Paul Copan is Professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University.  He has a Ph. D. in philosophy from Marquette University and is author of  several books including “When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics” (Baker).  Paul is the current president of the Evangelical Philosophical Society.  Find out more about Paul and his books HERE.

 

  “That’s Just Your Opinion”—Or Is It?

Have you ever tried to explain reasons for taking the Christian faith seriously, only to get shot down with the exasperating comeback, “Well, that’s just your opinion!”?  You’re left scratching your head, wondering how someone could slam the door on such eloquence and brilliance!

Our TV and radio talk shows, internet websites and blogs, and Youtube reflect an increasingly democratized world that apparently levels all academic credentials and moral authority. Everyone’s an expert, yet no one’s an expert. It’s a true-for-you-but-not-for-me world out there: beliefs are reduced to opinion, and one perspective is just as legitimate as another. For us who try to communicate our Christian faith as knowable truth, this can be disheartening. 

Perhaps we can keep some things in mind as we press on—despite the comments from our “opinionarian” friends and acquaintances.  For one thing, the opinionarian isn’t really interested in truth, but in personal freedom; she’s likely to shrug her shoulders and say “Whatever” when challenged about matters of logical consistency.  What do we do?

Our most pressing concerns should be: prayerfully cultivating a relationship with the relativist; being a good listener (James 1:19); and modeling a deeply authentic life that seeks greater connection with God and others. By God’s grace, such a life can expose the hollowness of the relativist’s existence and hopefully create a hunger for something deeper, real, and more human. 

And what if we can carry the conversation further?  Here are a few thoughts. (Keep in mind that the goal isn’t to “beat people up for Jesus.” I’m urging friendly, winsome conversation here.)

#1: Clarify the opinionarian’s position: We might want to ask some questions just to get our bearings:

• Are you saying that there’s no truth for all people, only opinion? If so, how do you know there’s no truth? (Wouldn’t that be a truth-claim?)
• Are you interested in truth if it exists? 
• Isn’t it possible that some opinions are true and others false? 
• Why do you take this position anyway? 
• Why should do you even differentiate between your opinion and mine?  Why do you prefer one opinion over the other?  
• The view that there’s no truth, only opinion—is this true or just an opinion? If it’s an opinion like anyone else’s and there’s no truth, then why believe anything at all?

Usually when someone dismisses your view as mere opinion, the dismisser likely thinks his opinion is true while yours is false. “It’s all opinion” isn’t really just a matter of opinion. It’s a truth-claim!

#2: Raise questions about obviously wicked, false, or kooky ideas: What if some people are of the opinion that the Holocaust was okay—or that it never took place?  Should the opposite view—one that matches up with reality—be accepted, or doesn’t it matter?  Is the opinion that the earth is flat be rejected in favor of the earth’s being round? Perhaps the reason pro-Nazi opinions should be avoided is because they are really evil. And if all opinions are basically the same, there would be no difference between sane opinions and wacky ones.

#3:  Point out that God’s ways aren’t oppressive, but freeing. Perhaps we can best challenge relativists not by putting down “bad things” or “sinful lifestyles” but instead, by emphasizing the effects of idolatry—making good things (like relationships, material resources, sex) into ultimate things, which leads to obsession, resentment, envy, and worry. Orienting our lives around Christ—who is the truth and the foundation of what’s really real (John 14:6; Colossians 1:17)—brings freedom from such bondage (John 8:32, 36).

In the end, to deny truth is to acknowledge truth—which is like saying, “It’s true that there is no truth.” Indeed, truth is inescapable. We’re designed to be truth-seekers, not truth-deniers. Our minds lose their way and our lives become dysfunctional and superficial when we fail to live by the truth.  In our response to relativists, we should be prepared to defend our faith “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15-16); we must speak the truth, but do so in love (Ephesians 4:15).

(Adapted from the recently-released second edition of chapter 9, “True for You, But Not for Me” [Bethany House Publishers])