Convictions
I have several convictions. I have always defined convictions as “my opinion set in concrete”. It is officially defined as a “firmly held belief or opinion”. When my convictions are set in concrete, they are very hard to move or change. It is not impossible to change my convictions, but it usually takes a jackhammer to break up the concrete.
Paul talks to the church in Rome about convictions and being cautious about personal freedoms. If you don’t believe it’s wrong to do something and another person’s convictions are that it’s wrong, you should not do that publicly. Some of my beliefs that I was taught years ago can’t be defended from scripture, so I had to get out the jackhammer. I still don’t “flaunt my freedom” to people who still hold on to similar convictions. Check this out…
22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. (Romans 14:22-23 NLT)
I don’t want to impose my convictions upon others. I’m not afraid to speak truth boldly. My convictions are truth to me, and they are not negotiable. It has taken me years to break up some of the convictions that I believed as a young kid. I test all my convictions up against the truth of God’s Word.
I think it breaks God’s heart to see the church divided over personal convictions and personal interpretation of truth. The truth of God’s Word is not open for debate. We shouldn’t impose our convictions upon others. Speaking the truth in love is powerful and effective. I don’t want others to impose their personal convictions upon me. For example, if I were a vegan and I had concluded that God’s Word called me to be a vegan, I shouldn’t impose my “vegan conviction” upon you.
I do believe that I should live according to the Truth of God’s Word. I should also live by my convictions that reflect my deep faith in God. Please know that my writings here reflect my view of the Truth of God’s Word. I want my life to honor Him and reflect Him living in me. That will never be open for negotiation.
Pressing On!
Dwayne