Opinions

“Opinions” highlights how even Jesus and John the Baptist were misunderstood—and why staying focused on God’s calling matters more than pleasing critics.

“John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a heavy drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”—Luke 7:33–34 NASB

These people had opinions. First, they criticized John the Baptist. They didn’t understand why he didn’t eat bread or drink wine, so they concluded he had a demon. Then they criticized Jesus because He was different. They called Him a glutton and drunkard and accused Him of having the wrong friends.

Jesus taught that it’s impossible to satisfy some people. We can waste our lives trying to please every critic, and in the process, fail to fulfill God’s purposes for us.

The world is filled with critics—people quick to judge and condemn Christians. They don’t trust in God or care about His Kingdom; they interpret events to satisfy their own interests, and set themselves up as judge and jury.

Sometimes these critics are even professing Christians who are more concerned about advancing their own opinions than about following God or more involved in judging others than in seeing the world won for Jesus.

Be careful before you criticize others. Everyone makes mistakes. Be humble, let God convict you of sin, and correct your mistakes. Now you “see in a mirror dimly” and “know in part” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Be “quick to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19).

Don’t let the critics shake you. Stand firm in your faith, and focus on completing your assignment from God.

Reflection Question: Whose opinion are you letting influence your obedience to God?