When it comes to matters of judgment in the church and the Christian life, perhaps there is room for someone to say, “I think this is ok” or “I think that is ok.” For example, what time should the church meet to worship on the first day of the week? If a congregation has Bible classes on Sunday, should they be before or after the worship? Is it ok for a Christian to wear a shirt with images of the crucifixion of Jesus on it? There are many questions that are matters of judgment. While every answer should first look to Scripture and base any response on Biblical principles, there is room to answer with an “I think” or “In my opinion” or “It seems to me.” For the most part, there is no right or wrong answer.
HOWEVER, in matters of faith (notice the difference, as this is not a matter of judgment), one’s opinion is of no consequence and should not be offered as a guiding principle. For example, would it be permissible for the church to worship on Saturday instead of Sunday? Should women be given opportunities to lead in worship services, as the men are? Would it be appropriate to offer both a “contemporary” worship service (with mechanical instruments, soloists, etc.) and a “traditional” worship service (with acapella singing, men in leadership roles, etc.), and to allow folks to choose their preferred style? There are many questions that are NOT in the realm of judgment but are in the realm of faith. Those questions must be treated differently.
In matters of faith, where God has spoken and has given divine direction, there is no room for “I think” or “It seems to me.” The only thing that matters is “Thus saith the Lord”! When God spoke through the prophets, they “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” without offering their own “private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). It was essential that they speak the very words that God gave them to speak. In fact, the Lord told the prophet Ezekiel, “I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute…But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God’” (Ezek. 3:26-27). Ezekiel could not speak unless he spoke exactly what the Lord said! What a concept!
Brethren, the Lord’s church today must stand where God stands and speak “Thus saith the Lord” in all things. Peter said, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). When I begin an answer with, “I think,” then a person’s faith is in me and my answer. BUT, when I begin an answer with, “The Scripture says over in this verse that…,” then a person’s faith can be in the Scripture, if they will “search” them and apply them (Acts 17:11). Let’s get ourselves out of the way!