Biblical Convictions
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CONVICTION-according to Webster is 'a strong belief.'

The minister with Bible in hand outstretched toward the congregation and leaning forward proclaims, with fire in his eyes and thunder in his voice, 'Most Christians today stand for nothing and fall for everything!' He goes on to say that in today's world Christians have few moral and ethical standards. He rails about the lack of decency in young people who pass his way. He cries out against the wickedness in the entertainment world. He laments the poor influence of today's family, of today's government leaders and of today's educational system. He concludes that due to this Satan-sponsored environment, most Christians have very few godly convictions. He cautions his listeners that unless they walk a holy and moral life their rewards will be few in Heaven. He then proceeds to warn them of the dangers of strong drink, of immoral entertainment, of illicit behavior and a host of other 'dangers' existing in life's arena.

A young Christian man sits and eagerly soaks up the message. He quickly understands that he must make many decisions in his life in order to be accepted by his pastor and other Christians throughout his assembly (church). He leaves the auditorium with the understanding that to be a 'good Christian,' he must make decisions for and against a wide variety of practices, modes of behavior and institutions in his daily life. In his eagerness to do the 'right thing' and thereby be 'acceptable to God,' he rushes to determination with minimal analytical thought and little resident Bible doctrine. It isn't long until he boast of his many convictions. He believes in this, but not in that. He will frequent this place, but never that place. He will never indulge in this but he may permit that. Soon, he is taking pride in all the things of which he disapproves. He wears his convictions on his spiritual chest as if they are merit badges. It isn't long until he is so consumed in 'do's and don'ts' that he uses them to gauge his spirituality, which he concludes is superior to others who do not hold to his convictions. He quickly adjusts by establishing more negative beliefs in his life should he find someone who appears to hold more convictions than he. After all, he can't be outdone. He simply must not come in second in the 'spirituality' contest. He is now proud of his 'holy' position. And if anyone doesn't see it his way, he is quick to take out his Bible and set that person straight.

Unbeknownst to him in his rush to sanctity, those around him start to avoid him. If he notices this, well, after all, 'the multitude didn't care for Jesus either.' But even those who love the Lord start to resent how he attempts to dominate every encounter, how he constantly operates in a 'preaching' mode and lifts himself up as the example for them to follow. He becomes so convinced that he is right about 'everything,' his only conclusion is that all others must be wrong. He resigns to feeling sorry for them as they increasingly turn away from him. But in time he finds himself in a very lonely 'spiritual vacuum' and the joy of his salvation ebbs away. Eventually he finds little spiritual power to stand up against the onslaught of Satan. One spiritual failure turns into another, then another. It isn't long until he begins to doubt much of what he first believed. In time his prodigal journey, imperceptible at first, turns into a full-fledged careening plunge into a pit of despair. He may even come to the absurd position of doubting his salvation. The 'ruler of this world' (Satan) has vanquished his victory.

Was the preacher wrong in crying out against sin in today's world? No, of course not! Was the young Christian man wrong in his desire to go and do the right thing? The answer again is no. Was he wrong on how he went about it? Here, the answer is yes. With little resident Bible doctrine in his soul and an immaturity resulting in a propensity to misplace priorities, this young man, as so many young Christians are prone to do, resorts to 'legalism' in order to secure the approbation (approval) of man-in this case Christian's around him. Whereas he was born from above by grace through faith and thereby started on his Christian journey, he quickly detoured from the 'grace-faith' way and went back to a system of laws and rules.

It may not be his entire fault, given the lack of instruction in Bible doctrine in so many churches today. Also, there are few churches that implement programs for the newborns in Christ, i.e., programs where instruction in Biblical doctrines is presented and monitored and mature Christian mentors are assigned for continual guidance. Often it is just taken for granted that a new Christian will find his own way, completely forgetting that he is no match against his two worldly enemies-Satan and his sin nature. If parents were to take this same attitude to their newly physical born children, not one child would survive. Yet, assemblies of believers (churches) avoid their responsibilities to the spiritual newborns and then wonder why many fall away.

But this article is written to the believer, young or old in Christ, who thirsts for true Biblical convictions, i.e., personal convictions that will stand the light of an open Bible. These are convictions that should have the highest priority in one's Christian life. No, they do not include the legion of minor issues with which Christians often become consumed, such issues as drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, using narcotics, gambling, dancing, wearing shorts, attending movies, cursing, indulging in sexual activities, adifinitum and adnauseam. Even though these issues should be considered in one's Christian life, they are minor in nature when contrasted with the convictions, which follow. It is important in your Christian experience (walk, life, etc.) that you do not major on the minors and minor on the majors.

The following Biblical convictions are paramount to the successful Christian life:

CONVICTION #1

Divine good is the only good that counts in God's sight.

Within the spiritual realm there is both 'human good' and 'divine good.'

CONVICTION #2

Divine good can only emanate from Jesus Christ.

CONVICTION #3

It is the will of Christ to live through the believer to produce divine good.

CONVICTION #4

Jesus Christ lives through the believer by means of the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

CONVICTION #5

The fullness of the Holy Spirit is possible only in a Christian who has confessed his known sins and exercises the principle of faith.

CONVICTION #6

Knowing the 'mind of Christ' is the only way to know right from wrong.

CONVICTION #7

Bible doctrine reveals the 'mind of Christ.'

CONVICTION #8

Only the Holy Spirit can teach Bible doctrine.

CONVICTION #8

The overwhelming proof of one's relationship with Christ is 'love toward others.'