In a conversation one can often hear these two words: "I think…," followed by what the speaker thinks. Perhaps every one of us has used these words, at home, at work, and at meetings, for instance at society meetings where God's Word and the confession of the church are studied and where issues of our modern life and world are discussed. There are so many matters in life about which we think and talk, and which we discuss. To mention a few, there are the matters of abortion and euthanasia and the manner in which to fight them, there is the matter of family planning or having children and when and how many, the matter of women's rights and what this means for the church, the matter of the Sunday as day of rest in connection with the modern secular trend to do away with any Christian distinction between the first day of the week as Day of the Lord, as day of rest and worship, "and so on and so forth" as one of our former neighbours used to say and perhaps still says. Talking about these and other issues we place opinion beside or over against opinion. "I think…" yes, "And" or "But I think…"

It is not my intention to deal here with such issues. What I ask your attention for is the use of this expression "I think" in our discussions and conversations. As with many things, also here we can distinguish two aspects. We can see a positive side and a negative one. When, in a discussion at our society meetings or at other occasions, a person comes forward and, adding his share to the conversation, begins with these words "I think", this can point to humbleness. He can mean to say with this introduction: I give my opinion. I do not want to claim that this is the absolute truth. I do not want to say that I know it all. I present only what is my view on this matter. Who am I that I could say: "This is it!"? It is possible that I overlook certain aspects, or that I see or interpret things wrongly. Thus the words "I think" can show caution and carefulness.

I think that when we look at these words from this angle, we can appreciate this manner of expressing oneself. We do not like people who present themselves as persons who always know it all. Such an attitude irritates and leaves the impression of arrogance and misplaced pride and lack of humbleness. It easily turns us off and away, especially when it is clear that such a person overlooks aspects and is restricted and shortsighted in his views and therefore wrong in what he says. Thus, when "I think" displays a modest, humble attitude, it deserves our praise.

On the other hand, the expression can also display a negative side. Again, this depends on the manner and the situation in which the words are used. A few examples may illustrate this. At a Young People's Meeting a Scripture passage is discussed which causes some difficulties. One comes with a certain possible solution based on the context or on other Scripture passages, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and cautiously coming with his solution. Someone else, who did not do much studying, if at all, adds his opinion to the discussion: "I think..," while he does not come with grounds from Scripture for his explanation.

At a Bible Study Society or Young Couples Study Club the matter of having children is discussed. One person, still thinking in the old ways, says that healthy Christian parents should not restrict the number of their children to one or two, as is so common in our modern world, because Christian parents, living by God's Word, know that in God's covenant children are a gift and blessing from Sion, a blessing in the Lord Jesus Christ, children received for Christ (cf. e.g. Psalm 127, 128, 1 Timothy 2:15). Then someone else responds with his or her, "But I think," and bases this opinion on human needs and the situation of an overcrowded world or economic conditions, or even on the feeling that having children can be so bothersome.

There is an elder who visits a young man and admonishes him because he and his girlfriend are living together. He shows from Scripture that the Lord does not want it this way. The response is: "That is your opinion. I am entitled to have my own. I think…."

I am aware of the fact that my examples are chosen in a specific, negative way. However, these examples are chosen from the practice of the pastoral work and reflect reality. Is it not so that in meetings of Young People Societies opinion easily is placed over against opinion, not backed up by thorough study done before the meeting? Do we not often do the same in our conversations and visits? Don't we, when a question comes up, quickly come with our ready opinions? The one thinks this, the other that. Is it not easily just a matter of opinions without a solid basis in Scripture? And do you, reader, not agree that this way of speaking and discussing can easily become a trend and an attitude? When we discuss things, do we go to the Word of God to try to find out what God has revealed in connection with the matters under discussion and with all our questions concerning our life. Don't we easily form our opinion, influenced, perhaps even without our being aware of it, by the world around us, by, so to speak, what is in the air, by what everybody else thinks, without knowing what God's Word says, or even without being aware that God's Word could have something to say on this or that point? Let us also be aware of it that as (sincere) Christians we can form opinions and views which are based more on what we and our peers, our Christian environment, think than on Scripture. It remains possible as well that we think that we base our opinions on Scripture, while, in fact, we do so on faulty interpretations. Among Christians, too, we find differences of opinion.

What must therefore be our principle? What should we always strive for? This, that we at all times ask, with all the questions of life, what does our God think about this? What does He say about what I think I need or want or should do? How does He want me to think about the issues of life? How does He see my needs and wants? What does He want me to do? In short, what does He say in His Word? Not what I think, not my opinion, but what He has revealed as His wisdom for our life, is the thing that counts and should count, always under all circumstances.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians (12:2), "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." The renewal of our mind is the renewal of our thinking, and so our speaking and acting.

Placing God's wisdom in Christ crucified over against the wisdom of the world, and proclaiming that this true wisdom of God in Christ for (daily) life is revealed by God through the Spirit of God in the gospel of Christ as Saviour, the apostle concludes 1 Corinthians 2 with the words (vs.16): "We have the mind of Christ." Again, the mind means the thinking. A renewed mind comes from the Holy Spirit. The unspiritual man does not grasp the things of the Spirit, but "the Spiritual man judges all things (correctly)" (1 Corinthians 2:14f.). The unspiritual man thinks and acts according to human opinion; the Spirit-guided person lives by the Word of the Spirit, the Scriptures, and is given a correct judgment about the questions and issues in life. That is God's covenant promise in Christ. Indeed, believers who (and when they) live by God's Word and understand it correctly through the illumination of the Spirit, have the mind, the thinking, wisdom, of God in which Christ is central; Christ through whom God made the universe and worked redemption from sin.

So let it be (come more and more) our second (renewed) nature always to ask what God's opinion is, revealed in His Word, and as confessed in principle and summary in the standards of our faith. This will mean a continuing study of Scripture and confession. It will mean a constant steadfast prayerful reading of Scripture with our whole and undivided heart and mind. It will also mean a consistent denying of ourselves in our submissive commitment to our heavenly Lord. Such a humble "not my will but Thine, not my opinion but Thine" is only possible through a living faith in Christ, a living communion with Him through the Holy Spirit. Such a continuing renewal is gift and work of God's Spirit. Paul writes to the Christian believers in Corinth and in all ages that God "is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). The fear of the Lord is still the beginning of wisdom. So, having (the promise of) the mind of Christ, let us think the thinking of the Scriptures, the thinking of God and His Christ.

Not: "I think", but what does God think? This is the true humbleness.