“I think” The god of Self-opinion

In a discussion on good versus evil, most of the participants agreed with the host’s motto: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Whilst not disagreeing, the Christian Bible teacher among them reminded the group, “There’s another one before that,” You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might Deuteronomy 6:5 cf. Matthew 22:37-38. The Christ-less ones among them grabbed hold of the Golden Rule firmly, but willingly overlooked the first and great commandment. The consensus was that if you are a good person you’ll get along with people. The Bible teacher asked, “But how are you going to get along with God?”

In reply, the host said, “That, I’ll worry about later.” He reiterated his motto and the Christ-less ones reaffirmed. But as is always the case though, it didn’t stop them from continuing to quote equally famous sayings of Jesus. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone and Judge not lest you be judged and forgive them for they know not what they do. Nothing new here of course, for the Bible-living Christian. Christ-less ones have been expressing such in our presence since time immemorial. What better way for them to hammer home the point that they are every bit as good as us, if not better! In general, I’ve noticed this about Christ-less ones: they don’t do unto others; they don’t love God; they do cast stones; they do judge and they don’t forgive.

This fits perfectly with God’s word to them in Psalm 50:16, But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you?” They don’t and do because God says they don’t and do. Never be fooled by them. As well as being pretentious people they are liars and hypocrites through and through! That’s how God sees them; that’s how He wants us to see them. Forget about their accusations to us of judging them; God has already judged them as such. Do not judge according to appearance (which is all they are capable of), but judge with righteous judgment John 7:24. We must judge according to truth; only then can we pray effectively for them.

In addition to the Bible teacher, another participant confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, God and Savior. The rest of them had their own fixed ideas about God, in which case a greater truth showed up as it always does – they are their own god. The god of man-centered religion was there, as was the god of philosophy and psychology, but the one calling the shots was the god of self-opinion. The god of self-opinion is not difficult to identify; he’s called “I think”. Wherever God and truth are discussed among Christ-less ones, “I think” is bound to be the god dominating the show. What I find fascinating about “I think” is his total lack of original thought. “I think” is incapable of original thought, but that never stops him from pouring forth opinions.

Something else about “I think” the god of self-opinion. He has no facts to back up his opinions. We’ve all heard the expression, “He’s full of it.” That’s “I think” they’re talking about. What he’s full of is great for grass, flowers and vegetables, but that’s all. Bible-living Christians would be wise to discern and acknowledge that reality, for again, only then can we pray effectively for them. “I think” the god of self-opinion, is dragging thousands of souls into hell every day. Therefore, specific prayer for them is what God is looking for rather than general prayer. It shows God we mean business. If specificity were not called for, Jesus would not have asked the blind men, What do you want Me to do for you? Matthew 20:32. 

How silly to entertain “I think” the god of self-opinion. Let’s look at him again. He says if you’re a good person you’ll get along with people. How silly can one get? Tell that to the victims of Nazism. Tell that to the victims of Communism. Tell that to the victims of ISIS. Tell that to the victims of crime. Tell that to the victims of rape. Tell that to the victims of pedophilia. Tell that to the victims of domestic violence. Tell that to the victims of corrupt politicians. Tell that to the victims of corrupt financial and insurance planners. Tell that to the victims of unprincipled business people. If it were true that all one needed to get along with others was, be a good person, victims would not exist. No wonder God declares our hearts are desperately wicked …. Jeremiah 17:9.  

“One person’s angel is another person’s devil,” said “I think” the god of self-opinion through one of the participants, followed later by, “Everyone’s truth is a little bit different.” How’s that for confusion?! The philosophy of the all-truth-is-relative crowd! The New Testament’s meaning of confusion is ‘instability’ ‘disorder’ ‘commotion’ and ‘tumult’. For anyone wondering (especially young people) why chaos reigns supreme in the home, the schools, the universities, the workplace, societies and nations, there’s your answer. No matter the appearance of wisdom and cleverness in such people, that’s all it is – the appearance of. God’s comment on this? I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the…….. 1 Corinthians 1:19.

Whilst God is the author of eternal salvation and the author and finisher of our faith Hebrews 5:9; 12:2, He is not the author of confusion 1 Corinthians 14:33. As the saying goes among Christians in church gatherings, “God is a God of order.” But such order is not limited to Christians or our gatherings. Apply God’s truths and principles to any environment – truth, honesty, integrity, morality for example, and confusion abates, order increases. As a result, peace and harmony begin to show up. Not without its problems, but that’s the way it used to be in most homes, schools, workplaces etc. a few decades ago. “I think” the god of opinion, got put down very smartly. He was seen for what he is – thoughtless and factless!

Satan the devil is the author of confusion. He stands for everything God stands not for. God stands for truth, he stands for lies. God stands for love he stands for hate. God stands for mercy, he stands for mercilessness. God stands for forgiveness, he stands for unforgiveness. God stands for life, he stands for death. God stands for peace, he stands for war. And on it goes….. Christ-less ones ask, “Why is there evil in the world?” God has no answer for them until they seek to rid themselves of “I think” the god of self-opinion. Woe to them if they don’t! Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes….. Isaiah 5:20-21. 

God has nothing good to say to “I think” the god of self-opinion. In God’s eyes he’s a fool. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool Proverbs 28:26. ‘Fool’ meaning: stupid or silly. No matter how famous, popular, gifted and talented, only a fool says, “That, I’ll worry about later,” in answer to, “But how are you going to get along with God?” I’ve had the same response from people when asking Christ-less ones, “How are you going to get along without God?” Like the Bible teacher above, it was their soul I had in mind. Death was sudden for some of them; they didn’t get time to “worry about that later.” Fool is what they’re saying of themselves now. Others who did get time did not “worry about that later.” Like the Pharaoh’s of old, their hearts had been hardened.

Not only is “I think” the god of self-opinion, thoughtless and factless, he can be heartless!  All too often he demonstrates a greater love and respect for trees and whales than he does human beings – especially defenseless babies in mother’s wombs and old people. It took a few years for him to gain his “right” to get at those defenseless babies, but since gaining it he has slaughtered millions upon millions of them. The same end awaits the old people; it’s only a matter of time. My question again: “How are you going to get along without God?” God’s answer: “You won’t!” The taking of an unborn life is murder, not abortion or termination of pregnancy. The taking of an old person’s life is murder, not euthanasia or death with dignity. Genesis 9:6 still stands.  

“I think” the god of self-opinion, will be with us to the end of the age. That’s the way most Christ-less ones want it the Bible tells us, and as was demonstrated by the Christ-less ones in that discussion on good versus evil. But praise to God, “most” is not “all.” Through the Bible teacher, the word of truth and reality was proclaimed with spiritual power and authority. If that word fell on deaf ears and minds made up in the group, the same must not be said for the television viewing audience. May God convict and deliver many of them from “I think” the god of self-opinion. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of this world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him……. Colossians 2:8-10.