What Do You Think? 

Here is the problem with attempting to talk to someone about current affairs, politics, and religion. (You know, all the things your mother told you not to talk about with strangers or in a mixed crowd. And if you think a “mixed crowd” is a racial reference then you are part of the problem that I’m about to discuss.)

Here’s the problem when you speak with someone on the afore mentioned topics. You are either talking to their hate and anger or you are listening to their regurgitations of someone else’s thoughts and opinions. Someone is emotionally stirred, riled, and agitated to the point they must speak or someone they admire and respect in some form or fashion has answered this question or topic and they simply repeat it. 

No! I want to know what you think. Not what you feel. Not what you’ve heard. I want to know what you think on the topic of discussion. I also want to know how you arrived at your conclusion. This, by the way will be considered an afront, or better put, an assault by you on them. To ask for their “work” and supporting facts used in reaching their conclusions will be interpreted as an insult and a challenge to them. It’s as if you don’t believe them. Which is silly of course and emotionally generated. 

To listen to someone and research what they said to see how they arrived at their conclusion and if it is true is a biblical, New Testament concept. 

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11). 

Sound, logical reasoning in discussing issues is also a biblical, New Testament concept. The Apostle Paul was a master of dialectics. He discussed what he knew with logic and reasoning with some of the greatest philosophers, thinkers, and theologians of his day. He didn’t repeat what other people told him and he certainly didn’t have emotional outbursts or employ politically correct tactics of race, gender, or religion. Paul stood on two things, truth and principle (i.e. the knowledge of Christ). That was the perch in which he listened, contemplated, and discussed things. 

“And he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” (Acts 18:4) 

Now why do you suppose that almost everyone reacts (doesn’t think) with emotion? Or they spout and spew someone else’s words? Simple. It’s because they do not live by principle and precept. These things are premeditated. Principle and precept are thought out, weighed and examined, tested and tried to see if true. They are conscious decisions that are adopted and most importantly, they are adhered to. 

Principle and precept do not conform to you, you conform to them. If they do change for you then it wasn't a principle to begin. Changeable, malleable principles are not principles, they are an idea, a hope, a wish for something other than what you really are. 

Principle and precept do not care who holds them. A true principle or precept are unaffected and unaltered by its possessor. They are eternal and perpetual, from ever lasting to everlasting. 

Principle and precept require work to understand them, work to apply them, and a lot of work, pain and suffering to live by them. This is why so few people can live by principle and precept.

Instead, we feel, or we let someone else do the thinking for us. We determine who else can think for us based on whether we like them or not. This is why athletes and entertainers are so influential on the public. 

By nature, man is weak and wicked. He cannot abide in truth without stumbling. This is why God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ, the supreme and ultimate truth allowed himself to be nailed to the cross in proxy for you and I, and to be the mediator, the go between God and ourselves. 

When we enter into a discussion with someone, we must quickly determine who we are talking to. Are we talking to their emotion? If so, end the discussion quickly. There is no benefit to be gained in talking with hate and anger. In fact, emotions are spirits, transferable spirits. You will discover that when you enter into a dialogue with someone with an elevated and heightened spirit, that you too will become just like them rather quickly. 

Do not engage a person ruled by a spirit, an emotion. There is no reasoning with them, and that spirit is waiting to jump ship unto you. Do not engage. Turn around and leave. The Bible is replete with examples of avoiding people with a bad spirit (emotions). Here are a few samples. 

“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” (Proverbs 21:9) 

“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.” (Proverbs 9:6-7) 

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” (Proverbs 4:14-16) 

Dwell in the corner of a roof, forsake, enter not into the path of, all of these things are actions of avoidance of those with a negative spirit. Do not engage. Turn around and leave (and live!). 

For those without a thought of their own, they’re easy to identify because they can never get past the surface level of their argument. They’ll try to defend their position at first but must concede or look foolish. Which brings up an interesting and important topic. If your discussion is a “play the game to win” scenario, then I’ll have nothing to do with it. The idea is for the free flow of thoughts and ideas. The goal is the exchange of knowledge and experiences as they relate to the subject matter at hand (or not!). The purpose of the conversation should not be to win, to put the other person down, or to verbally beat them. If that were the case then you would welcome everyone that I have just spent 1,064 words trying to dispense with because they would be easily defeated. 

The wonderful thing about wanting to discover what someone thinks and knows about a subject is that there is no wrong answer. If you don’t know anything about it, that’s fine! And if your knowledge and experiences conflict with mine, super! This is a fantastic jumping off point for discussion and hopefully revelation. And if you realize that you share the same thoughts, well, you’ve just met a friend and a kindred spirit. 

But we can’t advance forward if your emotions are speaking for you or if some entertainer or athlete is thinking for you. 

Principles and precepts are our guideposts in life. These are permanently secured markers to follow. They are not our destination, but rather our security and stronghold on our way to our destination. 

One final comment. All people are guided by principle. They may not know it, but every living soul has a set of standards in which they live. You have a standard in which to gauge right and wrong, fair and unfair. Without thought and premeditation, the principle and precepts you hold will always skew towards what serves self best. Your sense of justice will have you as its focal point. Self gratification will be your purpose and guideposts in life. Your definition of fair will be what benefits you. 

We define who we are by defining the principles and precepts we hold. It was either Aristotle or Peter Vermigli, the 16th century reformed theologian and philosopher who said that principle determines conclusion. This is so true. If you live by the sword, you'll die by the sword. Whatever standards of living you choose to live by will funnel you down certain paths, in a certain way. Principle and precept can also help determine destination as well. 

Choose this day how you will live, and in turn, determine your destination. I ask you to choose righteousness and holiness. I ask you to choose God, to choose Jesus Christ as your Lord and Svior. I ask you to choose life.

“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)

Bill Hitchcock