POLLS, I HATE POLLS

I know; what a topic for my first blog!  But this page is left to my discretion – always a danger. 

The latest poll by tells us that less people believe in the American dream than have since 1998.  For the first time our sitting president trails a Republican in a Democrat sponsored poll (John ZogbyPublic Policy Polling).  According to a Fox News Poll most American voters oppose raising the debt limit.  I did my own polling and one half of the present members of the Jenkins’ household favor having ice cream for dinner!

Polls should not be news, especially when news organizations sponsor the polls.  Is it really news when a poll says that today most American believe …..you fill in the blank.  I realize that a correctly polled sample can give an honest reflection of the population at-large, but how do we factor in the liars, those whose breakfasts were burned just prior to being asked, or those who change their minds on a regular basis (i.e. fickle)?  I received several telephone polling opportunities during the last election cycle and I stated repeatedly that I had no knowledge of candidates X and Y, but my results were still included in the poll. 

Why am I all “hyped up” on polling today?  Public opinion does not change God’s mind.  The majority opinion of a community does not affect the sovereign will of our Heavenly Father and His ability or desire to carry out His perfect plan.  Yes, being a good Reformed Presbyterian I understand that we often use the majority to attempt to determine the will of God, but that is not a fool proof method.  A fine example of this would be the latest actions of the PCUSA as a majority of their presbyteries supported a change to their Book of Order opening the door to the “authorized” ordination of those who openly practice the gay and lesbian lifestyle (there has been for some time unauthorized active, unrepentant, habitual homosexuals in ordained office).  The majority has often been wrong (cf. the Arian heresy) and a poll on how we should interpret certain passages of Scripture may ease our consciences but our opinions do not change the meaning a purposes of the words God has specifically placed in the Bible.

I guess I should sum this up by saying, “public opinion makes lousy theology and even worse doctrine.”  If I wanted a church were men and women were always right and the god they worshiped was therefore obligated to adjust “his, her, its” actions to accommodate my fickleness, then there are options out there I could choose.  Unfortunately, none of those options lead to heaven!   Am I narrow in my beliefs?  Of course not…I am as broad as Scripture allows.  We can believe whatever we like, but don’t expect God to be that impressed with our opinions!