with mistrust of those who do know. As a result we sometime reject the information and guidance of leadership and forge our own opinion based on our own limited knowledge.
I’ve seen this even in my role as a pastor. I have dedicated my life to the study of God’s Word. Yet, someone will inevitably challenge my knowledge with some video they saw on YouTube. Again, people only seek out what they agree with. In my years of ministry I have found people have already made up their mind based on their own resources before they even ask anyone else. They are not looking for guidance, they only seek confirmation. Anyone who disagrees with them is rejected. America has propagated an entire cultural mindset out of this attitude.
Susan and I have taken courses in counseling. Although we are not certified, we wanted to gain enough information to know when to refer. There are a lot of people we cannot help. I am not there to express my opinion on medical issues. I am the last person you would want to consult about financial matters. I know very little about a lot of things. It’s hard, because rarely does anyone want to know anything about what I actually study—the Bible. They already think they know all they need to know about that subject.
People will ask my opinion on a topic and I’ll tell them I do not have enough knowledge to comment on it. In spite of this they will ask, “But truly you have an opinion.” True, but I’ve already stated it—“I don’t know.”
And that’s the crux of what I want to convey today—know when you don’t know. You will not seem stupid. Maybe they will accuse you of stupidity, but it is wisdom to hold your tongue. If you want to direct them further then tell them to go to the people who do know. Immediately you can tell whether they are “puffed up” in their own minds and just want to argue. There are people who prefer and argument over an answer.
This brings me to the present health crisis in our nation. Don’t look to me for answers. Don’t look to me to create some new way of doing ministry. If you could get what you need out of the body of Christ over the internet, we would have told you to quit coming to church years ago. I don’t know what to do but to trust God, as we have often told you at Calvary.
Let your leaders lead and submit yourself to their guidance (Hebrews 13 below). Their hearts are in the hands of the Lord. Know when you don’t know and recognize that sometimes trusting our leaders is also an expression of trusting our God.
“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority,
because they
keep watch over you as those who must give an account.
Do this so that their
work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no benefit to you.”
Hebrews 13:17 NIV
So I restrain myself in times like these and ask those who consult me to seek out those who truly know what they are talking about. The Bible will give you guidance as to how to recognize those who have true, beneficial knowledge you can use. Also, don’t be so untrusting of those who the Lord has put over you in civil government. If we will learn to submit to their leadership, then God will place over us leaders who will serve the people and not their own selves. The Bible tells us that God is the true ruler in the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:17).
But be aware, there are those who try to use anything that causes us to fear for their own ends. Do not let this be what you are about. Keep your family safe and do not expose others to the threat. Remember, that when this crisis is over there will be plenty of media to tell us what to fear next.
“Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.”
Ecclesiastes 9:18 NIV
Pastor Brian Jenkins
Calvary Assemblies of God