[Original Post Date: October 22, 2021]
“Now that gay marriage is ancient history, I think they need to open up marriage completely!”
“Well I think the whole idea of marriage is dead, what a silly social construct to hang on to.”
“I believe marriage is deeply personal and meaningful. The government really shouldn’t be in charge of defining it.”
“You know what idea I really don’t think is going to work? Group marriage, what a joke.”
“I think marriage is just meant to be between a man and a woman.”
This might be a typical exchange of ideas. People share their world views with one another for many reasons, sometimes just in passing and sometimes using persuasive language, desiring to convince others to their side. Many times, these conversations are rife with ‘I think’s. As Christians, do we really ‘think’ something or do we ‘know’ it, and does that affect how we should speak?
‘I think’ or ‘I believe’ is a softer way of stating a truth. It implies the speaker’s statement is in the category of ‘personal belief’ rather than ‘objective truth’. It is received as gentler language because our culture holds that things can be true for one person while not being true for someone else. When someone uses personal belief language, it doesn’t envelop the hearer under the speaker’s blanket of authority.
Sometimes, we use personal belief language to tactfully state an offensive truth. We want to choose words with great sensitivity in a particularly volatile or emotional situation.
Sometimes, we use those words out of habit. Without realizing it, we might have adjusted our language in an attempt to cause the least offense in an increasingly sensitive culture. It is worth paying attention to our speech patterns and if need be, reevaluating them.
It is also important to examine our heart. As Matthew 12:34 says, “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” If you often speak with personal belief statements, there might be a deeper reason.
One possible reason for using such language is that we might literally hold our faith as merely a personal belief. We might even be personally confident in God’s truths but don’t believe that they apply to everyone. But Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth and all that it contains are the Lord’s, the world and all who dwell in it.” That God’s authority and call are for the whole earth is clear in Acts 17:30, when Paul boldly asserts that “He [God] commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Another reason we might speak with unconfident ‘I think’s is because we are ashamed of God’s truths. We anticipate the offense His words will cause and feel almost apologetic about it. Scripture has much to encourage us about the goodness of the Word of the Lord. Psalm 19 calls it perfect, sure, right, clean, true, more desirable than gold, sweeter than honey. It restores the soul, gives wisdom, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes and is righteous altogether (Psalm 19:7-10). If either of these reasons resonate with you, pray that the Lord would show you His truth and goodness!
How should we discuss ideas God has spoken clearly about? Scripture tells us! We are to speak with sweetness (Prov 16:21), grace (Prov 22:11, Col 4:6) and boldness (2 Cor 3:12, Eph 6:12). We also ought to speak in a way beyond reproach, so that our opponents will have nothing bad to say about us (Titus 2:7-9) and remember that we are speaking as a representative of those who believe (1 Tim 4:12). As important as it is to speak in the right manner, it is equally important to speak with a right heart.
We must proclaim truth with a heart that desires to honor God and not fear man. We are easily tempted to fear men. Claiming that God’s words are not just personal beliefs but objective truth will be offensive to people. Stephen was even stoned for it (Acts 7). Since the very birth of the church we have had examples of brave saints, firm in their faith, who desired to speak words in worship to God regardless of the consequences.
We must proclaim truth with a heart that is truly humble. Claiming that God has clearly revealed the truth about controversial ideas will be perceived as very prideful. People don’t acknowledge God’s moral authority and consider all perspectives valid. They think that humility is speaking with an appropriate degree of reticence, knowing that you could be wrong. But true humility is submitting to God’s authority. Humility knows that it is only by the mercy of God that any of us have received spiritual sight and a heart to believe, not due to any cleverness or righteousness on our part.
We must proclaim truth with a heart that truly loves people. People consider it to be categorically unloving to offend people or hurt their feelings. But biblical love desires and pursues someone’s true and eternal good, which comes from knowing God. True love risks offense because as Romans 10:17 says, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” How will someone know they need Christ if they don’t understand we are all condemned apart from Christ? And how will they know we all stand condemned if they don’t know of God’s truth and authority?
We must proclaim the truth with a heart that seeks the Spirit’s wisdom. Speaking truth is not always comfortable or easy, but we are not left without a Helper. We can pray with Paul that speech may be given to us in the opening of our mouths (Eph 6:19) and that we can know how to answer each person (Col 6:4) so that we might, with the courage of conviction, share with them the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).
