Who has never been urged by friends to do something against our wills, against our own best interests, and in violation of our own consciences? A friend says, “Oh come on try it once, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

The reasoning behind such an appeal is faulty to the core. The truth is that you don’t have to try something before you know whether you will like it or not. Those who have never been put in jail for a crime don’t have to wonder whether they would like the experience or not.

The “do your own thing” existentialist view of life is very faulty also. Should you really have to taste the full cup of life before you know what is bad and what is not? Do you really need to participate in the seamy side of life as well as the good life to become a full human being? It is faulty to think that one can experiment with things that endanger the soul and destroy the health of an otherwise intelligent being.

Many things lure all of us into sin. Falling for the stupidity of “Try it, you don’t know what you’re missing,” has led a host of people to take their first “toke” or “joint” of marijuana. That first sip of beer or wine could be the result of listening to the same stupidity. Ask a heroin or alcohol addict how much fun he is having. Ask him if he wishes now he had not been so foolish as to take his first halting steps into the use of alcohol and drugs. Before you fall for such stupidity, remember: “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22, NASB).

Think about just how really dumb it is to do anything without first researching the experience. Here are just a couple of good research questions;
1. Would God approve this?
2. Will this be good for me?
3. How will this affect me now and in the future?
4. It is something I want everyone to know that I do? 5. Will it damage my health?
6. Could I recommend it to others?
7. Will it cause me to violate my conscience?
8. Will it cause me to grow in Christ?
9. Will it hurt my reputation with good people?
10. Why should I do it anyway?

~Matt Amos

From the Elders of Woodstock Church of Christ.
Download the letter here

We all have opinions. Some of which may be based on some subjectively developed or adopted belief. What is interesting is that most people do not realize this, and present their opinions as facts based on beliefs they simply hear stated and perceive to be factual! Believing their opinions to be supported factually, all other thinking is then rejected, whether based on fact/evidence or not! Because of such beliefs, they will often force their opinions, which is like pushing the magnetized needle of a compass around to where one wants “True North” to be. This is very often demonstrated in religious matters. Webster defines an opinion as: ”A belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge but on what seems true, valid, or probable to one’s own mind.” An opinion in religion is a belief/position people hold that is not sustained by book, chapter and verse. There are many, in religious matters, who force their opinions because of an improper attitude toward the Scriptures. They have formed opinions such as “one church is as good as another”, “instrumental music is acceptable in worship,” or “congregations may not pool their resources or collect funds from other congregations to do a work common to them all or they will “lose their autonomy.” These people do not misinterpret the scriptures – they usually
admit what the Bible teaches, they simply do not feel that they are limited by the scriptures or that the scriptures allow another opinion– and therefore form and force an opinion which creates a factious body of people. Forced opinions (I must have my way at all costs) constitute the largest barrier to unity in the Lord’s church. May it ever be that we as a local congregation of God’s people continue to teach and practice that which can be believed with absolute certainty and positive knowledge because it can be found in book, chapter and verse. We cannot force
opinions – we must forcibly stand for “what is written.”
~Matt Amos