The Weight of Opinions and a $3.00 Cup of Coffee

REFLECTIONS
February 8, 2009

In the two letters which the Apostle Paul wrote the people of Corinth the questions and concerns of both parties come out of perceptions and opinions surrounding issues of doctrine and ethics relative to the faith community. What does the Church look like in terms of who we say we are, and how do we relate to each other and the world? Since Paul first brought the message of Christ to Corinth, he held a deep affection for them. Scholars surmise this was reciprocal, for his letters appear to be in response to letters first sent to him. This does not mean they agreed on everything. Hence Paul’s direct language in reminding the people that the life they have accepted in Christ is very different than the one they left as non believers.

Have you ever disagreed with someone for whom you had respect, perhaps even loved? I would be surprised if your response was no. After all who among us has not had words with a friend or family member over politics, religion, philosophy or culture to name a short list. Who doesn’t have an Uncle or Cousin with whom we carried on verbal battle over what seemed clear and important differences of opinion. The information we ingest whether it be read or heard, and how we process it, informs our thought, having a great deal to do with how we perceive the world. It is then through our perceptions that we formulate opinions. Which is to say that opinions often have little or no basis in fact or reality. This means if we perceive someone to be bad they become so. If we think something is wrong or for that matter idiotic, it becomes so, through perception. In this process perception becomes thought, thought becomes opinion and opinion held as dogma becomes a point of conflict when we encounter opinion different from our own.

One of my favorite professors when class dialogue and discourse had moved in debate and diatribe would caution us to curb our opinions. He would say, “For opinions are like armpits and each of us has two, however, one is liable to stink at any given time. Besides, he would go on, a strident and well thought opinion and fifty cents will buy you a cup of coffee.” Though the price of a cup of coffee has gone up considerably, the principle still holds. I hear that phrase from time to time from a voice inside my head. It usually comes when I am at my strident best, railing against some opinion I perceive an affront to my humanity. It never fails to cause me to smile. Then I head off to find a good $3.00 cup of coffee.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601