I’ll tell you what I think…
Let me tell you how I feel…
It seems to me…
I was once taught that good decisions require good information. Intuition, emotions, feelings, opinions, even human logic are not an adequate basis for good decisions. When we are making vital life-altering decisions we need good information. We need truth. The Word of God is truth. When you need to make a good decision, see what God has to say about it. What does the Bible say and where does it say it?
1. Don’t base your decisions on how you feel–your emotions.
2. Don’t base your decisions on what you think–your logic.
3. Don’t base your decisions on texts of the Bible that are not addressing the issue you are discussing.
4. Base your decisions on a careful, thoughtful understanding of the right texts of Scripture. The first question to ask when wrestling-through any issue or Biblical question is: “What are the key passages of Scripture that clearly address this issue or question?” After we have discovered those texts then we need to go to work to see to it that we have handled those passages accurately. This is hermeneutics… the art and science of interpreting texts.
When you are discussing a Biblical issue listen to yourself. Are you continually saying “I think” or “I feel” or “It seems to me”? These phrases indicate that you are not building your views on a firm, biblical foundation. It really is not important what I think or how I feel. What is paramount is “What has God said?”
Can I be blunt? I don’t care how you feel or what you think…
And you shouldn’t care what I think…
You need to know what God has said.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
November 2, 2015
