Convictions

     A friend and fellow mission trip partner years ago held the conviction that we should never talk about anyone if they weren't standing right there.  Her heart was pure and right in this.  On a basic level, I agree.  However, the degree to which she took it backfired on her (and me).  We had a teacher at missionary school who was very harsh and legalistic.  He made a hurtful comment to her, personally, in front of others.  He then told all of us we were failing in our ministries.  When she and I were alone praying together that evening (we did that every night), she confided how much this teacher had hurt her feelings, and I sympathized and agreed.  That was all we said before moving on.  The next day, this sweet teammate felt so convicted that she had been wrong to express frustration about him toward me during our prayer time that she went and confessed to him, "Janelle and I were gossiping about you yesterday."  She felt better, but he was offended--and then he started targeting us both more with his meanness!  Her conviction changed a little bit after that experience.

I am pictured on this 2001 college-aged mission trip, sharing the Gospel.  My sweet teammate is not pictured, nor is the mean teacher.

     As Christians, how should we form our convictions?  What happens when we re-examine them later on and find we no longer hold those convictions?  Does it mean we were wrong?  When and how should we change our convictions?  

     As a very basic truth, our convictions must line up with the Bible.  Convictions that are directly out of God's word shouldn't change.  The Bible says not to steal, so that should be my conviction, now and always.  The same is true for anything directly from God's word.  I am going to assume you are actively trying to live by God's word, so I won't go into further detail about that.  

     Some convictions aren't technically black and white in the Bible, but are godly ideas.  Paul addressed this in Romans 14.  In that passage, he is talking about how some believers had freedom of conscience to eat meat offered to idols, and others felt it was a sin.  Paul urged them not to judge each other and not to make each other stumble, before adding, For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23b).  This clearly illustrates that sometimes, godly, Jesus-following, Bible-honoring Christians might have different convictions deep in their hearts, and they need to follow those convictions.  To go against one's conscience is a sin.  By allowing this to be in His Holy Word, God is acknowledging that not everything is cut and dried.  There are a lot of factors that might determine how someone is led in a given situation.  

     Years ago, a certain television show was a stumbling block to me.  It was a favorite, but it was a stumbling block at that time in my life.  My conviction about it grew, until I knew God was leading me to give it up, and I did.  For years, I didn't watch it.  After a little while, I barely ever thought about it.  Years later, I encountered it again, and at that different point in life, it was no longer a stumbling block to me.  I was able to enjoy it without that struggle I'd had before.  If I were to tell you what the show was, you'd probably laugh that it made me stumble at one time.  But it did, and my conscience propelled me to give it up for a while.  

     Have you ever felt strongly about something, only to discover years later that you no longer felt that way?  What reasons should we change our convictions?  When should we keep our convictions?

Here are some reasons our convictions should not change:

*The Bible is very clear about this particular issue.  God's won't change (Numbers 23:19; James 1:17), so you shouldn't either.  

*Your conscience still leads you to hold onto this conviction (Romans 14:23)

*Outrightly or publicly changing it could be a stumbling block to others (Romans 14:13)

*Outrightly or publicly changing your conviction could create a conflict of some sort (Matthew 5:9).  And yes, there are times when God leads us to make a stand that creates conflict, but be certain that is how you are led before doing so.

Note, with the last two above, you can technically still change what you believe about the conviction, but it wouldn't be wise to flaunt your new belief.  For an example, it is the conviction of many Christians that believers are required to tithe 10%, whereas others hold that this was an Old Testament command that is replaced with the New Testament teaching Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Second Corinthians 9:7).  If you have the conviction that you are free to give whatever amount God has led, without worrying about it being 10% or not, that is great, but flaunting that, especially if your church holds to the 10% tithe, can create conflict.  Quietly give the amount you are led, but don't create a problem for others.  

Here are some reasons to change your conviction:

*It wasn't biblical to begin with.  I used to know someone who had the conviction that you should never try to convert members of another religion to Christianity, because that seemed disrespectful.  As this person grew in the Lord, they came to see that we are called in scripture to reach everyone with the Gospel.  The conviction changed to align with God's Word.  

*The conviction itself was a cover for sin, or other character defects that need to be dealt with.  I had a friend years ago who was disobeying the prompting of the Holy Spirit in an area of surrender in her life.  She didn't surrender this area to the Lordship of Christ, even though she confided in me she knew she should.  To compensate for this sin, she developed very legalistic convictions.  She started saying it was a sin to shop at a store if there was another one that had the same product a few cents cheaper, because it was being a bad steward.  I had the "freedom" to shop at a certain grocery store, which was around the corner from my apartment at the time, so I could walk.  I had developed a relationship with the employees there, and had been able to share the Gospel.  It was worth the few pennies extra I spent there than I would have  spent by driving an extra few miles to go to another store that was slightly cheaper.  But this was a deep conviction that she confronted me for.  It wasn't a real conviction from the Lord.  It was a cover for her own lack of real surrender about something a lot more important than grocery stores.  And lest I only pick on others, I used to use convictions out of fear, and would use them to control others.  There was a time when a certain popular version of the Bible had a bad connotation to me (very long story as to why), and I refused to use it.  It was one of the main versions used in our ministry at the time (they have since switched), and I inconvenienced a lot of people by refusing to use it back then.  It wasn't a real conviction based on actual logic or reasoning.  That's the next point.

*You learn truth that undermines the reason for the conviction.  As a senior in Bible college, I did a paper on different Bible translations, and why we have so many versions in English.  It was a much more complex subject that I realized.  I came to discover that the version I was so down on wasn't a bad translation.  In light of the truth learned, I was forced to change my stance, and admit it was an emotional response, not an intellectual one.  

*God has shown you that you can let go of that conviction.  This goes with my experience of being led to give up that TV show for a while, but had freedom to watch it later.  It isn't that God's truth changes.  Where you're at in life, and the things that make you struggle change.  

     The most important convictions we hold come from God's word.  No matter what your convictions are on the non-essential issues, make sure to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (Second Timothy 2:15).