Opinionated and vocal people ?

 Some of the most opinionated and vocal people in church are often weak in their spirituality and maturity.


Why are they opinionated? Because they don’t know how weak they are.  They have no sense of self examination.  No process whereby they spend time looking in the mirror—which results in little or no self-knowledge.  It is said that the three basic tools that are needed for spirituality and spiritual growth are:  grace (from God), virtues (inspired by the indwelling Spirit),  and self-knowledge.  

You cannot move ahead on your spiritual journey without self-knowledge.  Self-knowledge includes—but is not limited to the following:

  1. You own personal sin battles.  Every Biblical Christian spiritual virtue has its counterpart.   (Patience vs impatience).  Self knowledge requires one’s understanding of one’s own sins and sin tendencies. 
  2. Every step forward on your journey is opposed by evil forces .  No one is immune to the attack from evil forces.
  3. Daily examination of one’s own motives, emotions, desires, activities, is needed.  Psalms 139:23-24 (NLT)  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
  4. Too much trust in self.  True advancement and development in your spiritual life occurs with what might be called multiple conversions.  When you are committed to your journey with Christ, you clearly see your little flaws and lack of virtues.  These examinations become more and more intense and fastidious or picky.   What I mean by that is the closer you grow to Christ, the more flaws you see in yourself.  You trust yourself less and less.  You are not self-satisfied and you don’t spend any time identifying the sins and shortcomings of others—because you are too busy with yourself. 
  5. There is always an immense  desire to improve on loving God and loving others.

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