IMHO (In My Humble Opinion)

Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Psalm 31:23

 

Someone near to me occasionally points out that when I say, “In my humble opinion (or, “IMHO),” that the truth is that my opinion is not so humble.

God got my attention years ago by showing me my pride. He showed me many things that I was so sure of, that I was so wrong about.

I have not won this battle with my pride and am not sure I will before heaven.

Before faith in Christ, I had always seen myself as a kind and understanding person. After God brought me to faith in Him, I saw that compared to many, especially my own husband, I was not all that “kind.” How aggravating.

Now, I go on social media only to see that many are smarter, kinder, better arguers, and far more biblically literate than I.

So, it is partly my pride that keeps me out of Facebook arguments. The platform is too big for my taste and abilities. Also, I am afraid of being chewed up and verbally spit out by people who are better arguers. That would be humiliating.

Humiliation isn’t always a bad thing. Being humbled by God’s truth is a kindness.

Some recent Facebook wars have me examining my pride (sadly, and theirs). Though I don’t get involved, in my mind I choose a side and root for them. (Though, sometimes I see both sides.)

Arguing a point, especially if it’s biblical, requires a certain amount of confidence in your stance. God tells us to stand firm in our faith. I see many Christians do this well.

Every once in a while I see what seems like a slip into arrogance or self-righteousness that concerns me. There is no Christian who “could” not be wrong. It looks like no prayer or real thought goes into some of them; they just type and post whatever they think will win the point.

When I challenge (in person) these arguers I have gotten several justifications for the public nature of the arguments:

• Unbelievers see these arguments and learn from them. (I can see this could be true.)
• Unbelievers see these arguments and get a bad taste for Christianity. (I can see how this could happen, 2 Timothy 2:24-25, 1 Peter 3:15.)
• Believers are sharpening one another. (I can see this only if the arguers apply some humility, Proverbs 11:2.)
• We learn who is like minded (or not) from how they post on these threads. (True. We may also see divisiveness.)

These arguments could be good in some way for some one. But, there are biblical instructions for confronting someone you have something against. They do not start with social media (Matthew 18:15-17).

IMHO, social media arguments will be helpful only if those in the arguments are willing to ask God to show them who’s right and who’s wrong.

Pride can keep us from hearing what He might use to enlighten us and edify the believers and unbelievers who are intently reading every word.