Scripture repeatedly calls believers to exercise discernment.
“Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
Hebrews 5:14 says mature believers have their senses trained to distinguish good from evil.
So Christians are not called to intellectual or moral indifference.
The real question is what kind of opinion should we have, and what should we do with it?
There is a difference between: Having an opinion. Making that opinion public. Treating your opinion as God’s judgment. Those are not the same thing.
The difficulty is that we can see the behavior, but we cannot fully see the heart.
Jesus certainly addressed people whose outward religion concealed inward pride. But notice something important: He condemned demonstrable hypocrisy, not merely polished appearance. He warned against practicing righteousness “to be seen by others” (Matthew 6). That is a warning against motive.
Would Jesus have had an opinion?
Certainly. Jesus had opinions about worship. He had opinions about hypocrisy. He had opinions about religious performance. He cleansed the temple. He corrected the Pharisees. He praised genuine devotion.
So the question is not whether Jesus would have had an opinion.The question is whether we know enough to reach the same conclusion He would. Jesus knew hearts. We usually do not.
Priscilla and Aquila
Priscilla and Aquila corrected Apollos (Acts 18), but notice how they did it. “They took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” They did not publicly embarrass him. Their correction was: informed, humble, private, intended to build up. That is an excellent model for Christians.
There are indeed things we should ignore.
Proverbs 19:11 says,”It is a man’s glory to overlook an offense.”
Not every error deserves a response. Not every strange social media trend deserves our energy.
At the same time, Paul repeatedly tells believers to exhort, admonish, teach, and correct one another. So silence is not always virtue. Neither is constant criticism.
A helpful test
Before expressing an opinion, it may help to ask: Is this clearly contrary to Scripture, or simply different from my preferences?
Am I addressing conduct, or assuming motives?
Will speaking likely help this person grow?
Is this the appropriate relationship and setting for correction?
Am I motivated by love for Christ and this person, or by irritation?
If those questions point toward loving correction, then speaking may be appropriate. If not, wisdom may be to remain silent.
I don’t think the Christian ideal is either: “Have an opinion about everything,” or”Have no opinion about anything.” Rather, Scripture calls us to be people of discernment governed by love.
As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:15, we are to “speak the truth in love.”
Truth without love becomes harshness.
Love without truth becomes sentimentality.
The mature Christian seeks both.
Shalom