Have You Been Saved...From Arrogance?

There’s nothing like being around an opinionated person. And I’ll have to admit, I was one of those people. And there are times that I catch myself still. Being opinionated is to be stubbornly stuck on an opinion that is not necessarily based on a proven ideal. It’s being dogmatic about things that are matters of judgement. And that’s why opinionated people are also often judgmental of those who do not hold their opinions.As I said, I used to be that way. Are you?Few of us will admit to it. After all, being opinionated is to be arrogant. Who wants to admit to that?But I see it all the time in Christian circles. I’m all for being settled in our essential doctrines, but for some reason, Christians tend to be suckers for all things dogmatic. I see it when it comes to Christians and schooling, Christians and nutrition, Christians and worship style, Christians and peripheral doctrines (like eschatology). Some of you will probably be judgmental of the things I teach from Revelation and be arrogant enough to insist that your interpretation of things that theologians haven’t settled in the 2,000 years they’ve been studying it, is something that you are sure of. That’s arrogance.A friend was castigating me for trusting my medical doctor and began to give me his view on an organic/natural approach to health care. I’m good with his opinion, but I wasn’t good with the way he wanted to “Christianize” his view, or his dogmatism. I responded, “You have to remember that there are thousands of godly men and women of science who love the Lord and his Word, but would strongly disagree with you, based on scientific evidence. Your assertion that they are just pawns of a corrupt AMA system is highly offensive, and why would you think that you are more knowledgeable than they to make that judgement? It certainly isn’t because you are more open-minded!"Yes, we’re still friends. :-)I grieve over a similar discussion I had with a couple of parents years ago. They wanted my help with their kids who were exhibiting some troubling signs. I shared my view, only to be rebuffed and shut down. They came to me. But because of their pride and unwillingness to reconsider their way of thinking, they stayed on the road they were on, and today, I feel for the grief they endure with adult children who have since rejected their faith and values.These are all examples of the arrogance of being opinionatedBut whether it's a doctrinal issue, a political viewpoint, a family matter or medicine, of course it’s ok to have opinions. But when we are not talking about things that are black and white in the Word of God, all of us ought to have the humility to know that our opinions may be wrong, and we should be constantly evaluating them in the light of both God’s Word, as well as the input of wise people who have gone before us, or may have another viewpoint to challenge our own.That’s what Solomon meant when he said, “Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice” (Proverbs 13:10 HCSB).