"Well, in MY opinion..."

Anytime we have a presidential election coming up, people's opinions surround us like pigeons surrounding a garbage can at an amusement park.  Sometimes they can be entertaining, and sometimes they can get on our last nerves!  As a youth pastor, I know full well that you don't need a presidential election to bring in the opinions.  At youth group earlier this week, I asked the kids what kinds of topics bring up people's opinions.  Here's a short list (sampling) of what they came up with.

1.  Politics
2.  Religion
3.  Music/Movies/TV (what is good and what is bad and what Christians can and can't listen to and watch)
4.  Abortion
5.  Homosexuality
6.  Internet - the pros and cons of the world wide web
7.  Alcohol - whether Christians should or shouldn't drink
8.  Separation of Church and State
9.  What people think of other people
10.  How people should dress, i.e. to go to church, or just in general.  What is modest?

Have you been caught up in discussions that have led to debates in any of these topics?  I know I have, and while I'm not as opinionated as others, I do have my own personal thoughts and opinions on the issues.  I do my best not to shove my opinions on people because I don't like it when people do that to me.

Most of you know I am into everything invovling medieval times and knights.  When it comes to knights with swords and shields, going to battle (for the right reason) can be a good thing.  However, when it comes to debates and our opinions, going to battle might not be the best option. 

I recently shared some words of encouragement with a customer at the Diary Dairy, and I would like to share them with you.  Opinions are okay to have, as long as you don't try to force them onto other people as though your opinion is right and theirs is wrong. That's when opinions are least appreciated.  I tell the kids in the youth group they can share their opinions, and if someone disagrees with them, then agree to disagree and leave it at that. 

I encourage you to think about this whenever you are caught up in a rousing discussion/debate about the presidential election, or anything that was listed above.

~ Emily